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true story<br />
feared, are often the victims of ‘normal’ society.<br />
They have emotions, like rage, that take over them<br />
until they cannot control it; they hide themselves<br />
away, search for companions, they long for peace.<br />
All of these themes fitted the way I saw the<br />
world; after all, I had my own demons to work<br />
with. Much like my creepy counterparts, I started<br />
to find that I could use my difference as power.<br />
I could take what I thought were my weaknesses<br />
and my weirdness, and turn them into my<br />
strengths. This all came together when I was<br />
training to be a therapist.<br />
I was lucky that the teacher on my counselling<br />
course also embraced difference, and encouraged<br />
me not to lose mine. I saw that my demons<br />
now created an empathy in me for those who<br />
struggled. Once I had developed my private<br />
OUR EXPERT SAYS<br />
Growing up, Katie had support from friends and<br />
family, but still struggled, and found bullying<br />
throughout school to be emotionally damaging.<br />
Katie’s life felt out of control, and she selfharmed<br />
and had suicidal thoughts. Feeling like<br />
an outsider, she was drawn to horror fiction, and<br />
connected with the monsters who provoked fear,<br />
and yet in reality were incredibly vulnerable.<br />
Identifying with these characters allowed<br />
practice, I did not hide my own identity, and<br />
I still don’t. I have tattoos, I have hair that<br />
changes all the time, and my clothes still reflect<br />
my goth/punk roots. I am proud of this, and<br />
I know that it still fits with my therapy style,<br />
which is professional and warm.<br />
I have been able to help so many others<br />
connect with their own identities, and be<br />
proud of who they are, by showing my own<br />
flawed self. I’m not sad or lonely any more. I<br />
have a wonderful partner, who embraces my<br />
weirdness, and I am able to exist in a world that<br />
feels right for me, without having to escape.<br />
Monsters are still my friends, and I am<br />
now working on a book project that uses<br />
characters from classic spooky stories to help<br />
us understand mental health. It isn’t dark or<br />
scary, but colourful, positive, and full of life.<br />
My monsters took me from the darkness and<br />
helped me feel comfortable in myself: they<br />
helped me feel human.<br />
her to find the strength to move past the<br />
persecution she felt, showing us the<br />
power of valuing our own identity. Katie<br />
trained as a counsellor, and uses<br />
her empathic understanding<br />
to help others to face and<br />
embrace their own demons.<br />
Graeme Orr | MBACP (Accred) | Counsellor<br />
happiful.com | <strong>April</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | 97
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