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Gentle Insights from the Counselling Chair

8/6/2026

The counselling room is rarely a place of grand speeches or instant fixes. More often, it’s a space of gentle shifts small moments of clarity, quiet realisations, and the gradual unfolding of someone’s story.

From my side of the chair, I’ve come to deeply respect the gentle. The slow pace, the steady presence, the courage it takes just to show up. In a world that often rewards urgency and quick answers, therapy invites something different: permission to slow down, to notice, to feel.

One of the simplest insights I’ve witnessed over time is this most people aren’t broken. They’re hurting, overwhelmed, carrying things they were never meant to carry alone. Therapy isn’t about “fixing” anyone, but about creating a space where those burdens can be acknowledged, explored, and sometimes lightened.

Another insight that surfaces often is that progress rarely looks how we expect. Healing can look like setting a boundary for the first time, or allowing yourself to cry without apology. It can be leaving an email unread for a day, getting out of bed when it feels impossible, or saying, “Actually, I’m not okay.” These are quiet victories that deserve to be honoured.

And perhaps most importantly, I’m reminded again and again that connection heals. Whether through words, silence, tears, or laughter being listened to, without judgement, in all your complexity, is a powerful thing. It’s a reminder that you are enough, just as you are.
So these are some of the gentle insights I carry from the counselling chair:

You are not broken.
Small steps are still steps.
You don’t have to do it alone.
You are worthy of kindness especially your own.

If these words resonate with you, I hope you give yourself permission today to slow down, to listen inwardly, and to honour the small, quiet moments in your life. Sometimes it’s in these gentle spaces that the most meaningful change begins.

#GentleHealing #TherapyReflections #HealingJourney #CounsellingSupport #SmallStepsBigChange #YouAreEnough #EmotionalWellbeing #SelfCompassion #QuietCourage #ThePowerOfConnection #TherapyWorks #HoldingSpace #MentalHealthAwareness #HealingTogether #Listening2U #SlowHealing #GentleInsights #InnerStrength #TherapyReflections #Wellbeing #MentalHealthMatters

Breaking the Cycle: Understanding and Living Beyond OCD

20/5/2026

Understanding OCD
Living with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) can feel like being trapped in a constant cycle of intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviours. These patterns can create deep distress, leaving individuals feeling stuck, anxious, and exhausted. Yet with understanding and the right support, it is possible to break free and live with greater ease and self-trust.

What OCD Really Is
OCD is far more than being “a bit particular” or “needing things just right.” It involves a pattern of obsessions and compulsions that can significantly impact daily life:

Obsessions are intrusive, unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that cause distress.
Compulsions are the repetitive actions or mental rituals a person feels compelled to perform to reduce anxiety or prevent something bad from happening.

For example, someone might have the thought “What if I left the door unlocked?” (obsession) and check it repeatedly (compulsion) for reassurance.

The OCD Cycle
The OCD cycle tends to follow a familiar pattern:

Obsession – A distressing thought, image, or doubt appears.
Anxiety – Intense fear, guilt, or discomfort follows.
Compulsion – The person performs an action or mental ritual to reduce the anxiety.
Temporary Relief – The anxiety lessens, but the brain learns that the ritual “works,” reinforcing the cycle.

Over time, this creates a loop that feels harder and harder to break.

Breaking the OCD Cycle
Breaking free from OCD begins with understanding that the goal isn’t to eliminate intrusive thoughts everyone experiences them. The key is learning to respond differently when they arise.

Therapeutic approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) can help by gently supporting clients to face their fears and resist compulsions, allowing anxiety to subside naturally.

From a person-centred, trauma-informed perspective, therapy also focuses on self-compassion, helping individuals move away from self-criticism and shame. OCD is not a reflection of character or morality it’s a condition that can be understood, managed, and softened with care and support.

Living Beyond OCD
Living beyond OCD doesn’t mean never having intrusive thoughts again. It means learning to live peacefully alongside uncertainty, without letting those thoughts dictate your actions.
Through ongoing self-understanding, gentle curiosity, and professional support, it’s possible to loosen OCD’s grip and rebuild confidence in your own ability to cope. With time, the cycle can ease allowing space for calm, clarity, and choice to return.

