I am a Military Spouse (Navy) but am also a child within an Army family. The moving about, including back to England, had an impact on discovering I was deaf (bilingual in English/British Sign Language). This still leaves me with a passion for supporting early family recognition and support for families who may face similar moves and unknown health conditions.

My Mum and sister immediately went to learn sign language, but they were immediately discouraged by the medical profession, as it was in those days. I grew up learning to lip-read and speak. I also started with other long term conditions from age 6, later diagnosed as Meniere's Disease (vestibular disorder), which led to further hearing distortion (hyperacusis), dizziness and tinnitus amongst many of the symptoms. A last resort treatment in my teenage years led to me learning to walk again and being told I would not swim again; something that I could not quite understand at the time.

I swam internationally for the Senior Great Britain Deaf Team from aged 12, joining in Paralympic Training Weekends. This time, I also started learning British Sign Language and have not looked back on becoming bilingual (and at times, almost fluent in other sign languages).

The destruction of my semi-circular canals/vestibular system through ototoxic drugs came months after being ranked World Number 3 for Deaf Women, aged 16. What could have been a continued upward trajectory, became a loss of my sporting career, friendships and travel. Despite being told I would not swim again, I continued to try and push myself, making myself very unwell in the process. I regained some rankings, but in a very disorientated manner. The satisfaction had been replaced by grief and belief that I was just not good enough, even though I was doing more than the medical profession ever thought I would be able to do.

My personal experiences, disabilities and curiosity led me to pursue a career in physiotherapy and then the concepts of mental health and mental fitness. This was the beginning of the journey of the Mind-Body Connection, but it was much more complicated than I can ever write. My Physiotherapy programme led to a sports-injury placement at the Infantry Training Centre in Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, where I was privileged to be invited to observe the training of the Parachute Regiment. This helped me understand my journey as a Military Child, and I later began working with military veterans.

I have worked in the NHS and for Third Sector Charities since 2003 (over 21 years), including for two Tertiary Specialist Services in Mental Health, a Complex Pain Management Service in a Secondary Care Hospital and a sub-contracted NHS service for complex conditions not able to be seen by local Talking Therapies nationally (delivered online). My initial focus involved working with deaf and deafblind people, military veterans, NHS professionals, and international athletes. Many of these face the challenge of working in harmony with their body and the brain, rather than fighting against the self. Many of these individuals are highly driven and face immense pressure in their careers and may experience unexpected traumatic events, loss of identity, and changes in ability.

I will write about other experiences in separate articles, and note some training/CPD below. Please ask any questions if you would like to know more.

Online articles:

History-maker Verity swims the Channel

Woman told she will never swim again due to devastating condition to cross English Channel for charity

Woman becomes the first British deaf female to swim the English Channel

Radio:

"I'm actually quite glad I didn't realise I was there with five dolphins!"

"I am the first deaf British woman to make the crossing"

Qualifications, Training and CPD Selection

• HCPC Registered Physiotherapist
• BACP Accredited Counsellor
• Heart Math Trauma Sensitive Practitioner
• Write Your Self Therapy Practitioner
• Post Graduate Certificate of Education
• MA Social Research
• Diploma (Level 6) Integrative Counselling
• Diploma (Level 6) British Sign Language
• Level 3 Communicator Guide - Deafblind
• Level 3 Modifying Written Texts for Deaf and Deafblind people
• Certificate of Supervision
• Clinical Supervision
• Quality Improvement in Healthcare
• Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
• Compassion Focused Therapy
• Trauma-informed CBT
• Post-Concussion Management / Post - Concussion Syndrome
• Neuroscience of Fostering and Adoption
• Therapeutic & Connective Parenting
• Adoption Counselling Certificate
• Mindfulness: a focus on adolescents, Mindfulness through Film, Mindful Wellbeing for Teachers
• Addictions: Understanding Addiction, The Neurobiology of Addiction Treatment, Understanding the Impact of Stigma of Addiction on Treatment
• Nutrition and Wellbeing, Nutrition Science: Obesity and Healthy Weight Loss, Nutrition in the Health Sector
• Functional Neurological Disorder, Supporting the emotional wellbeing of people with Long-Term Conditions.