‘So, dear, tell me everything. I am so happy to meet you! It’s been a while since I’ve had any new clients in the building. It’s very exciting, for me and the team. Your name is …’ She looks down at her iPad. ‘Olive! What a lovely name.’

I nod. ‘Thank you.’

‘So, Olive. What is your story?’

There’s a comfortable, easy vibe about Cyril’s room. There are plants all around, pictures of her family on the wall and her handbag on the floor. It feels laid-back and intimate.

‘Do you mind if I record the session on my phone? I often suffer with short-term memory loss and like to listen to things back again,’ I say. A little white lie. I want to record the conversation for myself, but maybe for a future article too.

‘Of course, dear. Whatever works for you,’ Cyril says calmly.

I click record.

‘Well, I don’t know what exactly brought me here. I suppose I was intrigued and wanted to discuss my current situation. A feeling of indecisiveness.’

‘You followed your intuition, darling. You came here for a reason. You must always give yourself credit for the decisions you make.’

‘I guess my issue is not the usual one your clients come to you with, though.’

‘All stories are welcome.’ Cyril puts her hands in a prayer position and leans her chin on her fingertips before closing her eyes. I wait a minute for her to open them. I continue.

‘Well, I’m not actually trying for a baby at all. It’s the opposite really. I wanted to ask whether you’re coming across a growing number of women who are opting out of having children? Ya’know, deciding the whole baby thing isn’t for them. It’s just well, when I try to picture myself with a baby, with a kid, I feel … nothing.’

Cyril’s eyes ping open.

‘Oh! Olive my dear,’ she coughs. ‘Are you suffering from any recent trauma? Anything that has made you feel this way?’ Cyril reaches for her iPad again, looking concerned.

‘Umm no, I don’t think so. I have never wanted to have children, in fact, but for some reason it’s all I can think about at the moment. I feel consumed by it, by the decision to not have them. Perhaps it’s because my friends’ lives are filled with babies at the moment.’

‘Ah, yes. It makes sense that it is all you are thinking about.’ Cyril raises her hands upwards. ‘We often repress our deepest desires, and they come out in our dreams. Have you been dreaming about children at all?’

‘I have yes – but they’re usually nightmares.’

‘We often think nightmares are reflecting the things we don’t want. But often we have fearful dreams about the things we want deep-down and secretly desire.’

‘I guess I just feel quite abnormal compared to my friends. It used to be a level playing field, but now it’s like we’re all veering down different paths. Plus I’ve broken up with my boyfriend over it. I wanted to seek your reassurance – do many women feel like this?’