Stella Sacarello

My background

Hi, I'm Stella. I come from a multicultural background and have lived in the UK since 2016. Growing up mixed race and moving between countries, I often felt different from the people around me and felt discomfort about standing out.

As a result, I’ve spent some time questioning who I am, feeling like a foreigner no matter where I was, and struggling to be understood. In early adulthood, I started to realise that I am bisexual, which added to the feeling of not quite belonging, not quite fitting neatly into a particular group, and further questioning myself.

I felt anxious about whether people will judge or accept me, and whether they would believe me, as bisexuality is so often dismissed.

I have navigated coming out in different contexts, and the unique challenges and fears involved in these. I have navigated concerns about belonging and acceptance from the LGBTQ+ community, but have come to accept and celebrate my own identity.

Counselling has helped me to explore and accept who I am, build self-esteem and gain confidence in my values and identity. It empowered me to make decisions that are right for me and helped me to improve my relationships. It highlighted my strengths and achievements and has had a profound impact on how I see myself.

In more recent years, counselling has helped me explore the possibility of my own neurodivergence and feel seen and understood in this area. Although I don't yet have a formal diagnosis, it is something I strongly see in myself and I feel that it helps me connect with neurodivergent clients.

My working background is primarily in customer service and hospitality. I understand the challenges that people face in this line of work and the burnout that can come with it.