My Story
Tory is a professionally registered private psychotherapist with BACP and one of 30 therapists working at NI Counselling, Northern Ireland's largest team of private therapists. She offers online and in person counselling at Yourstory Therapy, a Belfast-based therapy service for adults who are experiencing anxiety & overwhelm.
Tory originally worked in education, supporting children & young people with special educational needs. Over time, and alongside her own experiences of family life, complex loss and personal therapy, she felt drawn to working at greater relational depth. She retrained in Integrative Counselling at the University of Ulster, and is delighted to now offer others a compassionate space for healing and change.
“Yourstory was founded out of a deep passion for listening closely to the stories of others and helping them understand and navigate their difficulties.
In a world that feels faster, more connected and more complex than ever, I recognised the need for gentle, grounded spaces — somewhere people can feel steady and safe enough to pause, reflect and make sense of their experiences.
Whilst I love being a therapist, I also enjoy spending time with my family and my favourite place is home. Since turning 40, I've noticed a deeper appreciation for simple pleasures and small joys. I love nice mugs, I love sunny weather, I love Ted Lasso.
And I've always loved stories - told, written, watched, lived. They help me understand and make sense of life.”
My Approach
I'm passionate about offering a uniquely tailored approach to therapy and creating a collaborative space for change. My trauma-informed practice is shaped by helping clients feel steadied, so they can feel safe enough to begin. The following values consistently influence my work:
NERVOUS SYSTEM REGULATION
I value creating a therapeutic environment for your nervous system to feel steady, to settle and to reorganise so you can find your way back to connection and safety.
RELATIONSHIP & ATTUNEMENT
As a skilled and attuned therapist I work intuitively, paying close attention to your emotional state and individual needs. I believe my relational approach is a foundational part of the process and can be deeply healing.
FLEXIBILITY
My support is flexible and adapted moment by moment, depending on your unique needs and personal story. My aim is to consistently honour and respect your personhood and shape each session around whatever unfolds.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR STORY
Therapy offers a space to make sense of your experiences and your way of being in the world. I help you explore the survival strategies you may have developed, not with judgement but with compassion.
COLLABORATION
Therapy is not a passive process where solutions are handed down and advice is given out. I value staying in step and in connection with you, thus always shaping the process together.