A Journey of Healing and Understanding
Rewriting My Story: How Lived Experience Shaped the Therapist I Am
Discover how personal challenges and triumphs have shaped my approach to therapy, offering a unique blend of empathy and expertise.
Becky Stone
I’m Becky Stone, a qualified eating disorder therapist based in Canterbury. My work is shaped not only by professional training, but also by lived experience. I know what it feels like to be caught in cycles of restriction, bingeing, self-criticism, and shame, and I also see the relief of finding a way through.
I specialise in supporting both adults and teens who are navigating eating disorders, ADHD, autism, and the complex overlap between neurodivergence and mental health. My approach is non-shaming, trauma-informed, and grounded in compassion.
What matters most to me is creating a space where people feel safe enough to be honest. Therapy with me isn’t about perfection or “fixing yourself.” It’s about rebuilding trust in your body, finding your voice, and learning that recovery is possible, even if it doesn’t look perfect, even if it takes time, even if you’ve lost hope before.
At the heart of my work is the belief that you are not broken. You are human. And together, we can create a path forward that feels real, safe, and truly yours.
If you had met me years ago, you probably wouldn’t have guessed I’d end up as a therapist. I wasn’t “book smart” by traditional standards. At school, I scraped through with a couple of GCSEs, always feeling like I was falling behind. I masked a lot, distracted people with behaviour, and carried this belief that I was somehow “less than.” What I didn’t know then was that I had ADHD, and that piece of my puzzle wouldn’t be named until much later in life.
Back then, the world felt loud and confusing. I didn’t know how to regulate myself, how to slow my thoughts down, or how to feel at home in my own skin. That disconnection led me to an eating disorder, because food felt like one of the only things I could control. At times, it gave me structure. At times, it numbed the chaos. But mostly, it kept me trapped.
Understanding the Turning Point
Recovery didn’t happen in a straight line
When people talk about recovery, they often imagine a neat before-and-after picture: unwell on one side, healthy on the other. My reality was far messier. Recovery was full of setbacks, relapses, moments of shame, and tiny steps forward that often felt invisible.
But here’s the thing: even when I thought I was failing, I was learning. I was building resilience. I was practicing what it meant to keep going.
Looking back, those “failures” weren’t failures at all. They were part of the process. The brain doesn’t rewire in a day, and the body doesn’t unlearn survival strategies overnight. It takes time. And patience. And the kind of support that doesn’t shame you when you fall, but reminds you that falling is part of walking.
Navigating Complex Relationships
Boundaries, Voices, and the People You Lose
When I was finally diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, so many pieces fell into place. Suddenly, the years of feeling “too much” or “not enough” made sense. The impulsivity. The scattered focus. The way I could hyper-fixate on things that lit me up but struggled with the simplest tasks that bored me.
I often describe ADHD as being like a Ferrari with the handbrake up. All the potential, all the energy, but something is holding you back. That metaphor stuck with me because it summed up exactly how I’d lived: always straining forward, but burning out fast.
Getting that diagnosis didn’t erase the struggles, but it gave me language. It gave me understanding. It gave me compassion for myself in a way I’d never had before.
In therapy, I emphasize the importance of boundaries to my clients, helping them recognize their own needs and limits. This process often involves confronting difficult truths about the people in our lives and the roles they play. It’s about finding your voice and using it to advocate for your well-being, even if it means losing some connections along the way.
The Power of Boundaries
A Journey of Empathy and Understanding
Why I Became a Therapist
Everyday Reflections
The Parallels I See Every Day
In my practice, I often notice striking similarities between my clients’ journeys and my own. Each session is a reminder of the resilience we all possess, even when faced with overwhelming challenges. These parallels not only deepen my empathy but also reinforce the universal nature of recovery. Whether it’s the struggle to find balance or the courage to embrace vulnerability, these shared experiences create a profound connection that fuels my passion for this work.
Witnessing these parallels reminds me that healing is not a solitary journey. It’s a collective effort where shared stories and mutual understanding pave the way for growth. Each client brings a unique narrative, yet the themes of perseverance and hope are constants. This interconnectedness is what makes my role as a therapist so fulfilling, as it allows me to guide others while continuously learning and growing myself.
Embracing the Journey
Recovery is not about finding quick solutions; it’s about embracing the process of steady, intentional steps. In therapy, we focus on building sustainable habits that lead to lasting change. This approach requires patience and commitment, but it ultimately empowers clients to reclaim their lives on their own terms.
Each small victory is a testament to the strength and determination of those I work with. By celebrating these milestones, we reinforce the belief that progress is possible, even when it feels slow. The journey may be long, but the rewards of self-discovery and resilience make every step worthwhile.
Therapy is about creating a safe space where clients can explore their challenges without fear of judgment. It’s about fostering an environment where they can learn to trust themselves and their ability to navigate life’s complexities. This process is not linear, but with each session, we move closer to a place of healing and self-acceptance.
