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!