Hello
I'm Mikaila, I’m a counsellor based in Mansfield, and I support 16+ adult who feel overwhelmed, stuck, anxious, or weighed down by experiences they’ve carried for far too long. My approach is gentle, collaborative, and grounded in the belief that you don’t have to face difficult moments alone.
People often come to me when they’re exhausted from coping, tired of overthinking, or unsure how to move forward. Together, we create a space where you can breathe, reflect, and begin to understand yourself with more compassion. Why not book a free 15 mins consultation to see how we could work together.
My Story
My path into counselling wasn’t a traditional one. Before training, I spent more than 30 years working in industry, supporting people through the pressures and challenges of everyday life. I was often the person colleagues came to when things felt tough, and I naturally found myself listening, guiding, and helping people make sense of what they were going through.
My real turning point came from my own life. I lost several people who were incredibly important to me, all in difficult circumstances connected to mental health. Those experiences changed me. They made me rethink what matters and deepened my desire to be there for others in a meaningful, human way.
In honour of the people I lost, I joined Samaritans as a volunteer. Sitting with people in their most vulnerable moments taught me the power of presence, not fixing, not judging, just being there with someone when everything feels too much. That experience shaped the way I work as a therapist today.
I bring together my lived experience, my professional background, and my person‑centred training with CBT influences to offer a space that is warm, grounded, and steady. I work collaboratively, helping you understand your experiences, build confidence in your own voice, and move toward the life you want to live.
I support adults and young people aged 16+ with anxiety, grief, trauma, low self‑esteem, workplace stress, and the emotional weight of life’s challenges. My aim is to offer a space where you feel safe enough to explore what’s going on for you, at your own pace, in your own way.
Alongside my professional training, I also bring the perspective of a woman who has raised children and navigated the changes that come with menopause and midlife. These experiences have shaped my understanding of the emotional, physical, and identity shifts that many people face at this stage of life.
I also recognise that men go through their own version of this transition — sometimes called the “men‑opause” — where changes in hormones, mood, confidence, relationships, and sense of self can feel confusing or overwhelming. Supporting people through these midlife shifts, whatever form they take, is something I approach with empathy, steadiness, and real‑world understanding.
If you feel ready to take the next step, I’m here to walk alongside you.
What to Expect
Starting counselling can feel daunting, so I aim to make the process as calm and straightforward as possible. In our first session, we’ll talk about what’s been going on for you and what you’re hoping for from therapy. There’s no pressure to share everything at once, we go at your pace. Over time, we’ll explore your thoughts, feelings and experiences together, helping you make sense of things and find steadier ground.