Getting Support for OCD
If you’re struggling with OCD or intrusive thoughts, you don’t have to face it alone. Talking with a qualified therapist can help you understand your patterns, find strategies that work for you, and begin to reconnect with a sense of balance and control.

#OCD #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #OCDTherapyUK #OCDCounsellingUK #OCDTherapistNearMe #LivingBeyondOCD #UnderstandingOCD #IntrusiveThoughts #AnxietyTherapyUK #CBTforOCD #ERPTherapy #PersonCentredCounselling #TraumaInformedTherapy #BACPAccreditedCounsellor #MentalHealthSupportUK #OnlineCounsellingUK #PrivateTherapyUK #Listening2U #OCDRecovery #ManagingAnxiety

How Many Therapists Does It Take to Change a Light Bulb?

4/5/2026

One - but the light bulb has to want to change.
It’s a classic therapist joke. But like many things that make us smile, there’s truth beneath the humour.

Therapy isn’t about "fixing" someone. It’s not about doing the work for you.

As therapists, we offer a space - sometimes calm, sometimes challenging where you can explore, reflect, unravel, and reweave. But we can’t force the light to switch on. That part has to come from within.

Change is often romanticised as something instant or obvious. But in the therapy room, change usually looks quieter, slower, and deeper. It begins with a flicker: a willingness to look inward, to sit with discomfort, to question old patterns, to risk doing something differently.

The idea that “the light bulb has to want to change” speaks to readiness. And readiness doesn’t always mean certainty. It can mean curiosity. It can mean being fed up with how things are, even if you’re not sure what comes next. It can mean finally daring to hope that things could be different.

As a therapist, I don’t provide answers. I walk alongside. I listen. I sometimes shine a light on what you may have forgotten or hidden. But the energy for change - the decision to let that light glow - that’s yours. And that’s what makes it powerful.

So, how many therapists does it take to change a light bulb?
Just one. But the light bulb has to feel safe enough, seen enough, supported enough to believe that change is even possible.

If you’re feeling the flicker of change within you, therapy might be the space to nurture it. You don’t have to do it alone.

Feel free to get in touch if you’re curious about working together or want to learn more about the process.

#TherapyJourney #CounsellingSupport #HealingJourney #TherapyReflections #PersonalGrowth #EmotionalHealing #MindfulnessPractice #SelfCompassion #ChangeIsPossible #MentalHealthAwareness #TherapyWorks #YouAreNotAlone #ResilienceBuilding #InnerStrength #Listening2U #LifeLessons #GrowthMindset #WellbeingJourney

Maybe the Grass Is Greener Where You Water It

22/4/2026

We often look at the lives of others and feel a quiet tug of comparison. Their happiness, their relationships, their confidence, their calm it can all seem brighter, easier, or somehow more “together” than our own. It’s tempting to believe that the grass is greener on the other side.

But what if the grass is greener where you water it?

Growth doesn’t happen by wishing we were somewhere else or someone else. It happens in the small, steady moments of tending to who we are imperfect, evolving, and wonderfully human. Your emotional “garden” needs care in the same way anything living does: patience, nourishment, and gentle attention.

Watering your side might look like:

Setting boundaries that protect your peace.
Choosing rest without guilt.
Being honest about your feelings, even the messy ones.
Showing up for yourself with compassion instead of criticism.
Asking for support when things feel too heavy to carry alone.

It’s easy to admire someone else’s garden without seeing the hours they spent tending to it the weeding, the pruning, the nurturing. Your growth may be slower, quieter, or less visible, but that doesn’t make it any less meaningful.

Maybe the real comparison isn’t between you and someone else.
Maybe it’s between the version of you who is depleted… and the version of you who receives the care you deserve.
When you start watering your own grass with kindness, intention, and patience you may find that the colour begins to return. Not because your life suddenly becomes perfect, but because you’re nurturing a relationship with yourself built on understanding rather than expectation.

