Three Years Qualified: Finding Purpose, Changing Lives and Becoming Me

As I sit here approaching my fourth year in practice as a Clinical Hypnotherapist, I find myself reflecting on a journey that has changed my life in ways I never expected.

Three years ago, I qualified and took my first steps into a profession that I hoped would allow me to help people. Looking back now, I could never have imagined where that decision would lead. If someone had told me then that I would be running practices in Scunthorpe and Huddersfield, supporting clients internationally, receiving three awards and preparing to open my own Therapy & Wellbeing Centre, I would probably have smiled politely and carried on with my day. At that point, my life looked very different.

Like many people, I spent years working in jobs that offered security and stability. There was nothing wrong with those jobs and I am grateful for everything they taught me. They helped shape who I am today. But as the years passed, I found myself asking a question that many people ask at some point in their lives: is this it?

The routine had become familiar. The weeks rolled into months and the months rolled into years. Monday became Friday and Friday became Monday again. I wasn't unhappy, but I wasn't fulfilled either. There is a difference. I wanted more than simply earning a living. I wanted purpose. I wanted to feel excited about what I did. I wanted to wake up in the morning knowing that my work genuinely mattered.

At the time, I thought that purpose might come through counselling. I enrolled on a counselling course and successfully completed the first year of training. I've always been fascinated by people, by how we think, why we react the way we do and how different experiences shape our lives. Counselling felt like a natural path and I genuinely enjoyed the training.

Then COVID arrived.

Like so many people, I found that period incredibly difficult. The uncertainty, isolation and disruption affected me far more than I expected. Looking back now, I can honestly say it knocked me sideways. It was during that time that I found myself returning to antidepressants. Plans suddenly felt uncertain.

Opportunities disappeared overnight. The future became something nobody seemed able to predict.

Like many others, I found myself questioning what direction my life was heading in.

It was a difficult period, but it also taught me something important. Even when I was struggling myself, one thing never changed. I still wanted to help people. I still wanted to work in mental health and wellbeing. I still wanted to make a difference.

As I reflected on my counselling studies, I realised there was one aspect of the traditional approach that didn't quite fit with who I am. Whilst I have enormous respect for counselling and the incredible work counsellors do, I found myself less interested in spending long periods revisiting problems and more interested in helping people move towards solutions. I wanted to understand where people wanted to go, not just where they had been.

That curiosity led me down a rabbit hole of research. I explored different approaches, read extensively and spent countless hours learning about therapies I had never previously considered. Eventually, I discovered Solution Focused Hypnotherapy.

The moment I started learning about it, something clicked.

The combination of neuroscience, positive psychology and practical strategies for change made complete sense to me. It wasn't about pretending problems didn't exist. It was about helping people understand how their minds worked and empowering them to move forward. It felt positive, practical and, most importantly, it felt right.

For the first time, I felt like I had found exactly what I had been searching for.

Looking back now, I genuinely believe that what felt like a setback during COVID was actually a turning point. Had the pandemic not happened, I may well have continued down a completely different path. Instead, it guided me towards a profession that suits both my personality and my values.

Sometimes the moments that seem to derail us end up taking us exactly where we need to be.

Since qualifying, I have had the privilege of working successfully with 162 clients. When people hear that number, they often think of it as a statistic. I don't. To me, that's 162 individual stories, 162 people who trusted me and 162 opportunities to help someone move forward.

Every person who has walked through my door has arrived with their own challenges, fears, hopes and goals. Some have struggled with anxiety. Others have battled low mood, stress, trauma, panic attacks or confidence issues. No two people are ever the same and that is one of the things I love most about this work.

One area that has brought me enormous satisfaction has been helping people overcome phobias. What many people don't realise is that phobias don't always stop people living their lives. Most people find ways around them. They adapt, avoid situations and make compromises. Life carries on, but often not in the way they would really like.

I remember one client who desperately wanted to visit an island but was terrified of open water. The thought of taking a boat left her feeling anxious and overwhelmed. Rather than looking forward to the trip, she found herself creating reasons not to go. Her fear wasn't affecting every single day of her life, but it was affecting her life. It was limiting her choices and stopping her from doing something she genuinely wanted to experience.

Another client had spent years relying on alcohol before flying. For him, getting on a plane felt impossible without several drinks beforehand. Flying wasn't something he enjoyed; it was something he endured. After working together, he was able to board a plane feeling calm and in control, enjoying a drink because he wanted one rather than because he felt he needed one.

