Specialist Self-Worth Therapist for Women Struggling with Self-Criticism and People Pleasing

I'm Lisa Ume, a therapist here to support Millennial and Gen Z women with self-worth, people pleasing and emotional overwhelm

My work is shaped by my own experience of growing up pleasing others and pushing down my own needs. I know how deeply human the desire for emotional connection is and how painful it can be to feel dismissed or unseen. This is why emotional safety is at the heart of how I work. I want therapy to feel like a place where you can soften, rather than brace yourself. Because of this, I’m especially attentive to self-criticism and the quiet ways people learn to put themselves last.

My aim is to offer a space where you don’t have to perform, explain yourself perfectly, or earn care. A place where you can be met with warmth, honesty, and respect.

Hi, I'm Lisa

My Perfect Day Looks Like...

I wake up early after a resful sleep (where my children have slept the whole night) and I take a mug of Earl Grey tea to watch the sun rise. I do this alone to feel refreshed. I return to my children and husband where I forget the household responsibilities and we dance together in the kitchen, spinning and laughing. I then meet my close friends where we do something adventurous like Go Ape or cold water swimming. We chat for hours, we cry together and we laugh together. I come home to my kids filling the house with noise and we cosy in for the evening. Before we go to bed, we step outside and look up at the moon and the stars and we can't quite believe how beautiful they are. We read stories under a canopy of star lights in the bedroom and snooze off to sleep.

If I Wasn't a Therapist I'd Be...

An archeologist or a space scientist just like Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock

Beyond the Therapist...

I'm a lover of wonder - looking up at the night sky fills me with joy and curiosity. I used to attend lectures at the Edinburgh Observatory to satisfy this curiosity!

Being a therapist has lead me to my interest in how our bodies respond to experiences which has now lead me to my Sound Healer Training. Currently I'm training in Sound Healing and my hope is to combine it into my therapy sessions when needed.

I'm a Scottish gal living in London - bagpipes make me feel all the Scottish pride eventhough, to many, they are a harsh noise!

Boxing is the release I never knew I needed, I began boxing after a friend took me to Holyrood Boxing in Edinburgh and I've never felt power and strength like it.

Work with me

How Therapy Can Help with Self-Worth, Self-Criticism and People Pleasing

I am an integrative psychotherapist, meaning I adapt how I work to suit you rather than following a single fixed approach. I draw from CBT, ACT, CFT, and mindfulness-based approaches to tailor therapy to your needs.

My work often focuses on helping you build a kinder relationship with yourself, step back from harsh self-criticism, and reconnect with your values so your energy goes towards what truly matters rather than things that drain you.

I place strong importance on the therapeutic relationship and work collaboratively, at your pace.

You can expect:

A personalised, flexible approach
Support leading you to feel more grounded and clear
A sustainable way forward, not driven by internal pressure

How Can Therapy Help and What Can Change

What Therapy I Offer

In therapy, we begin by gently exploring how you relate to yourself especially the inner voice that pushes, judges, or never feels satisfied. We look at repeating patterns in your thoughts, emotions and relationships and begin to understand where they come from.

From there we create space for greater compassion, flexibility and choice in how you respond to yourself and your life.

Over time many clients notice meaningful shifts.

You may begin to:

Feel kinder towards yourself
Express emotions more openly
Recognise and name your needs
Take up more space in relationships

There’s no pressure to change quickly- small, steady shifts can make a real difference

I Want to Know More

Therapy can feel difficult at times. As you begin to understand yourself more deeply, things may sometimes feel worse before they improve - much like a healing wound.

You can read my blog, “This Therapy Stuff is Hard”, to learn more about this process.

Specialist Self-Worth Therapist for Women Struggling with Self-Criticism and People Pleasing

How Therapy Can Help with Self-Worth, Self-Criticism and People Pleasing

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