Michele’s Story

Hi! I’m Michele,

Throughout my life, my friends told me that I’m a good listener. People I would have just met would say that they had said more to me in that brief time than they had ever said to anyone! This may be the reason I had always wanted to become a counsellor.

But from an early age I’d experienced social anxiety. I would skip school (which of course got me into trouble). I rebelled, going down a path of using alcohol as an extravert mask.

I often found myself feeling like I just wanted to go to sleep and never wake up. This was me from the age of 15 to 18 years old.

A turning point was when I met my now husband. He had just joined the military, and something sparked in me to want to grow into the person I knew I could be. We moved away from where I had grown up, and I was able to reimagine myself!

Four children later, and with the confidence and inspiration nurtured alongside them, I began educational courses to gain the qualifications needed to apply for university. I started university as a mature student at the age of 33; gaining a BA Honors Degree in Counselling Studies and studied for 2 years as an Occupational Therapist.

Since then, I have found my passions and am adding to them regularly. They all include metaphorically walking alongside individuals offering emotional and practical mental health and wellbeing support; as a group facilitator, one to one support, volunteer coordinator, fundraising organiser, workshop facilitator, and 24-hour crisis service worker, and as a ‘train the trainer’ to enable others to teach the Five Ways of Wellbeing… just to name a few. I also have a diploma in NLP and certifications in Mental Health First Aid and Suicide Intervention Skills.

I have just returned from spending an amazing 3 years in America, with my husband who was deployed over there.

I am delighted to be reacquainted with the lovely Hayley who I worked alongside as a volunteer at the very beginning of Quiet Connections. I am overjoyed to become a part of QC again as it is blossoming into the much-needed support system for quieter and socially anxious people like myself and I am looking forward to quietly connecting with you!

Author

  • Hi, I’m Hayley - the original quieteer. I, too, identify as a quiet person. I’m naturally a highly sensitive introvert and I love and appreciate my quiet strengths now, but I spent much of my life not feeling good enough and experiencing social anxiety. I missed so many opportunities because I was afraid of being judged harshly, criticised and rejected – and because I doubted that I had the ‘right’ personality to succeed. Quiet Connections exists in part because I had a fantastic coach who helped me to work through old patterns of keeping myself small and hidden so that I could show up and be seen to play my part in creating the more connected, curious and compassionate world that I dream of. Now, I’m passionate about helping quiet people discover their unique qualities, gifts, passions and experiences and explore how best to use these to express themselves more authentically and contribute to the world in a way that works with their quieter or more sensitive nature. Get to know me here.

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