Dr Marta Lopez

Is wellbeing something that we need to achieve or is it something that we all possess? Of late, we hear the word 'wellbeing' everywhere, but what does it mean and why is it so difficult to achieve when we all have the internal resources to be our own version of this? We go through life with a goal to find happiness in our future which can make us easily forget to find the happiness in our present.

This is something Dr Marta Lopez has been working on throughout her life.

Upon leaving a small island in the Canary Islands at the age of 20 and moving to the UK, she started her journey of learning and self-discovery. At this point in her life, she felt that she would find her happiness through education. It was an exciting prospect and she took full advantage of the opportunities available. From a young age she embraced education gaining several qualifications and taking part in many professional experiences. One that stands out is her time at the University of Oxford's Neurology department which was her stepping stone into clinical psychology. It was during this time that she found wellbeing in learning and gaining experience in a field she felt passionate about.

However, upon finishing her learning journey, she felt a sense of loss. She had gained a lot - experience and the qualifications she needed to practice her profession, but what now?

The search for inner wellbeing continued, this time through travelling. She has been as far as South America, sailing at sea for 6-8 months and volunteering around the world. Through this, she was able to explore different countries and experience their cultures. It was during this time that she gained a new sense of wellbeing, different from the kind that she achieved through her professional experiences.

Through these experiences, Marta realised that wellbeing is not something that can be achieved. Wellbeing is within us all, it sometimes just takes unlocking. In doing so, it is important not to let our survival instincts hold us back. We are hardwired to be cautious of novel experiences but sometimes to find happiness we must go out of our comfort zone and reach out with intention.

She uses this understanding to help others realise their own sense of wellbeing. She has over 20 years experience working with people of all ages and backgrounds. She enjoys carrying out research and has published a number of articles. Amongst her areas of expertise is trauma, traumatic brain injury and Women's issues. She helps others to realise that they are capable of more and the importance of breaking habits to be free. She highlights the importance of living authentically, and living for you. Marta has done this in her own life by surrounding herself with things she loves and enjoys such as animals and the freedom of moving around.