About Me…
I'm Aimee, the owner of The Shen Den.
I've spent pretty much my entire working life in the corporate world, although I'd probably describe that as accidental. I never really felt as though I belonged there. It's in my nature to help people, and I always felt that something was missing from the work I was doing.
After 15 years in the corporate world, one child and a bout of burnout and postnatal depression(!), I finally made the decision to leave the world I'd never quite fitted into and retrain.
Initially, I started training as a counsellor, completing my Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications. But something didn't quite click in the way I'd hoped. Then I discovered acupuncture, and had a bit of an 'aha' moment. I became fascinated by the ways it could be used to support emotional wellbeing and mental health, and the more I learned, the more I knew I'd found something that really interested me.
Acupuncture and Reiki are at the heart of what I do, but I also wanted to offer a range of complementary therapies. Because sometimes it's not about tackling the deep-rooted stuff or working through something difficult. Sometimes you just need an hour to yourself, a chance to relax, switch off and restore a little bit of balance.
I'm particularly interested in the relationship between our physical and emotional wellbeing, and just how intertwined the two can be. Whether someone comes to me with stress, hormonal changes, persistent pain or simply a feeling that they're running on empty, I believe it's important to look at the person as a whole, rather than just the symptom they're experiencing.
My aim with The Shen Den is to create a safe, welcoming space for people who are navigating things like mental health difficulties, burnout, postpartum changes and neurodivergence, and to explore how acupuncture and complementary therapies might support them. I don't think these treatments are talked about nearly enough in this context, and I'm keen to change that. I've already had some lovely experiences with clients and it's incredibly rewarding to see the difference that having the right support can make.
Outside the clinic, I'm usually trying to balance work with family life and spending time with my daughter. I'm also learning, first-hand, just how long it can take to get back to feeling like yourself. I'm still very much a work in progress, and perhaps that's part of why this work means so much to me.
Aimee x
What is ‘Shen’?
When I started learning about acupuncture, one concept kept drawing me back: Shen.
Shen doesn't really have a direct English translation. It's often described as your spirit, your spark, the light in your eyes... the thing that makes you you.
When I first came across the idea, it resonated with me immediately. I'd spent years feeling as though I'd lost me through burnout and motherhood. I think there are a lot of people who feel like that at different stages of life.
One of the things I love most about the concept of Shen is that it can be nourished.
Acupuncture can help. Taking time out for yourself can help. But so can the smaller things: a walk in nature, journalling, meditation, slowing down long enough to reconnect with yourself.
That's the idea behind The Shen Den.
As the clinic grows, I hope it becomes more than somewhere people come for acupuncture. I hope it becomes a place where we can explore what it really means to nourish our Shen together.