Specialist in Self Worth, Self Criticism
and People Pleasing
I'm Lisa Ume, a therapist here to support 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 sunset 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, spining and laughing. I then meet my close friends where we do something adventureous 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 start 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
I'm Lisa Ume, a therapist here to support women with self worth, people pleasing and emotional overwhelm
The Approaches I Use, How They Work
and Why I Use Them
I am an integrative psychotherapist, which means I adapt the way I work to suit you rather than following a fixed approach. I draw from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Compassion Focused Therapy, and Mindfulness-Based approaches.
My work often includes developing a kinder relationship with yourself, learning to step back from harsh inner criticism, and reconnecting with your values so your energy goes towards what is meaningful rather than endlessly draining.
I place a strong value on the therapeutic relationship. I work collaboratively and at your pace, supporting you to feel more grounded, clearer, and better able to move forward in a way that feels sustainable rather than driven by pressure.
How Can Therapy Help and What Can Change
What Therapy I Offer
In therapy, we would begin by gently exploring how you relate to yourself, particularly the inner voice that pushes, judges, or never seems satisfied. We would look at patterns that keep repeating in your thoughts, emotions, and relationships, and build an understanding of where these patterns come from. From there, we can start to create space for more compassion, flexibility, and choice in how you respond to yourself and your life.
Over time, many clients begin to feel kinder towards themselves. They notice they’re more able to express emotions, name their needs, and take up space in relationships. This doesn’t happen overnight, and there’s no pressure to change quickly. Small shifts can make a meaningful difference.