Susie Hooper set up Pause & Breathe, to share her mindfulness practice within her local community. Susie was introduced to mindfulness within her role as a Criminal Justice Social Worker, delivering group-work to men who have committed sexual offences. Initially, the aim of this was to introduce mindfulness to clients, however, Susie found practising mindfulness to be extremely beneficial, and started on her own mindfulness journey.

After practising mindfulness for some months, Susie realised how disconnected she was from her emotions. Mindfulness has helped her to be much more aware of her emotions; she is now less reactive to these in an unthinking way. Being more in tune with how she’s feeling has improved her relationships. She is more able to discuss the way she feels, without instinctively acting this out. She is much less overwhelmed by her emotions than she used to be. Life is still busy, but she makes more active choices about what she wants to do and to take part in, rather than feeling pulled along by the wishes of others.