The grass may never be flawlessly green. Life isn’t meant to be. But with gentle tending, your garden can become a place where you feel rooted, supported, and truly at home.
Maybe the grass has been waiting for you to water it. 🌱

#SelfCompassion #PersonalGrowth #EmotionalWellbeing #MindfulLiving #HealingJourney #MentalHealthAwareness #YouAreNotAlone #InnerStrength #WellbeingJourney #SelfCareMatters #GrowthMindset #GentleHealing #TherapyReflections #NurtureYourself #Listening2U #BeKindToYourself #PlantYourPeace #WaterYourGrass

What Is a Therapist? Someone Who Joins You in the Darkness with a Light to Help You Find Your Way Out

9/4/2026

The Role of a Therapist
Therapy is often imagined as a place where someone gives advice or offers solutions,  a professional who tells you how to make things better. But in truth, therapy is much more than that.

A therapist is not someone who stands outside your pain, pointing toward the exit. They are someone who steps into that space with you, carrying light and compassion, helping you see what has been too hard to face alone.

The journey isn’t about being “fixed.” It’s about being understood, seen, and gently guided toward your own strength and clarity.

Joining You in the Darkness
When life feels overwhelming, it can seem as though you’re walking through darkness,  uncertain, frightened, or lost. A therapist joins you there, not to rush you toward the light, but to sit with you long enough that your eyes adjust and you can begin to see where you are.

Through empathy, presence, and curiosity, therapy offers space for your feelings to unfold safely. It’s in that quiet, consistent companionship that healing begins, not by removing the pain, but by helping you find meaning, resilience, and direction within it.

The Light They Bring
The “light” a therapist brings isn’t about having all the answers. It’s the light of understanding, acceptance, and hope,  qualities that help illuminate possibilities where there once seemed to be none.

In therapy, light can look like:

A moment of being truly heard and believed.
A gentle question that opens a new perspective.
The slow rediscovery of self-trust after loss or trauma.
A reminder that you are not alone in your struggle.

This kind of light doesn’t blind or overwhelm, it softens the edges of the dark until you can see your own path forward.

Finding Your Way Out in Your Own Time
Healing takes time. It isn’t linear or predictable. But with the steady presence of a therapist who believes in your capacity for growth, you begin to take small steps, one moment, one breath, one conversation at a time.

A good therapist doesn’t lead; they walk beside you. They trust that within you lies the strength, wisdom, and courage needed to move toward the life you want. Their role is to hold the light until you can carry it yourself.

Together, you can gently explore the darkness and rediscover the light that has always been within you.

#Therapist #WhatIsTherapy #MentalHealthAwareness #Counselling #PersonCentredTherapy #TraumaInformedTherapy #BACPAccreditedCounsellor #EmotionalHealing #MentalHealthSupportUK #OnlineCounsellingUK #PrivateTherapyUK #Listening2U #HealingJourney #YouAreNotAlone #FindingTheLight #InnerHealing #TherapyJourney #CompassionateSupport #Wellbeing #SelfCompassion

Because Healing Often Begins with Being Truly Listened To

25/3/2026

In a world full of noise, advice, and quick answers, there’s something profoundly healing about being truly listened to. Not interrupted. Not judged. Not fixed, just heard.

As a counsellor, I’ve seen again and again the quiet power that comes when someone finally feels safe enough to speak freely. For many, it’s the first time they’ve shared their story without fear of being dismissed or told what to do. And in that moment of being deeply listened to, something shifts, sometimes subtly, sometimes profoundly.

The Power of Listening
True listening is more than hearing words. It’s noticing the pauses, the silences, the emotions between the lines. It’s holding space for another person’s experience without rushing to fill it or make it tidy. It’s saying, “I’m here, and I hear you,” even when no solutions are clear.

Why It Matters
So many of us move through life feeling unseen or misunderstood. Over time, that silence weighs heavily, leaving us disconnected from ourselves and others.

Being listened to can:

Bring relief from carrying unspoken burdens.
Offer validation that our feelings are real and worthy.
Create clarity as we hear our own thoughts out loud.
Build connection by reminding us we are not alone.

