A Hitchin therapist who has scooped a ‘best coach’ award has spoken of her passion for her role.

Mum of three Gaynor Dawson is a qualified therapeutic coach, clinical hypnotherapist and neuro-linguistic programming practitioner and took the honours at the countywide Best Business Woman awards ceremony.

Gaynor’s Bucklersbury-based business Enhance And Inspire helps children with a range of emotional issues, promoting self-esteem, offering support to prevent self-harming, and offering ways of tackling anxiety problems such as stress brought on by exams.

Gaynor, of West Hill, said: “I’m ecstatic.

“I was delighted just to have made the shortlist as it’s testament to the work Enhance and Inspire does with young people in our area.

“Much of my work is based on the cognitive thinking cycle or the mind body connection – where what you think affects how you behave.

“Children respond so well to this way of therapeutic coaching.

“To many young people it is a revelation that their thoughts are having an effect on how they feel and behave, and it’s an even bigger surprise that they can change their thoughts.

“Enhance and Inspire started working with clients on a one-to-one basis. One of those clients was a senior member of staff at a local school who was so impressed with my work they asked me to work in school with some of their pupils as an addition to the school counselling team.

“Mmore schools became aware of my work, so that before too long I became known for working with teenage girls who use self-harm as a coping mechanism for the issues they are facing.

“The work that I do can be very challenging as I often work with teenagers who are feeling suicidal, have extreme social anxiety that stops them being able to go to school or youngsters who are so overwhelmed with depression that they self-harm on a regular basis leaving scars on their arms and legs.

“I’m pleased to say Enhance and Inspire is now being recommended by two local GP surgeries.

“I am so passionate about removing the stigma of mental health and encouraging schools and parents to talk about it with children and young people so that they can access the support they need when facing these challenges.”

To learn more visit www.enhanceandinspire.com.