Mx Abby Draper

A conversation with Abby Draper

• What led you to choose psychotherapy or counselling as a profession?

  My journey into psychotherapy and counselling was shaped by both personal and professional experiences. As a gender diverse and neurodivergent person, I have seen first-hand the harm caused by stigma, misgendering, and exclusion within mental health care. I wanted to create a safe, affirming space where people can feel seen, respected, and celebrated for who they are. Alongside my occupational therapy background, I was drawn to counselling and psychotherapy for their ability to empower individuals, foster resilience, and support recovery through genuine connection. This work allows me to combine evidence-based approaches with lived experience to make therapy more inclusive, meaningful, and transformative.

• Which philosophical approaches have influenced your professional development?

  My practice is shaped by humanistic, trauma-informed, and recovery-oriented approaches that emphasise respect, autonomy, and lived experience. I draw on values of inclusivity and social justice, believing therapy should celebrate diversity and empower people to live authentically. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) have been particularly influential, alongside somatic and sensory-based philosophies that connect body, mind, and environment. These approaches have guided me to provide care that is affirming, holistic, and grounded in compassion.

• Which particular aspects of health or the human journey are you interested in?

  I am deeply interested in how identity, diversity, and lived experience shape mental health and wellbeing. I focus on supporting individuals navigating trauma, anxiety, OCD, chronic pain, neurodivergence, and the impacts of stigma or minority stress. I’m passionate about helping people strengthen self-acceptance, emotional regulation, and resilience while fostering meaningful connections with themselves, others, and their communities. I also value the role of sensory and somatic experiences in recovery, and how reconnecting with the body can support healing, empowerment, and authentic living.

• What methods do you use?

  I use a range of evidence-based and affirming approaches tailored to each client’s needs. These include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) including ND-friendly DBT, and Positive Behaviour Support. I also integrate somatic and sensory-based interventions such as trauma-sensitive yoga, interoception awareness, body scans, breathing practices, and progressive muscle relaxation. My methods are always trauma-informed, holistic, and culturally sensitive, supporting clients to build safety, resilience, and meaningful engagement in daily life.

• When do you think the client will start to feel that progress is being made?

  Every person’s journey is unique, and progress looks different for each individual. Some clients begin to notice small shifts—like feeling safer, more understood, or more hopeful—within the first few sessions. For others, progress may be felt as they build new strategies, strengthen emotional regulation, or reconnect with a sense of purpose over time. I encourage clients to notice and celebrate these small but meaningful changes, as they often signal the foundation for deeper, long-term growth and recovery.

• How has therapy made a difference in your life?

  As someone who identifies as gender diverse and neurodivergent, therapy has offered me a safe space to be seen, understood, and supported without judgment. It has helped me strengthen resilience, develop self-acceptance, and process the impacts of stigma and lived experiences. These insights have not only shaped my personal growth but also deepened my commitment to providing affirming, inclusive care for others.

• What do you like most about being a therapist?

  What I value most is creating a safe, affirming space where people feel seen, heard, and supported to be their authentic selves. I deeply appreciate witnessing clients build resilience, discover new strengths, and reconnect with what feels meaningful to them. Walking alongside someone on their journey toward recovery and self-acceptance is both a privilege and an inspiration.

• Do you ever have 'bad hair' days?

  Of course! Like everyone, I have days that don’t go to plan. What matters most is how we respond—with self-compassion, humour, and flexibility. I find these moments help me stay grounded and remind me that therapy is about being real and human, not perfect.

• What do you think is the most significant problem we face, in the world today?

  One of the most significant challenges we face is disconnection—both from ourselves and from one another. Social inequality, discrimination, and stigma continue to harm individuals and communities, often leaving people feeling isolated or unseen. I believe fostering inclusion, compassion, and genuine connection is essential to addressing these issues and supporting collective wellbeing.