My role is to support and guide, offering tools and insights that help clients build a foundation of confidence and self-worth. Together, we work towards a future where they feel empowered to face whatever comes their way, knowing they have the strength to overcome it.
Finding Fulfillment
The Best Part of This Work
The most rewarding aspect of being a therapist is witnessing the transformation that occurs when clients begin to believe in themselves. Watching someone reclaim their narrative and embrace their potential is an indescribable privilege. It’s in these moments that I see the true impact of our work together.
Every breakthrough, no matter how small, is a victory worth celebrating. These achievements are a testament to the courage and resilience of my clients, and they inspire me to continue growing and learning as a therapist. The best part of this work is knowing that I play a role in helping others find their path to healing and happiness.
Rewriting the narrative
The diagnosis that reframed everything
In the process of rewriting my story, I discovered the profound impact of embracing vulnerability and authenticity. This journey has not been a solitary path; it has been enriched by the stories of those I have had the privilege to support. Every session, every shared moment, has contributed to a tapestry of healing and growth. As a therapist, I strive to create a space where narratives can be rewritten, where past experiences are not just acknowledged but transformed into stepping stones towards a brighter future.
Through my own lived experience, I have learned that healing is not a destination but a continuous journey. It involves challenging long-held beliefs, redefining boundaries, and nurturing self-compassion. My role is to walk alongside my clients as they navigate their unique paths, offering guidance and support as they reclaim their narratives. Together, we explore the intersections of identity, resilience, and hope, fostering a sense of empowerment and renewal. This is the heart of my work—helping others to rewrite their stories with courage and conviction.
Boundaries, voices, and the people you lose
I learned that stepping into your voice often means losing people along the way. For years, I was a people-pleaser, twisting myself into shapes to keep others happy. My boundaries were almost non-existent.
When I began therapy training, and especially when I started practising new ways of being, I noticed something. Not everyone welcomed this version of me. Some friends fell away. Some family relationships shifted. It was painful, but it was also necessary.
Because the truth is, when you start living authentically, you stop playing old roles. And when you stop playing those roles, the dynamics change. Some relationships survive that shift. Others don’t. And as hard as that is, it’s also freeing.
Why I became a therapist
I didn’t set out to turn my struggles into a career. But therapy changed me. It gave me space to unravel, to rebuild, to discover that my story didn’t have to be something I hid in shame. It could be something I used to connect. To empathise. To remind others that they are not broken, not failing, not alone.
When clients sit with me now, I don’t see “problems to fix.” I see people doing the best they can with the tools they’ve got. I see the survival strategies that once kept them safe but now keep them stuck. I see the exhaustion of trying to be “enough” in a world that often misunderstands difference.
And because I’ve lived it, I get it. I know how it feels to sit across from someone and think, I want to get better, but I don’t know if I can. I know the tug of relapse, the lure of old patterns, the weight of self-criticism. And I also see the relief of finding out that change is possible, slowly, imperfectly, but truly.
The Parallels I See Every Day
One of the most surprising things I’ve noticed is how much my journey in recovery mirrors the journey of building my career. Growth, whether personal or professional, is rarely glamorous. It’s not the straight, upward line people imagine. It’s trial and error. It’s consistency. It’s showing up on the days you don’t feel like it.
In recovery, that meant eating the meal even when my head screamed not to. As a therapist building a practice, it means writing the post even when the algorithm doesn’t reward it, or showing up for clients even when self-doubt is loud. Both journeys require resilience. Both require patience. Both ask you to let go of perfectionism and keep moving anyway.
Stepping Stones to Recovery
No quick fixes, just steady steps
I don’t promise quick fixes, because I know they don’t exist. What I offer is companionship, tools, and the reassurance that progress doesn’t have to look perfect to be real. Sometimes it looks like three steps forward, two steps back. Sometimes it looks like holding on by your fingertips. Sometimes it seems like quietly realising you haven’t thought about food or numbers or self-punishment in a week, and that’s a victory worth celebrating.
The Heart of Healing
The Best Part of This Work
For me, the greatest joy is watching someone reclaim their voice. It’s the moment they look at me and say, I think I can do this on my own now. It’s the shift from fear to self-trust. From silence to self-expression.
I always tell clients that therapy is a practice ground. You get to test out boundaries, emotions, and honesty in a space that won’t punish you. And slowly, you carry that outside. The work isn’t about becoming a different person. It’s about becoming more yourself.
Understanding the Path to Recovery
If there’s one thing my journey has taught me, it’s this: you are not broken. You are not too much. You are not behind. You are human.
Recovery and growth don’t look neat. They look messy and human. They look like mistakes, repairs, and trying again. And that’s okay. That’s more than okay, it’s the point.
Because in the end, healing isn’t about becoming perfect. It’s about becoming real. And real is enough.
Rewriting Your Story with Compassion
Transforming Challenges into Strengths: A Therapeutic Journey
No quick fixes, just steady steps
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