http://www.thestillspace.com.au/

The Still Space, Engadine (2025)

27/07/2025

The Power of Conversation ✨️

On Friday night, after wrapping up a few full days of training and driving a couple of hours home, I collapsed in front of the heater. Tired, warm, and grateful to be still for a moment.

My husband suggested heading to the club for dinner. They were doing Christmas in July raffles, and something about it felt simple and comforting.

We slid into a booth made for four, just the two of us, until another couple, both in their late-70s, asked if they could join. We welcomed them in, not knowing how much that choice would mean to me.

We spent hours talking.

They told us about their life together, how they met on a blind date after his first wife passed, and how they’ve now been married for over 20 years. They shared stories of exchange students they welcomed into their home, of living with their grandson now and waiting for a great-grandchild. He spoke of working in a pub back in England, using a wooden cash register, back when life had a slower rhythm.

It filled my soul in a way I didn’t know I needed. I turned to husband when they left our table and said, "I loved that!".

There’s something sacred about conversations like that, the kind that don’t ask for anything but simply begin with openness and curiosity. The kind where time slows down. Where connection takes the lead. Where you’re invited into someone else’s world and, in doing so, you feel more grounded in your own.

As I sat there, completely enthralled, I found myself reflecting on the deep privilege of being a counsellor. Because I get to do this every day. I get to be curious about people’s stories, their pasts, their pain, their hopes, their dreams for the future. I get to witness the beauty of the human spirit, often tucked beneath the surface.

I don’t think that lovely couple will ever know just how much I needed that night. But I’ll carry it with me for a long time.

Oh, and PS. We won the Christmas ham raffle. 🤣 The Universe really did show up for us that night.

May your week ahead be full of meaningful connection and communication.

Love, Sammy xoxo ❤️

24/07/2025

A year ago today, my sister was diagnosed with thyroid cancer.

We’re still waiting for the all clear. And while the world has kept turning, nothing has been the same.

If I could ask just one thing, it would be this. Please, be gentle with your words.

✨ “At least it’s one of the good cancers.”
✨ “It’s okay, they’ll just take it out and you’ll go on a tablet.”
✨ “You’ll be fine, they got it early.”
✨ “But weren’t you really healthy?”

I know these words often come from a place of hope, of trying to fix something that feels unfixable.
But they can land like tiny cuts on hearts that are already bruised.

What you don’t see is what comes after the diagnosis.

The radiation. The surgeries. The exhaustion. The fear. The grief. The unknown.

No cancer is “good.”
No surgery is “just.”
And you don’t simply “move on.”

Cancer changes everything. The body, the mind, the rhythm of life, and the sense of safety that once came so easily.

To those walking this road, or loving someone who is, I see you. I feel you. I send you my deepest love.

Words can heal or harm. They can dismiss or they can honour.

May your weekend be full of love and comfort.

With love,
Sammy xoxo ❤️

22/07/2025

What parts of you haven't you allowed yourself to meet?

In my work with clients, I often draw on IFS, Internal Family Systems, a powerful, evidence-based approach to trauma therapy that invites us to get to know the different parts within us.

We all have parts.

The part that feels grief, guilt, shame, fear of abandonment.

And the parts that step in to protect us from those feelings, the avoider, the overachiever, the numbed-out one, the angry one, the one who distracts or self-destructs.

None of these parts are bad. In fact, they’ve all been trying to help us cope in the best way they knew how.

But healing begins when we stop fighting or avoiding these parts and start getting to know them. When we’re curious. Compassionate. Willing to listen.

Because when we understand why a part is showing up, we can begin to unravel the deeper wounds underneath. That’s when real transformation begins.

It’s not magic. It’s not quick. But it’s so worth it.

Love, Sammy ❤️

20/07/2025

Over the past few months, I’ve taken a pause from guiding meditation, pouring my time and energy into holding space for my therapy clients. It's felt really nice to dedicate this time to my clients and this side of my business.