Those moments stay with me because helping someone overcome a phobia isn't simply about removing fear. It's about giving them choices back. It's about freedom.

The same applies to anxiety. One client I worked with would avoid interacting with his in-laws whenever possible. Not because he didn't like them, but because he constantly worried about what they thought of him. He would replay conversations in his mind, analyse every interaction and spend days worrying before family gatherings. The anxiety wasn't stopping him living his life entirely, but it was stopping him enjoying it.

After working together, that changed. He stopped assuming the worst. He stopped analysing every conversation. He was able to relax, be present and genuinely enjoy spending time with his family. To many people that might sound like a small thing, but to him it wasn't. It meant freedom. It meant making memories instead of worrying about them.

One of the things I love most about this profession is seeing people reach a point where they realise they can do life again. Not because life suddenly becomes perfect, but because they no longer feel controlled by fear, anxiety or self-doubt. Whether it's taking a boat trip, boarding a plane, enjoying time with family or simply waking up feeling optimistic about the day ahead, those moments are incredibly powerful. To most people they seem ordinary. To the person experiencing them, they represent freedom.

Another client who often comes to mind was a lady who came to see me for weight loss. She had spent years trapped in a cycle that many people will recognise. Her weight would go up, then down, then back up again. She had tried numerous diets, programmes and approaches over the years. At times she had success, but the changes never seemed to last.

What impressed me most was that she recognised the pattern. She understood that it wasn't simply about losing weight. It was about changing her relationship with food, habits and ultimately herself. She came looking for a different approach after trying so many others.

She was actually one of my very first clients, which makes her story even more special to me. Even now, years later, I occasionally see photographs of her and hear updates about how she is doing. She continues to maintain a healthy weight, looks fantastic and, more importantly, by all accounts feels fantastic too.

What I love about her story is that it wasn't about a quick fix. It was about creating sustainable change and breaking a cycle that had followed her for years. Knowing that those positive changes have lasted long after our sessions ended is one of the most rewarding aspects of my work.

Over the last few years, my work has taken me further than I ever expected. What started as a desire to help people and find a career that felt meaningful has grown into something far bigger than I ever imagined.

Today, I work across both Scunthorpe and Huddersfield and have had the opportunity to support clients from different backgrounds, professions and walks of life. I have also had the privilege of working internationally, something that still surprises me when I stop and think about it. When I first qualified, my focus was simply on helping the person sitting in front of me. In truth, that remains my focus today. Yet it is humbling to know that people from different places and different circumstances have trusted me to be part of their journey.

Along the way there have been moments that made me stop and reflect. Receiving three awards for my work was something I never expected. Recognition was never the reason I chose this profession. I didn't enter this field because I wanted awards or accolades. I entered it because I wanted a life that felt purposeful. Yet receiving those awards was a reminder that the work being done was making a difference, and for that I am incredibly grateful.

I have also had the opportunity to work with a minor celebrity. Whilst confidentiality means I will never discuss details, the experience reinforced something that this profession has taught me time and time again. It doesn't matter who we are, what we do for a living or how others perceive us. We are all human. We all experience challenges, self-doubt, anxiety, fear and difficult moments. In many ways, that is one of the most humbling lessons I have learned throughout this journey.

The thing I value most, however, is trust.

Every person who comes to see me is placing their trust in me at a vulnerable point in their life. Some arrive feeling nervous about therapy itself. Others have spent years trying to manage things alone. Some have reached a point where they genuinely believe nothing will help. The fact that people allow me to be part of their story is something I never take for granted.

When I look back on the last few years, the overwhelming feeling I have is gratitude.

I'm grateful for every client who trusted me.

I'm grateful for every mentor, trainer and colleague who shared their knowledge and experience.

I'm grateful for my family and friends who encouraged me, particularly during the moments when I questioned myself.

Most of all, I'm grateful that life pushed me in a different direction when it did.

Had COVID not happened, had counselling remained my only focus and had I not discovered Solution Focused Hypnotherapy when I did, my life would probably look very different today. Sometimes I think about that version of me. The version still searching for something more. The version still wondering what was missing. The version who hadn't yet discovered what he was capable of creating.

What strikes me most is how much this journey has changed me as a person.

Of course, I have gained qualifications, skills and experience. That's expected. What I didn't expect was how much I would learn about people, resilience and myself.

I've learned that human beings are far stronger than they often give themselves credit for.

I've learned that change is possible, even when people believe it isn't.

I've learned that some of life's most meaningful victories are often the ones nobody else notices.

A family gathering enjoyed without anxiety.

A holiday booked without fear.

