Hayley Graham

I fell in love with stories when I was five years old. One of my earliest memories is waiting for my

father in the local library’s reception, poring over The Tales of Beatrix Potter, transfixed by the

beautiful colour plates veiled with sheets of tracing paper.

For me, stories were to become a retreat, an education, and a sign that I wasn’t alone in the world.

They seemed to speak to me personally and gave me many gifts, including an enduring interest in the

human condition. I think it was this, among other things, that drew me to psychotherapy.

The among other things was my own mental health story. I was a solitary, anxious child and my

mother died when I was a teenager. In hindsight, it is unsurprising that I struggled as a young mother,

and my children had their ups and downs as a result. In many ways, I was extremely fortunate, but at

times life was tough, and help seemed hard to come by. My journey to becoming a therapist began as

a mission to understand, heal and find a way forward. It became a drive to do all that I could to help

adults and children in a similar position. I now work full time as an adult psychotherapist in private

practice and a child psychotherapist in schools. I am also the founder and director of the Devon-based

charity BOUNCE! Brighter Futures Foundation, which delivers mental health services to children and

families.

So, in a way, this book is a distillation of two of my greatest passions. I hope you enjoy it and find it

of some help.

- HG