As that evolves and flows, I've noticed a missing piece that isn’t about business, but something more personal. A part of me that’s deeply connected to the practice of meditation.

Meditation has been my anchor through seasons of grief and trauma. It’s been a steady light when the road ahead felt unclear. And it’s the practice that helped birth The Still Space, not just as a service, but as a way of being.

I’ve missed it. I’ve missed the calm that settles in a room after a class, the heartfelt chats, the sense of connection and community. And I’ve missed offering this supportive, grounding practice to others.

So, from the end of August, I’ll be returning to where it all began, offering meditation classes alongside therapy. I’ll also be offering a beautiful end-of-year day retreat, a full day of release, reflection, and renewal.

Bookings will open soon. I can't wait to sit in stillness with you again.

Love, Sammy ❤️

19/07/2025

Let’s talk about fear and imposter syndrome. 😬

Because they’re loud for me right now.

As I step into this next chapter, expanding into a new space, growing the business, signing a new three year lease, saying yes to something bigger, I can feel the familiar stirrings rising. The voice that wonders if I’m enough. The stories that tell me I should wait until I feel more ready, more certain.

But I’ve come to recognise these feelings for what they are, not stop signs, but signals.

Signals that I’m stepping into something brave.

Fear and self-doubt are knocking at my door right now.

But so is courage and something much deeper that says 👇

This matters. Keep going.

Because this space, this brave, uncertain, expanding space and I know for sure, this is where the goodness lives.

Have a great week ahead.
Love, Sammy ❤️

17/07/2025

There is nothing heavier than carrying pain you’ve never had the chance to speak about.

Many of us were raised to keep things in, to be strong, to get over it, to move on. We learned to hide our feelings, pretend we were fine, and carry our struggles alone.

But choosing to come to counselling isn’t a weakness. It’s a turning point.

It’s the moment you decide that silence has lasted long enough.

That shame doesn’t get the final say.

That your story deserves to be heard.

It’s a place where you can meet yourself fully, perhaps for the very first time.

That's the power of the work.

Have a beautiful day and weekend.

Love, Sammy ❤️

16/07/2025

The idea that there’s a quick fix is what's keeping you stuck. 😬

The truth is, therapy is a journey, not a magic wand. And the belief that things can be fully healed in a session, a week, or even a month? That’s what keeps you stuck in a cycle of rescue and relief, reaching for a quick fix, then wondering why nothing truly changes.

Yes, you might feel a wave of relief after your first session.

Because someone finally listened.
Because you felt safe.
Because you were seen without judgment.
And that alone can shift something in you.

But the deeper healing?

The kind that changes how you speak to yourself.
How you show up in relationships.
How you respond instead of react.
How you process and move through trauma.
How you accept your anxiety rather than battle it.
How you make space for grief.
How you rediscover your sense of self.

That takes time.
That takes courage.
That takes showing up, again and again, even when it's hard.

Real healing unfolds slowly.

Give yourself the permission of time in your therapy journey because a lack of time in every other part of your life doesn’t have to be true here too.

Love, Sammy ❤️
time

08/07/2025

“I’m sorry.”

It’s something I hear often in session when a client cries, unravels, or lets go.

The instinct to apologise runs deep. Because in so many other spaces, grief, pain, and struggle have been treated like a burden. Like something too much. Too messy. Too inconvenient.

But here, at The Still Space, there is nothing to apologise for.

Tears are welcome. Anger is welcome. Grief is welcome. You are welcome in all your humanness.

Having a space where you can be with your pain without censorship, where you can speak without fear of judgement and where you don’t have to hold it all together. That, in itself, is one of the most healing parts of therapy.

Your tears are welcome here, and most importantly, they are welcome without apology.

Love,
Sammy ❤️

04/07/2025

"Bullying is one of the most significant imprints we can have." – Esther Perel

If I could show you how many children and teens walk through my doors carrying the weight of bullying, it would break your heart.

