The Heart Plaster
Grief is like an emotional wound to the heart. Imagine you have a wound to your heart; it's bleeding and it hurts so you put a plaster on it. The bleeding stops and for a while the plaster is covering…
Grief Life Jackets
Over a lifetime, we travel down the ‘river of life' and whilst we often experience a few ‘rapids' and a ‘few waves', we navigate through them and seem to find a way through those difficult times. When we experience a…
Grief, Loss and Bereavement
Grief and loss come in many forms, whether that is the death of a loved one, terminal illness, the loss of a job position or income, children leaving home (also known as empty nest syndrome), life changes and upheavals such…
How does counselling work?
My philosophy of counselling is quite simple: have faith in the person and have faith in the process. It is a simple philosophy, but one which I feel has served me, and more importantly, my clients, well to date. The…
I've been 'unrealistically' bad
It is surprising and saddening hearing kind-hearted and levelled clients be hard on themselves for behaviours that are not socially desirable, i.e.: having an extra drink at a party and getting a little drunk, having casual sex, having an argument…
WRITING AS A THERAPEUTIC TOOL
"I was angry! So angry... I began stabbing at the cornflakes packet with my spoon when I was ten. Then I took to writing big angry words on the cardboard - nasty words, swear words. Then I felt better. So…
Understanding Self
We often develop unhelpful stories when we are young and unable to emotionally process what is happening. These stories are developed to help us cope at the time but often end up becoming thorns in our side as we grow…
How to survive as a carer
Carers need help too – how counselling can help you cope Being a carer Are you looking after a parent, spouse, disabled child, or friend? Many of us in the UK are now shouldering the main responsibility for looking after…
Broken Hearts Can, And Do, Mend
If your relationship has left you hurt, bewildered, confused, bitter, disappointed, angry, rejected, broke, broken, or any or all of those, you may be feeling as if you will never get over it. You will, with a little help or…
Kindness
I’ve been reflecting a lot on the nature and impact of kindness this week. When someone is kind to us, we can have two reactions - we can accept it and soak in the gift, or we can feel uncomfortable…
Counselling children and young people, within schools using creative play therapy and how early intervention could improve society
Introduction Having worked within a number of local authorities in various capacities, I have identified some important issues in counselling within the care system and also the educational establishment. Many children who come into care arrive either as young babies…
Post Natal Depression: How can Counselling help?
Have you recently had a baby? Are you struggling with feeling low and are often tearful or feel emotionally overwhelmed? You could be suffering from Post Natal Depression, something that affects one in every three new mums in the U.K.…