Emma Franke

My Approach: Thriving vs. Surviving - I believe that every individual has an innate capacity for growth and the ability to live a more fulfilling life. Often, what we label as “symptoms”, such as persistent anxiety, low mood, or feeling "stuck" are actually intelligent survival mechanisms developed in response to a world that did not fit us. Rather than just focusing on “what happened to you,” my approach explores how you responded. By understanding your nervous system’s unique way of protecting you, we can begin to move from a state of reactive survival to one of thriving. The Depth of Psychotherapy: While counselling can offer valuable support for immediate life challenges, psychotherapy provides a deeper, more investigative journey into the self. My goal is to help you reach a place of authentic alignment, where you are living a life on your own terms, not one defined by the past, external expectations or unresolved trauma. Working with the Body and the Mind: Because the body often holds what the mind finds difficult to process, I work with a trauma-informed lens. We explore how your nervous system manages stress through responses like: Fight or Flight: Feeling constantly "on edge" or unable to relax. Freeze: Feeling shut down, numb, or immobilised. Fawn: Neglecting your own boundaries to keep others happy. By looking at these survival responses with kindness, understanding, and curiosity rather than judgment, we can begin to shift how you feel from the inside out. Instead of just trying to "fix" your symptoms, we work together to understand why they are there. This allows us to move beyond just "getting through the day" and toward a sense of real peace. The intention is to help you build the inner strength you need so you can finally feel safe, settled, and truly comfortable in your own skin. My clinical background is diverse, allowing me to work effectively with the full spectrum of human experience: I facilitate a relational space dedicated to exploring the deeper "why" behind feelings of emptiness, overwhelm, or disconnection. I work with the "whole person" to uncover how past experiences and relational patterns shape the present. This includes: Complex Life Transitions: Supporting individuals through the psychological weight of divorce, infidelity, bereavement, and major career changes. Neurodiversity: Working specifically with the unique experience of adult ADHD. Emotional & Physiological Distress: Addressing symptoms of abuse, addictions, chronic anxiety, depression, self-harm, and post-traumatic stress. Identity & Belonging: Exploring issues related to sexuality, cultural identity, self-esteem, and health-related challenges including the menopause.