Chana-Kay Daley

Therapy for complex minds and intense emotion

You may have spent much of your life being misunderstood — by professionals, systems, or even the people closest to you. Perhaps you live with intense emotions, racing thoughts, sensory overwhelm, or diagnoses that never quite tell the full story.

I offer a calm, grounded, and non-judgmental space for people with complex inner worlds. Alongside my professional training, I bring lived experience of neurodivergence and mental health diagnoses, which shapes my work with depth, empathy, and realism.

I have worked extensively within women’s prisons, supporting individuals with trauma histories, emotional intensity, and experiences of shame, survival, and resilience. This work has taught me the importance of safety, dignity, and being truly seen — not managed or labelled.

Therapy with me is collaborative and paced carefully. We focus on understanding rather than fixing, helping you make sense of your experiences and develop ways of living that feel more manageable and authentic.

You don’t need to be ‘less’ to be worthy of support. You’re welcome to come exactly as you are.

Who I work with-

“I work from both professional training and lived experience of neurodivergence and long-term mental health diagnoses. This allows me to offer therapy that is grounded, realistic, and deeply respectful of complexity.”

Who I work best with

• Neurodivergent adults (ADHD, autism)

• People with multiple or complex diagnoses

• Clients with BPD traits or emotional intensity

• Those who feel harmed or misunderstood by systems

• Women with trauma histories

• People who’ve been told they’re “too much”

Who I may not be the best fit for

• Those seeking quick symptom elimination only

• Highly structured, manualised therapy without exploration

• Clients wanting advice-giving rather than collaboration

FAQ SECTION

What will our first session look like? 

I usually like to have a free 15 minute consultation with my clients over the phone or via a secure video platform to get an idea of if and how we could work together.

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Do you have lived experience of mental health or neurodivergence?

Yes. Alongside my professional training, I bring lived experience of neurodivergence and long-term mental health challenges. This informs my work with care and reflection, helping me offer therapy that is realistic, compassionate, and grounded — without making sessions about my experiences.

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Will you share your own experiences in sessions?

My focus is always on you. I may occasionally draw on lived understanding when it supports your therapeutic process, but I am careful, boundaried, and thoughtful about self-disclosure. Any sharing is purposeful and in service of your needs, not my own.

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What kind of clients do you work best with?

I work particularly well with adults who experience emotional intensity, complex or multiple diagnoses, neurodivergence, or long-standing feelings of being misunderstood or mislabelled. Many of my clients have felt failed by systems or previous support and are looking for therapy that feels human, respectful, and paced carefully.

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You’ve worked in women’s prisons — how does that influence your work now?

Working in women’s prisons shaped my approach profoundly. It taught me the importance of safety, dignity, and non-judgment, especially when working with trauma, shame, survival strategies, and intense emotions. I am comfortable holding complexity and do not rush or minimise what clients bring.

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I’ve been told I’m “too much” or “difficult” — will this be a problem?

No. Many people come to therapy carrying shame from being labelled as “too much,” “challenging,” or “hard to help.” I am comfortable working with emotional intensity and complexity, and I aim to create a space where you don’t need to minimise yourself to be accepted.