Iris McFee

From the outside, it looks like you're coping. You get through the day, look after everyone else and keep going. But inside, your mind never switches off. You feel anxious, overwhelmed or constantly on edge. Small things take more energy than they should, and even when life is relatively calm, your body struggles to relax. You may be feeling stuck in patterns of worry, stress, self-criticism or emotional overwhelm. Perhaps you've experienced difficult life events and find yourself wondering why you're still affected by what happened. Or maybe you've spent so long surviving that you've forgotten what it feels like to truly feel at ease. Therapy offers a space to slow down, make sense of what's happening and begin to move forward. I am an experienced CBT therapist and mental health nurse with more than 25 years' experience supporting people with anxiety, stress, trauma, low mood, burnout, emotional regulation difficulties and life challenges. My approach is warm, compassionate and collaborative. You don't need to have the right words or know where to begin. We work it out together. Together we explore how your thoughts, emotions, behaviours and past experiences influence how you feel today. Rather than focusing only on symptoms, I help you understand the patterns that keep you stuck and develop practical ways to create meaningful change. Alongside therapy, I can offer the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP), a gentle listening intervention that supports the nervous system to feel safer and more regulated. When we have spent a long time feeling stressed, anxious or overwhelmed, our body can remain stuck in survival mode even when we consciously know we're safe. SSP can help create a greater sense of ease, allowing you to feel calmer, more connected and better able to engage with everyday life. Many clients notice they feel less on edge, more emotionally balanced and more like themselves again. My aim is not simply to help you cope. It is to help you find an anchor within yourself, so that life feels less overwhelming, relationships feel easier, and moments of calm, connection and joy become more accessible again.