Let me introduce you to Jess

I'm going to introduce you to Jess.

Jess is an absolutely awesome human, she loves a good giggle and being active. She has something magical about her, and a really cheeky and infectious giggle.

Jess is an awesome cheerleader for her partner, children and friends. She loves her job, and feels that she is heading in the right direction for her.

But, Jess wears a mask. Every. Single. Day.

Jess doesn't feel magical on the inside.

Jess had her daughter via an emergency C-Section, and her family members told that doesn't make her a “proper” mum. It was a really scary time for her and her partner.

Jess hasn't touched her stomach since her daughter was born.

Jess is scared to touch her scar. Touching her scar makes her cry, it brings back horrible memories.

Jess has had back pain since her last child was born. Everything feels uncomfortable and tight, it hurts to go to the toilet.

Jess' health visitor dismissed her feelings when she was brave enough to ask for help.

Jess doesn't feel attractive anymore, and can't bear to look at herself in the mirror.

Jess doesn't get undressed with the light on.

Jess won't allow her partner to see her in undies and definitely not naked.

Jess has thrown away all her sex kitten undies, and now only wears big knickers that she can hide herself away in.

Jess has no connection with her body, there is no connection to anything below her belly button. It's just a void. Just nothing.

Jess really misses going to the gym, it was her time to be herself.

Jess avoids trampolines now in case she has an accident; all her children want is mummy to come and have some fun with them. Deep down Jess really wants to go on the trampoline with her children and create great memories together of doing fun active things and being a bit silly as a family.

Jess' hormones are all over the place, much like her moods – she doesn't really feel in control anymore.

Jess thinks she has the start of dementia, it's actually the start of her peri-menopause.

But, Jess reached out for help as she felt her whole world was falling apart.

Jess came to work with me, she sobbed in her first session as she peeled back the layers of her mask. It was safe to remove her mask now, she no longer needed it anymore. The mask wasn't serving her to live the life that she wanted.

Together we came up with a plan to help her find herself and again.

Slowly and surely, Jess found her body confidence.

Jess re-wrote her inner story about being a “proper” mum.

Jess reconnected with her body in a gentle and loving way.

Jess can touch her scars and understands how they impacted her both emotionally and physically.

Jess has a great sex life again now and doesn't have big knickers anymore.

Jess has learnt about her hormones and now identifies the patterns and shares them with her care team.

Jess even re-joined the gym, she's a big fan of lifting heavy weights to help prepare her body for the next phase of her life.

Jess has just sent me a photo of her on holiday with the family, rocking life in a bikini. Jess is a freakin' superhero, a total badass warrior.

The thing is we all know someone who could be Jess, and may even be her.