Listening as Self-Care
Listening doesn’t have to come only from others. We can practice it with ourselves too, through journaling, reflection, or simply pausing long enough to notice how we feel. Offering ourselves the same patience and care we long for from others is a powerful act of self-compassion.

Therapy as a Listening Space
Therapy provides a unique opportunity to be truly heard. It’s not about being given all the answers, it’s about having space where your story matters, exactly as it is. A space where presence, patience, and attention create room for healing.

A Gentle Invitation
If you’ve been carrying something silently, perhaps the first step toward healing isn’t finding the right words or solutions. It might be allowing yourself to be listened to.

Because healing often begins not with action, but with presence. With being seen. With being truly heard.

#HealingThroughListening #ThePowerOfPresence #TherapyJourney #BeingHeard #CounsellingSupport #QuietHealing #HoldingSpace #MindfulConnection #EmotionalWellbeing #SelfCompassion #YouAreNotAlone #TherapyReflections #HealingJourney #ListeningWithCare #GentleHealing #MentalHealthAwareness #ConnectionHeals #TherapyWorks #CompassionInAction #Listening2U

Because Healing Often Begins with Being Truly Listened To

9/3/2026

In a world full of noise, advice, and quick answers, there’s something profoundly healing about being truly listened to. Not interrupted. Not judged. Not fixed, just heard.

As a counsellor, I’ve seen again and again the quiet power that comes when someone finally feels safe enough to speak freely. For many, it’s the first time they’ve shared their story without fear of being dismissed or told what to do. And in that moment of being deeply listened to, something shifts, sometimes subtly, sometimes profoundly.

The Power of Listening
True listening is more than hearing words. It’s noticing the pauses, the silences, the emotions between the lines. It’s holding space for another person’s experience without rushing to fill it or make it tidy. It’s saying, “I’m here, and I hear you,” even when no solutions are clear.

Why It Matters
So many of us move through life feeling unseen or misunderstood. Over time, that silence weighs heavily, leaving us disconnected from ourselves and others.

Being listened to can:

Bring relief from carrying unspoken burdens.
Offer validation that our feelings are real and worthy.
Create clarity as we hear our own thoughts out loud.
Build connection by reminding us we are not alone.

Listening as Self-Care
Listening doesn’t have to come only from others. We can practice it with ourselves too, through journaling, reflection, or simply pausing long enough to notice how we feel. Offering ourselves the same patience and care we long for from others is a powerful act of self-compassion.

Therapy as a Listening Space
Therapy provides a unique opportunity to be truly heard. It’s not about being given all the answers, it’s about having space where your story matters, exactly as it is. A space where presence, patience, and attention create room for healing.

A Gentle Invitation
If you’ve been carrying something silently, perhaps the first step toward healing isn’t finding the right words or solutions. It might be allowing yourself to be listened to.

Because healing often begins not with action, but with presence. With being seen. With being truly heard.

#HealingThroughListening #ThePowerOfPresence #TherapyJourney #BeingHeard #CounsellingSupport #QuietHealing #HoldingSpace #MindfulConnection #EmotionalWellbeing #SelfCompassion #YouAreNotAlone #TherapyReflections #HealingJourney #ListeningWithCare #GentleHealing #MentalHealthAwareness #ConnectionHeals #TherapyWorks #CompassionInAction #Listening2U

Finding Your Voice Without Words: The Importance of Art Journaling

23/2/2026

Not all stories are meant to be spoken. Some feelings live too deeply within us to be captured by language alone. For many, art journaling offers a way to express what words cannot hold, an invitation to find your voice without needing to speak.

What Is Art Journaling?
Art journaling is the practice of combining creativity with reflection. It can involve drawing, painting, collaging, doodling, or simply layering colours and textures alongside written words. There are no rules, no expectations, and no need for artistic “talent.” The purpose isn’t to create a masterpiece, but to give shape to emotions and experiences in a way that feels authentic.

Why It Matters
So much of our communication relies on words, yet words can feel limiting when emotions are complex, overwhelming, or unfamiliar.

