Reggae Girlz striker Khadija “Bunny” Shaw has credited the influence of her psychologist as a key factor behind her resurgence in form and historic achievements with Manchester City this season.

Shaw recently etched her name into the club’s record books by becoming the first female player in Manchester City’s history to score 100 goals. The Jamaican international has been in scintillating form, leading the Barclays Women’s Super League with a competition-best 12 goals from just 11 matches.

The prolific run marks a sharp turnaround from an injury-disrupted 2024–2025 campaign, during which Shaw struggled to replicate the sensational output of the previous season. That earlier campaign saw her sweep multiple major honours, including the Golden Boot, Player of the Season and the Football Writers’ Player of the Season awards.

Speaking in an interview with Manchester City’s in-house media team, Shaw opened up about the role mental health support has played in helping her navigate both difficult and successful periods of her career.

“For me having a psychologist definitely helped me because growing up and how I’ve been I’ve never really like sat down and opened up to someone and explain and expressed and it’s always about keeping it in focus on the next thing it’s going to be fine however you feel,” Shaw explained. “I went there and I just held a conversation like we’re having a conversation here and before you know it you don’t think about it but then you’re like wow you leave that session like I left a lot in there like the burden feels less.”

She added that the sessions helped her manage what she was carrying away from football, allowing her to perform more freely on match day.

“I feel like I can speak to someone and express what I’m going through and them helping to find ways to help me off the pitch so that when I go on the pitch I don’t feel so clustered and so like heavy,” Shaw said. “And even in my best moments I still speak to them because that’s the next thing. I felt better and I was just like OK off you go I’m back I feel good I feel better, but then I started to realize that that’s not how it works.”

Shaw noted that maintaining that support even during successful spells has been crucial to her overall well-being and consistency.

“Sometimes your good moments as well you need to still express and let things off of your chest and I think having a psychologist definitely helped me throughout the difficult times,” she said.

Shaw returns to action for the league leaders who play away to Arsenal in the WSL on January 10, 2026. City who are on a 10 match win streak lead the table on 30 points while Arsenal are 8 points behind in third.