Hello, my name is Lai and I am a qualified Integrative Relational Psychotherapeutic Counsellor and a registered member of BACP (British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists). My lifelong interest and curiosity for nature, life, psychology and the science of the mind has led me to work in mental health and psychotherapy. Being a British Asian woman, I have five decade's experience of living in between two cultures and the challenges that come with, such as striving to make sense of each and needing to feel I belong in both. My lived experience includes living with cultural difference, navigating change and loss as well as living with the basic human need for love, acceptance whilst handling traits like perfectionism, self criticism, shame and anxiety. Whether life is hard or easy, I do believe that there is always something to learn from all our experiences of being in relationship, to others, to ourselves and to the world. My view is, the more difficult the experience, often the bigger the gain when we find the learning to grow from, but facing it alone need not be the only way. 

For this reason, I set up Minds Be to offer a counselling, psychotherapy and mentoring service to anyone aged 16 and above.  When we (therapist and client) let our minds be together in a professional and optimal counselling relationship, you (the client) may benefit from the opportunities of connection, discovery, learning, healing and growth.  With our consistent warm, open minded and compassionate approach, we will support you to work through and potentially overcome the struggles you are experiencing. As human beings, we are born into relationship, we are shaped in relationship and we can also heal in a relationship that is safe and nurturing enough to help us develop and grow.

Lai Shum