Emma Woodcock Counselling

29/08/2024

Good service.

Just in case:

13/06/2024

Have you heard of the psychological sigh? It’s a simple, effective technique to help reduce stress and anxiety in just a few moments.

Next time you’re feeling overwhelmed, give the psychological sigh a try. Breathe in peace, breathe out stress.

11/06/2024

Understanding your stress responses is the first step to managing them effectively. Whether you fight, flee, freeze, or fawn, it's crucial to complete the stress cycle to maintain your mental and physical health. Dive into each slide to learn about these responses and practical tips to help you return to a state of calm.

Inspired by my current read: "Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle" by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski.

Remember, completing the stress cycle is essential for your well-being. Stay mindful and be kind to yourself.

For more tips and resources on managing stress, follow me and DM me for inquiries or to book a session!

31/05/2024

I was reading in a book last night that you can know the voice of fear because it's the voice telling you to leave.

It got me thinking that when we make a decision in fear, we can often regret it which is why we need to learn to lean into the voice of wisdom.

Put it this way, Fear has a job to do: It wants to keep you safe. And that might tell you to leave. It's loud and immediate .

But wisdom has a job to do: It wants you to expand and that may be to leave or stay but will always encourage growth. It's often quieter and patient. Which can make it harder to find.

Leaning into your voice of wisdom can build your confidence and self-trust, increasing your self-esteem and decrease anxiety.

Tell me, when did you last listen to the voice of wisdom?

21/05/2024

Social anxiety can spring up in various ways, sometimes making it challenging to recognise.

Here are five common signs:

1️⃣ The Perfectionism Trap: Constantly striving for perfection and fearing any mistake will lead to judgment or embarrassment.

2️⃣ Avoiding Vulnerability :You might skip conversations, events, parties, or gatherings due to fear of being judged or embarrassed.

3️⃣ Overthinking Everything: Analyzing every detail of social interactions, worrying about how you were perceived.

4️⃣ The Comparison Game: Constantly comparing yourself to others and feeling inadequate.

5️⃣ Putting Up Emotional Walls: Avoiding deep connections and keeping others at a distance to protect yourself from potential rejection.

Recognizing these signs is the first step toward managing social anxiety. If you see yourself in these descriptions, consider reaching out today. I'm here to help.

08/05/2024

Friends, I'm pretty excited to announce the next part of my chapter! COMING SOON

Announcing - therapy at your own pace. A mental health and wellbeing membership to help you access the supports you need to be the fullest version of you.

Get access to self paced courses using evidence based therapies, live webinars, extensive resource library, community support and so much more to come.

I'm looking for 10 women to trial it for 30 days for absolutely free pre launch to help me troubleshoot the last chapter. Comment EMBOLDEN ME and I'll be in touch ❤️

Can't wait to bring this to you. With love, Emma ❤️

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21/03/2024

Did you know that overthinking is your brain's way of trying to help you out?

Yep, it's true! Your mind jumps into problem-solving mode, aiming to ease the discomfort you're feeling from whatever situation sparked the overthinking.

However, here's where things get tricky: sometimes, the scales tip, and overthinking becomes all-consuming instead of helpful. How does this happen? Well, when we obsessively focus on our thoughts, we inadvertently feed the beast of overthinking. It's like the old saying goes: "What you think on grows."

And boy, can it grow! Here are some of the impacts it can have:

🧠 Somatic Effects:
- Stress Overload: That knot in your stomach? Yep, blame it on the flood of stress hormones like cortisol, courtesy of your overthinking brain.
- Sleep Struggles: Your racing thoughts can turn bedtime into a battleground, leaving you exhausted and foggy-headed the next day.
- Tension Takes Toll: Chronic overthinking isn't just in your head; it can weigh heavy on your body, leading to muscle tension and fatigue.

💭 Psychological Effects:
- Anxiety Amplified: Overthinking magnifies worries, making them seem larger than life and keeping you stuck in a loop of "what ifs."
- Decision Dilemmas: Choices become daunting when overthinking takes control, leaving you paralysed by fear of making the wrong move.
- Negativity Bias: Overthinking tints everything with shades of gray, fostering negative thought patterns and chipping away at your self-esteem.
- Mind Maze: Ever feel lost in a labyrinth of thoughts? Overthinking can fog your cognitive abilities, leaving you mentally drained and overwhelmed.
- Mood Swings: Constant rumination can cast a shadow over your mood, leaving you feeling blue or on edge.

But it’s not all bad news! Awareness is the key to breaking free from the overthinking cycle. By understanding its somatic and psychological effects, we can reclaim control over our minds and bodies. Let's commit to mindfulness, self-care, and letting go of what's beyond our control. Together, we can cultivate a healthier relationship with our thoughts and pave the way for a brighter, more balanced life.

13/03/2024

Comparison steals compassion. When we constantly compare ourselves to others, we are less likely to feel empathy or understanding towards ourselves and others. Instead of being compassionate and kind, we judge ourselves and others based on arbitrary standards, which hinders our ability to empathize with their struggles.

Break Free from the Comparison Trap with my new project : Embolden Collective.

Learn how to embrace yourself and grow yourself with evidence based courses, a supportive community and live zooms. Comment EMBOLDEN to learn more

06/03/2024

Boundaries act as a protective shield around our self-esteem.

As we consistently reinforce these boundaries, we reinforce our self-esteem, creating a foundation for personal fulfillment and positive well-being.

04/03/2024

This conversation was popular in my stories over the weekend so I thought I'd feature it here.

Setting healthy boundaries is really about taking charge of our own actions. It's about how we show up for ourselves in the world Instead of telling someone how to behave or demanding they stop certain things, we just let them know when something they do bothers us.

And if they keep at it, we promise to respond in a way that protects ourselves. Like saying, "When you start yelling and blaming me for your choices, it makes me feel ashamed, even though I know your choices are yours, not mine. So, if this happens again, I'm just gonna step back from the conversation and ask you to take a breather for at least an hour. I need that time to get the emotional support I need, you know?"

It's all about making sure we honor ourselves in the process.

29/02/2024

When we are preoccupied with feelings of shame or guilt, it can consume our thoughts and emotions, leaving less mental and emotional space for positive and assertive actions.

Dwelling on shame can hinder our confidence and lower our self-esteem, holding us back from fully engaging in various aspects of life.

But what if, instead of harshly judging ourselves we got curious about what shame might be saying? Listening to our emotions and meeting the need they are trying to communicate with us helps build self-awareness and self-trust. Which in turns builds self-esteem.

So what might shame be trying to say?

Comment your thoughts and let's get a conversation going.

Let's get curious so you can get back to taking up the space in the world that's yours. After all there is plenty to go round!

29/02/2024

When we become preoccupied with feelings of shame or guilt, it consumes our thoughts and emotions, leaving less mental and emotional space for positive and assertive actions that help us thrive in life.

Dwelling on shame limits our confidence and lowers our self-esteem, and when that happens we are less likely to engage in various aspects of life.

So let's get curious not judgemental. What might shame be telling us so we can move through it and take up the space that is ours. Listening to our emotions helps us learn to know and trust ourselves which helps improve our self-esteem.