Art journaling opens another door. It allows you to:

Release emotions that feel tangled or stuck.
Discover patterns in colour, shape, or imagery that reflect your inner world.
Access unconscious feelings that may not yet have words attached.
Create a safe container for your story, private, personal, and entirely yours.

For those navigating grief, trauma, or anxiety, art journaling can be a gentle, non-verbal way of processing and soothing. It bypasses the pressure of explaining yourself and instead offers space for exploration.

The Healing Power of Creativity
Engaging in art journaling activates the creative parts of the brain, which can bring balance to the analytical, problem-solving side that often dominates daily life. This shift can feel grounding, calming, and even liberating. You don’t have to “know” what you’re creating, your journal becomes a space for presence and play, where every brushstroke or scrap of paper is a reflection of you in that moment.

How to Begin

Choose your tools: Start with a notebook, sketchbook, or even loose sheets of paper. Pens, paints, coloured pencils, and magazine cutouts are all welcome.
Let go of perfection: There is no right or wrong way to journal. Messy is allowed. Scribbles are allowed. Silence is allowed.
Follow your intuition: Draw shapes, choose colours, or create textures that reflect how you’re feeling, even if you can’t name the feeling.
Reflect if you want to: After creating, you might write a word, phrase, or date alongside the page. Or you may choose to let the image speak for itself.

Art journaling isn’t about being an artist, it’s about being human. It’s a way to honour your inner world and give yourself permission to exist beyond words.

In therapy, I often see the power of these practices: clients discover truths they hadn’t realised they were carrying, find relief in externalising emotions, or simply reconnect with a sense of play.

Finding your voice doesn’t always mean speaking. Sometimes, it means creating. And sometimes, the marks you make on the page say more than words ever could.

#ArtJournaling #CreativeHealing #SelfExpression #TherapyTools #HealingJourney #EmotionalWellbeing #MindfulCreativity #SelfDiscovery #CreativeTherapy #YouAreNotAlone #MentalHealthAwareness #CounsellingSupport #HealingThroughArt #GentleHealing #PersonalGrowth #JournalingForHealing #CreativeWellbeing #TherapyReflections #InnerStrength #Listening2U

Self-Care Beyond Bubble Baths: How to Find What Truly Nourishes You

11/2/2026

When most people hear the phrase self-care, images of bubble baths, candles, or spa days often come to mind. While these can be soothing, they don’t always touch the deeper layers of what it means to truly take care of ourselves. Self-care isn’t just about comfort it’s about nourishment.

It’s about finding practices that replenish not only the body, but also the mind, heart, and spirit.

Beyond the Surface
Bubble baths and similar rituals can bring moments of calm, but self-care runs deeper. Sometimes, the most nourishing acts aren’t glamorous at all.

They might look like:

Setting a boundary when you’re used to saying yes.
Going to bed earlier instead of scrolling one more time.
Saying no to a commitment that drains you.
Allowing yourself to rest without guilt.
Eating in a way that sustains your energy, rather than depleting it.

These choices aren’t always Instagram-worthy, but they create real shifts in how supported and balanced we feel.

Listening to Your Needs
Self-care begins with listening inwardly. Ask yourself: What do I need right now? The answer might be silence, connection, movement, or solitude. It might be reaching out for support, or finally scheduling that medical appointment you’ve been putting off.

The key is recognising that your needs matter—and giving yourself permission to meet them.

The Role of Therapy in Self-Care
Therapy can also be a form of self-care, not because it’s always comfortable, but because it honours your inner world. It’s a space where you can pause, reflect, and untangle the weight you’ve been carrying. It’s a way of saying: My wellbeing matters enough to invest time and energy in it.

A Gentle Reframe
Self-care isn’t selfish. It’s not indulgence. It’s maintenance—like charging your phone or filling your car with fuel. Without it, you can’t show up fully for yourself or anyone else.

So next time you think of self-care, look beyond the bubble bath. Ask yourself: What would truly nourish me today? Then, allow yourself to take even a small step toward it.

True self-care doesn’t always look soft and pretty—it often looks brave and practical. But the result is the same: you feel more alive, more present, and more connected to yourself.