A plane journey taken without needing alcohol to cope.

A person looking in the mirror and feeling comfortable in their own skin again.

Those moments rarely make headlines, but they change lives.

I've also learned something about fulfilment.

For years, I thought fulfilment was something waiting for me somewhere in the future. Something I would eventually arrive at if I worked hard enough. What I have discovered is that fulfilment comes from living in alignment with your values. It comes from waking up each morning knowing that what you do matters. It comes from knowing that, however small your contribution may seem, you have helped make somebody else's life a little brighter, a little easier or a little happier.

As I sit here writing this, another exciting chapter is beginning.

The Therapy & Wellbeing Centre in Scunthorpe is becoming a reality and, if I'm honest, that still feels slightly surreal.

For me, it represents far more than a building. It represents a vision that has been growing for a long time. Throughout my journey I have met some incredible therapists and practitioners, people who genuinely care about helping others live happier, healthier and more fulfilling lives. I have also met many people looking for support, often unsure where to start or which approach might be right for them.

The idea behind the centre is to bring a variety of therapies together under one roof, creating a welcoming space where people can access the support that feels right for them. No two people are the same and everyone's journey is different. Having a range of therapies available means people can find an approach that suits their needs, whether that is counselling, hypnotherapy, EMDR, psychotherapy or other wellbeing services.

What excites me most isn't the therapies themselves. It's the environment we are creating.

I want the centre to be a place where people can simply be themselves. A place where they feel welcomed, valued and understood. Somewhere they can walk through the door knowing they will be met with kindness rather than judgement.

Life can be challenging at times and many people spend years trying to be who they think they should be. My hope is that the centre becomes somewhere people can reconnect with who they truly are, rediscover their strengths and build the confidence to live life in a way that feels authentic to them.

I also want it to be home to authentic therapists. Genuine, caring professionals who are passionate about helping others. Therapists who understand that every person who walks through the door is unique and deserves to be treated with compassion, respect and understanding.

For me, wellbeing isn't about perfection. It isn't about becoming somebody different. It's about recognising the strengths you already possess, building confidence in yourself and feeling comfortable in your own skin.

When I think about the future of the centre, I see people finding hope, confidence and a renewed sense of purpose. I see conversations that change lives. I see people discovering strengths they didn't know they had. Most of all, I see a place where people feel safe enough to be themselves and supported enough to become the very best version of themselves.

That is the vision.

And the fact that it is becoming a reality fills me with excitement, pride and gratitude.

When I think about everything that has happened over the last few years, I sometimes struggle to believe it myself. What began as a difficult period of uncertainty ultimately led me to a profession that I genuinely love. Along the way I have had the privilege of supporting 162 clients, working across Scunthorpe and Huddersfield, receiving three awards, helping people overcome fears that had controlled their lives for years and witnessing countless examples of courage, resilience and personal growth.

Yet when I look back, it isn't the awards or achievements that stay with me. It's the people, the conversations and the moments where somebody realises they can do life again. Those are the things that matter and those are the moments I carry with me.

There is one final thing I want to do.

I spend much of my time encouraging clients to recognise their progress and celebrate their achievements, yet I am not always very good at doing that for myself. When I look back to where I was during COVID, struggling with uncertainty, returning to antidepressants and wondering what direction my future would take, I could never have imagined where I would be today.

I found a profession that I genuinely love, one that gives me purpose, fulfilment and the opportunity to help people in a way that aligns with who I am and what I believe in.

I've had the privilege of supporting 162 clients, helping people overcome anxiety, fears, trauma and self-doubt. I've worked across Scunthorpe and Huddersfield, supported clients internationally, received recognition through three awards and even had the opportunity to work with a minor celebrity. Most importantly, I've had the privilege of watching people reclaim parts of their lives that they thought were lost forever.

So, for once, I think it's okay to stop and acknowledge that.

Well done, Dean.

Not because of the awards, the achievements or the business you have built, but because you had the courage to change direction when life knocked you sideways. You took one of the most difficult periods of your life and used it as the catalyst to create something meaningful. You traded monotony for purpose, routine for fulfilment and uncertainty for opportunity.

The journey is far from over and, in many ways, it feels as though it is only just beginning. Before rushing on to the next challenge, the next goal and the next opportunity, I want to take a moment to appreciate how far I've come and how many people have helped me get here.

To every client, friend, family member, mentor and supporter who has been part of this journey, thank you. You have helped shape a chapter of my life that I will always be proud of.

The future feels brighter than ever and, for that, I am incredibly grateful.