About

My story is one of adversity turned into purpose and power

Using THE MINDFUL 3 METHOD underpinned by the iceberg effect -The Silent Commitment to Consistent Excellence

WELCOME TO THE MINDFUL Way

Performance and developmental support using the vessel of mentorship

My highs (the successes at work) were great, they still play out today, but the lows were often debilitating. Reaching middle management level across fields but experiencing this glass ceiling effect that I didn't have the words for but made me sad, angry or frustrated with systems and structures that were not equal nor fair for myself and often the individuals I served. At times my age, youthful looks, gender, race and more recently, disability were barriers that should never be there. These experiences left me challenging ideologies, poor work practices, organisation culture and the lack of support in personal development.

Using THE MINDFUL 3 METHOD underpinned by the iceberg effect -The Silent Commitment to Consistent Excellence

WELCOME TO THE MINDFUL Way

Performance and developmental support using the vessel of mentorship

Much of my work journey was filled with trying to prove my worth and experience and within the support space required the best outcomes with little or no investment, but a personal change came at the age of 32 while working in education when a student who had PSTD took me on a journey of learning about trauma and the impact.

This student did not trust anyone in the school, which took me a year to build trust with him and move my mentorship into therapeutic practice.

A change that led me to a mirror of my own life and started a road of personal healing and upskilling my professional practice.

I use my experience to show organisations and individuals the reason for investment in support to develop the person, both personally and professionally.

"What you don't pay for, you eventually pay for"

This student did not trust anyone in the school, which took me a year to build trust with him and move my mentorship into therapeutic practice.

A change that led me to a mirror of my own life and started a road of personal healing and upskilling my professional practice.

I use my experience to show organisations and individuals the reason for investment in support to develop the person, both personally and professionally.

"What you don't pay for, you eventually pay for"

Psychological mentor/coach, facilitator, speaker, youth advocate and champion, advisory member and research contributor. As you can see, I wear many hats but consider myself as a psychological, therapeutic practitioner who understands the fundamentals needed to thrive both personally and professionally.

Passionate about social change, I engage in projects that support better practices and reform in different sectors, improvement in welfare, leadership, mental health or mentoring.

My working background is made up from over two decades working across education, social care, retail and hospitality sectors. Reaching middle management level across fields but experiencing this glass ceiling effect that many speak of. Age, Gender, Race and more recently, disability are barriers that should never be there. With not having the language to understand or describe my experiences, filled with challenging ideologies of poor work practices, culture and personal development. At 32, I decided to make a personal change that aligned with my values, passions and a desire to grow in understanding of the impact of my adversities.

I want to use my experiences to not shame anyone but to show the impact when we do not stretch ourselves to embrace change, having healthy work cultures, working through our personal experiences and having ethics in front of all we do.

Personal Development

Philosophy

Mental Agility

Personal development comes from a personal responsibility and commitment. I describe mental agility as the ability to adjust through life regardless of the circumstances. The way to achieve mental agility is through digging deeper at your guiding philosophy. Many of us are living from philosophies that were passed to us both personally and professionally, and too often those same philosophies are unhelpful to the very objective we are trying to achieve.

If you read this, and it hits home, you have two choices to keep doing the same things and expect different results or make a change to connect to yourself and try another path one of pride, passion and connectivity.

In my facilitation and mentorship I use the 4rs trauma-informed framework to encourage empowerment, inform decision-making as well as adjusting responses to adversities in a way that embraces emotional intelligence and awareness.

In the list of certifications on Trauma I have a Bronze, Silver and Gold awards from training delivered by Nicola Lester and Trauma-Informed Coaching by The Centre for Healing - By being trauma-informed working alongside my psychology and neuroscience understanding allows me to understanding triggers, the emotions that are present and the different ways reactions may show up and hinder performance. I am able to navigate our challenge in the partnership with gentle but direct hands with the intention of making the habits and practice the focus of your growth, change or development.

Change is often slow, why? - "Most people are living in their ego, held by fear or trapped behind traumatic experiences.

What others say"

Gemma's professional nature always comes across in her work, she is fun, supportive and flexible in how she approaches reaching outcomes. While her adversities were hardships that provided many barriers, they gave her the desire to work hard, focus on the objective and be evidence-based in her mindset. Many will say she is raw and authentic in how she now shares her adversities and how she navigates these challenges, but Gemma will always say life did not always look like that.

Giving a celebratory speech at an MPS passing parade for almost 400 recruits with their family and many others.

Connecting the dots - Adversities Are Only One Part Of my Story

Looking back, growing up and not speaking about my biological mother had a profound impact on me, it impacted my sense of belonging and understanding of self. The layers of this are complex but not wanting to hurt my dad or stepmother by asking questions as well as them not speaking about things in the hope of protecting me (which I didn't understand until I was much older), meant I developed a response of getting on with things rather than addressing them. In my early childhood I spent some time in Jamaica and my education experience of school was harsh, disciplined and exciting in many aspects.

While living in Jamaica, I experienced connection, culture, nuances of unspoken modes of respect, happiness alongside abuse and horror. How does a young child understand that?

Well, at the age of 12 I tried to jump out of a window.

Unfortunately, my adverse experiences didn't stop there -

I was homeless at 17

married at 18

survivor of domestic violence by 25

and I can tell you that this is only one side of my story. At 32, I decided to make a change, which was the start of moving from surviving to thriving.

The truth is, most cultures don’t speak about things that are difficult. However, those same things come back and manifest in our relationships later in life.

My biggest adverse experience thus far

At the end of 2023, I almost lost my life and not see 40 due to sepsis. A perforated appendix and bowel saw me staying in the hospital for 6 weeks. During this time I had two blood transfusions and a PICC line for home treatment. My habits I had built over the last 8 years, I was able to fight the infection and recover.

Meditation, understanding recovery, embracing my emotions supported then and still does now.

The barriers that still exist are not okay!

LIVING WITH A STOMA

I have a life motto - life will give you challenge, conflict and disruption, sometimes all at once. This experience did just that. I have always championed difference, believing in social justice. While much has changed in society, we still must make strides and stand up for equity.

I share my lived experiences to give a contextual understanding about differences, intersectionalities and overcoming trauma/adversities. The aim is not to shame anyone but to show the impact both personally and professionally when we do not stretch ourselves to embrace change, have healthy work cultures, work through our personal experiences as well as having ethics in front of all we do.

Raising Awareness

Have you ever head of the sunflower scheme? The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is a simple tool for you to voluntarily share that you have a disability or condition that may not be immediately apparent. There are various items you can purchase to wear - just head over to the website.

Improving engagement and service - I share my lived experiences to give a contextual understanding about differences, intersectionalities and overcoming trauma/adversities. The aim is not to shame anyone but to show the impact both personally and professionally when we do not stretch ourselves to embrace change, have healthy work cultures, work through our personal experiences as well as having ethics in front of all we do.