#SelfCareBeyondBubbleBaths #TrueSelfCare #HealingJourney #MindfulLiving #CounsellingSupport #TherapyReflections #EmotionalWellbeing #SelfCompassion #MentalHealthAwareness #PersonalGrowth #NourishYourself #WellbeingJourney #LifeBalance #ResilienceBuilding #GentleHealing #Listening2U #HealthyBoundaries #YouAreEnough #InnerStrength #Listening2U

The Struggle for Balance: Why Teaching Is Stressful and How Hard It Is to Get Work–Life Balance Right

22/1/2026

As a qualified teacher myself, I know firsthand that teaching isn’t just a profession, it’s a part of who you are. It becomes woven into your identity, your routines, your heart. You don’t just teach lessons… you carry stories, worries, hopes, and the emotional weight of thirty little lives (or more) every single day.

Teaching is rewarding, yes, but it is also unbelievably stressful. And finding that elusive work–life balance can feel almost impossible.

The Pressure Teachers Don’t Talk About Enough
When I was teaching, I quickly realised that the job doesn’t end when the bell rings. There’s marking, planning, data tracking, emails, safeguarding concerns, behaviour management, new initiatives, meetings, paperwork… and the endless mental list that continues even when you’re trying to sleep.
You leave school, but it doesn’t leave you.

Even at home, teachers find themselves replaying conversations with pupils, worrying about the quiet child, thinking through tomorrow’s lesson, or trying to meet targets set by people who may never have stood in front of a class.
The emotional load is enormous far bigger than most people realise.

The Toll on Wellbeing
When you’re in the profession, it’s easy to normalise stress.
It becomes “just part of the job.”

But constant pressure comes with real consequences:

Exhaustion
Burnout
Irritability
Sleep problems
Anxiety
Feeling like you’re never doing enough

And the heartbreaking part?
Teachers often push through it because they care so deeply.

Why Boundaries Matter More Than Ever
One of the hardest lessons I learned as a teacher was this:
You can love your job and still need boundaries.
You can be passionate and still need rest.
You can care deeply and still step back.

Your wellbeing matters not just for you, but for your students too.
A burnt-out teacher cannot be an effective teacher.

Making changes like:

Setting a finish time
Not checking emails at home
Saying no to extra responsibilities
Allowing yourself REAL days off can make a profound difference to your mental health

These aren’t signs of weakness.
They are signs of sustainability.

Small, Kind Steps
If you’re a teacher trying to juggle everything, here are some gentle truths from one teacher to another:

It’s okay to put yourself first.
You cannot save everyone and you’re not supposed to.
You are allowed to rest without guilt.
You don’t have to carry everything on your own.
You are doing enough more than enough.

Teaching shapes the future…

But looking after yourself shapes your ability to keep going.

A Final Thought
Stepping out of the classroom gave me perspective, but teaching gave me heart. I see the weight teachers carry, and I see their incredible resilience.
If you are a teacher struggling with stress, burnout, or balance, please know this:

You deserve the same care, compassion, and support you offer everyone else.

Your wellbeing is not optional.
It’s essential.
#TeacherWellbeing #WorkLifeBalance #TeacherStress #MentalHealthMatters #TeacherBurnout #QualifiedTeacher #TeachingLife #EducationSupport #SelfCareForTeachers #Listening2U #ClinicalSupervision

From My Side of the Chair - Counselling Reflections by Listening 2 U

Welcome to From My Side of the Chair, a counselling and therapy blog written from the perspective of a counsellor and supervisor. I work integratively, with a strong foundation in the person-centred approach, and this space is where I share honest reflections on therapy, healing, and human connection.

Through these posts, I explore what I notice in the counselling room, what moves me, what challenges me, and what I continue to learn from the people I sit alongside. Each reflection offers insight into the therapeutic journey, seen through compassion, curiosity, and presence.

Whether you’re considering counselling, supporting someone who is, or simply seeking a moment of reflection, I hope these writings offer something that resonates. This is a space where being heard, seen, and understood matters because every ripple of healing begins with listening.

Thank you for visiting and for reading, from My Side Of The Chair.

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