There’s still this idea that “kids will be kids,” or “it’s just words.” But words can cut deeper than we realise. They can shape how a child sees themselves, their worth, and whether they believe they belong in this world.

I know this pain personally.

I was bullied in Year 6 and through high school. It changed how I saw my body, my worth, and my place in the world. It led to years of body image issues, harmful relationships, and a fractured relationship with myself.

And it all started with words, spoken by kids who were old enough to know better but chose not to BE better.

After a week of holding space for young people walking a similar path, I can tell you this isn't going away. Please talk to your children. About kindness. About empathy. About how powerful their words truly are.

It matters. More than you know.

Wishing you a safe and kind weekend.

Love, Sammy ❤️
📸

29/06/2025

One of the biggest misconceptions about therapy is that it ends when you're “better.”

But that belief is fundamentally flawed.

It assumes you were broken to begin with, rather than recognising that you’re a human being moving through something hard. You’re not someone who needs to be “fixed.”

It also overlooks one of the most powerful gifts of therapy. Emotional, mental, and personal growth. ✨️

I’ve seen many therapists over the years. And each time, I’ve uncovered something new. A deeper understanding of myself, my life, and the meaning behind my experiences.

If we only stay in therapy until the pain eases, we miss the opportunity to ask, “Now that I’ve made it through, what do I want life to look like?”

Therapy is incredibly helpful in a crisis. But it’s just as valuable after the storm has passed.

It helps you find your way through the clouds and then asks, “How will you embrace the sunshine when it returns?”

I’ve asked myself that question many times throughout my own journey with trauma and grief. And each time, the answer has led me one step closer to my most authentic self. A space where I can truly embrace the messy, complex, and beautiful uncertainty of life.

Love,
Sammy ❤️

26/06/2025

Last week, I had the honour of delivering my Preventing Burnout for Allied Health Professionals workshop to the wonderful team at Physio Inq Engadine and Sutherland. 🙌

Burnout rates in the allied health profession are significant with recent studies showing that up to 67% of allied health professionals report moderate to high levels of burnout, particularly in roles with ongoing exposure to complex client needs, emotional labour, and high workloads.

It was such a gift to witness this team pause, reflect, and reconnect with their own wellbeing. And receiving this kind feedback from their Director, Laura, was a beautiful reminder of why this work matters.

None of us are immune to burnout. And none of us are above needing support, space, or a gentle nudge to prioritise our own mental health.

Let’s keep creating workplaces where self-awareness, compassion, and sustainable care are at the heart of how we show up for others and for ourselves.

🧠✨
If you'd like to bring this session to your team, feel free to reach out to me in my DMs.

Love, Sammy ❤️

23/06/2025

I'm back from the most nourishing weekend, one that filled my heart and soul with love, laughter, and a deeper sense of clarity than ever before. 💕

You may or may not know that alongside being a Registered Counsellor and founder of The Still Space, I also have the privilege of mentoring at The Australian Centre for Meditation and Mindfulness. I get to support other meditation teachers in training, a role I hold with deep gratitude and honour. I know firsthand the powerful ripple effects that mindfulness and meditation can have on our healing. It’s one of the core practices that helped me care for my emotional and mental wellbeing after losing my Dad.

This past weekend, all of the mentors came together to reconnect, rest, and go deeper as a team.

There were breakthroughs, unfolding, belly laughs, tears, and sacred moments I’ll never forget.

And I’ve returned with even greater clarity. Mental health must be a priority in all our lives. None of us are immune to the need for support, and none of us should walk the path alone.

I also have some really exciting news coming soon for my community. It’s another step on my journey to create a mental health hub for those in need. I can’t share too much just yet, but when I can, you’ll be the first to know.

To my beautiful peers, thank you for a truly magical weekend. I will hold it close.

Sammy x ❤️

The Still Space

27/07/2025

24/07/2025

22/07/2025

20/07/2025

19/07/2025

17/07/2025

16/07/2025

08/07/2025

04/07/2025

29/06/2025

26/06/2025

23/06/2025

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