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As Scotland shivers through this deep freeze, many of us are feeling the cold—not just outside, but within. Winter has a way of making everything feel heavier, more isolating. There's something we don't talk about enough: how hard it can be to both ask for help and to offer it well, especially when the weather mirrors how we might be feeling inside. For those seeking support: Taking that first step—admitting you're struggling, picking up the phone, walking through our door—re

New Year, New Perspective 🌱 Yes, January brings fresh starts and resolutions. And yes, counselling can absolutely support you in making meaningful changes this year. But here's what we really want you to know: counselling isn't just for reinventing yourself or hitting reset. It's for navigating the everyday complexities of being human. Counselling can help with: ☀️Making decisions when you feel stuck between options ☀️Working through everyday stresses that feel overwhelming

As we step into 2026, we hold space for all that this new year brings: the courage to face new challenges, the lightness of unexpected laughter, and the possibility of fresh beginnings. We also pause to honor those who aren't here to see this sunrise with us. Their absence is felt, and their memory matters. In grief, we often discover something profound: a deeper appreciation for the fragility and preciousness of life itself. Loss has a way of teaching us what truly matters.

Welcome to the time vortex between Christmas and New Year! 🎄✨ You know the one—where days blur together, nobody knows what date it is, and eating leftover cookies for breakfast feels like a completely valid life choice. Is it Tuesday? Is it the weekend? Does time even exist? And here's the thing—if Santa can take a well-deserved break after his big night, so can you! Even the most magical among us need time to rest and recharge. 🎅✨ In this beautifully weird liminal space, l

Wishing all my clients, past and present, a peaceful and meaningful Christmas. This time of year can bring joy and connection, but we also recognize it can be tender for many. To those of us celebrating without loved ones this year, I hold you gently in my thoughts. Your grief, your memories, and your resilience matter. Whether this season finds you in celebration, quiet reflection, or simply getting through each day—please know that however you're feeling is valid. I am grat

The weekend before Christmas can bring a mix of emotions. Perhaps this year hasn't gone as you'd hoped with family - disappointment, distance, or difficult conversations may be weighing on your heart. If you're navigating these feelings, you're not alone. It's okay to acknowledge that Christmas can be complicated, and that hope and disappointment can exist side by side. Sometimes the most powerful step forward is acceptance - not resignation, but a gentle acknowledgment of wh

Loss of Loved Ones this Festive 🖤💔 As we reach the half way point of the festive period let us remember those dealing with loss and grief at this time. The holidays can magnify every kind of loss. If you're grieving someone who has died, the empty chair at the table feels impossible to ignore. If you're grieving someone who is still alive—a relationship that ended, a family member lost to estrangement, addiction, or dementia—the season's emphasis on togetherness can feel p

The festive season rarely goes exactly as planned. The perfect dinner gets interrupted, the family gathering takes an unexpected turn, or the carefully wrapped gift doesn't land quite right. And that's okay. Learning to hold our plans lightly during this time of year isn't just about surviving the holidays—it's practice for life itself. When we can adjust our expectations, adapt to change, and find meaning even when things unfold differently than we imagined, we build resilie

Monday mornings can feel heavy. The weekend's ease gives way to packed schedules, mounting responsibilities, and that familiar knot of stress in your chest. If you're feeling it today, you're not alone. Many of us start the week carrying unrealistic expectations—believing we should feel motivated, energized, and ready to tackle everything at once. When we don't, we're left feeling like we're already behind before we've even begun. Here's something important to understand: you

🌟 Weekend vibes and festive celebrations ahead! 🎉 As the party season kicks off and I head out for the evening, let's remember something beautiful: joy isn't frivolous—it's essential medicine for our mental health. In a world that feels heavy with stress and uncertainty, those moments of genuine celebration, laughter with friends, and seasonal connection aren't just nice to have. They're vital anchors that help us maintain balance and resilience. Whether it's a quiet gather

The festive season often comes with beautiful expectations of togetherness, but it can also bring complex family dynamics, blurred boundaries, and pressure to say yes to everything. This year, remember: celebrating well doesn't mean celebrating without limits. It's okay to: • Leave the gathering early when you need space • Say no to events that drain you • Set loving boundaries with family members • Choose one glass of wine instead of three • Skip the second serving when you'

When did grief become something to fix? 🕊️ In our modern world, we've increasingly medicalized death and the grieving process—treating loss as a problem to solve rather than a profound human experience to move through. Grief isn't a disorder. It's not something that follows a neat timeline or checklist of stages. It's messy, non-linear, and deeply personal. Yet we often feel pressure to "get over it," to return to productivity, to medicate our pain away rather than sit with

Our brains love simplicity. They want clear answers: good or bad, right or wrong, success or failure. But life is rarely that simple. Black-and-white thinking (also called all-or-nothing thinking) splits everything into extremes: • "I made a mistake, so I'm a complete failure" • "They hurt me, so they're a terrible person" • "I didn't stick to my plan perfectly, so I might as well give up" • "If I'm not the best, I'm the worst" This kind of thinking can leave us feeling stuck

🌟🌟🌟 This week marked International Men's Day, and I want to take a moment to recognize something important: men's mental health matters. Too often, men feel they need to handle everything alone, that reaching out is a sign of weakness rather than strength. And too often, men are measured by what they provide—their productivity, their success, their ability to "hold it together"—rather than being valued simply for who they are. But the truth is, you are more than what you d

🌦️ Yellow Weather Warning 🌦️ When the Met Office issues a yellow weather warning, we slow down. We check the forecast. We adjust our plans. We move more gently through our day. Our bodies and minds issue warnings too. That persistent tiredness. The tightness in your chest. The feeling of being overwhelmed. These are your personal yellow warnings - signals asking you to pause, to tend to yourself, to adjust your approach. Just as we wouldn't ignore weather warnings and push

As the weekend begins, take a moment to pause and reflect: Who are the people who truly fill your cup? The ones who make you feel seen, heard, and valued? Connection is one of our deepest human needs, yet in the busyness of daily life, we sometimes forget to nurture the relationships that matter most. Strong connections don't just feel good—they're essential for our mental health. When we feel genuinely connected to others, we build emotional resilience that helps us navigate

Celebrating Your Small Wins 🌟 As we approach the weekend, let's take a moment to acknowledge something powerful: **the wins that got you here.** Did you get out of bed when it felt impossible? That's a win. Did you ask for help when you needed it? That's a win. Did you choose a kind word for yourself instead of criticism? That's a win. **The way we talk to ourselves matters.** Our inner dialogue shapes how we see ourselves, our challenges, and our capacity to move forward. W

🎃 This Halloween, let's talk about facing our fears 🎃 While costumes and candy are fun, sometimes the scariest monsters are the ones we carry inside - anxiety, stress, past trauma, or overwhelming emotions. The good news? You don't have to face them alone. Just like turning on the lights makes the shadows disappear, talking to someone can help put your fears into perspective and give you tools to manage them. Here's something powerful: when we unmask our fears and identify

Taking care of our emotional health is just as important as looking after our physical wellbeing. Over time, I have learned that nurturing emotional wellness helps us navigate life’s ups and downs with greater ease and resilience. It’s a gentle, ongoing process that invites us to be kind to ourselves and to develop habits that support our inner balance. In this post, I want to share some practical emotional wellness strategies that have made a real difference in my life and c

Just like the wild weather we've been experiencing lately, our emotions can feel unpredictable, overwhelming, and completely out of our control. One moment we're calm, the next we're caught in a downpour of feelings. But here's something powerful to remember: while we can't control when the storm clouds roll in, we *can* learn to navigate through them. **You don't have to weather your storms alone.** In counselling, we work together to help you: ✨ Recognize your emotional wea