Pauline Hulse Counselling

15/05/2025

Hi I would just like to say I am taking a break from counselling to look after me for some well needed self care.
Thankyou for your support

07/04/2025

💚 A Place to Feel at Home 💚

At The Joshua Tree, we provide a welcoming space where families can relax, connect, and feel supported. Whether you're here for a wellbeing session or a stay & play, the kettle is always on, and there’s always a warm welcome waiting. ☕✨

From the simplest gestures to the most life-changing support, we’re here for you. 💚

07/04/2025

Setting aside specific time to focus on what fills your cup can be so beneficial to your mental health, it helps you remember that you are important. 🫗

01/04/2025

At Hope Therapy Services, we understand that emotional wellbeing isn’t one-size-fits-all — it’s a layered journey.

This Emotional Pyramid of Needs is a powerful reminder that tending to your mental health means starting from where you are and moving gently upwards.

From gentle acceptance — where you simply allow yourself to be — to wisdom, which blossoms from embracing life’s fragility, every step matters.

Here’s how we walk alongside our clients through the emotional journey:

Gentle Acceptance: It is what it is. Start here.

Compassion: We meet you with kindness, and help you meet yourself that way too.

Routine: Building small, healthy habits can create a strong foundation.

Connection: You don’t have to go it alone. Community and relationship are key.

Courage: Facing emotions can be tough — we help you find your strength.

Reset: Let go of what no longer serves you and realign with what matters.

Wisdom: From this space, growth and healing take root.

Which level are you currently navigating?

At Hope Therapy Services, we’re here to walk with you — at your pace, with compassion and care.

Feel free to share this with someone who might need a little emotional nourishment today.

31/03/2025

Please remember…
Even in your most difficult moments, healing is happening beneath the surface.

At Hope Therapy Services, we believe that beautiful things can bloom from the seeds planted in life’s hardest seasons.

Whether you're facing grief, trauma, anxiety, or simply feeling lost — you don’t have to navigate it alone. Growth often begins in the dark, but with the right support, light always finds its way in.

Let us walk alongside you, nurturing the space where hope can take root and healing can grow.

You are not alone. You are not broken. You are becoming.

31/03/2025

ALWAYS REMEMBER...

In the midst of life’s noise, pain, and pressure — take a moment to breathe and come back to you 💨

At Hope Therapy Services, we believe in the power of small reminders to anchor us when the world feels too heavy.

So here’s yours for today:

Asking for help isn't weak — it's a sign of courage.

You’re braver than you think — truly.

Not everything you think is true — especially the unkind thoughts.

Your worth is not found in the opinions of others.

You are worthy of respect — just as you are.

And no matter how hard you try, it’s literally impossible to please everyone.

These aren’t just words — they are lifelines.

If you’re struggling to believe them right now, we’re here to walk beside you until you can.

You are not alone 💚

27/03/2025

Did you know your emotions don’t just live in your mind—they live in your body too?

At Hope Therapy Services, we believe in a holistic approach to healing. Our emotions are deeply connected to our physical health. Ever felt sick to your stomach with anxiety? Or noticed chest tightness when you're grieving? That’s no coincidence.

Here’s a glimpse at how our emotions and organs are linked:

Liver – anger and frustration

Lungs – grief and sadness

Stomach – worry and anxiety

Heart – joy, but also heartbreak

Kidneys – fear and overwhelm

When emotions remain unprocessed, they can manifest physically, affecting your well-being. Therapy can help you understand and release these stored feelings—bringing both emotional and physical relief.

Ready to reconnect with yourself and restore balance? We’re here when you’re ready.

26/03/2025

Teenagers are driven to explore the world. One of the big changes which happens during adolescence is that the opinion (and judgement) of their peers becomes much more important.

That’s why teens are suddenly self-conscious, and why parents become so embarrassing. It’s also why teens sometimes engage in risky behaviour – but only when with their peers. What others think of them really matters, and they’d rather take risks than be seen to be cautious.

This isn’t something that they choose. Their brains change, and it’s part of what will enable them to grow up and leave home. They need to start to look outwards to the wider world.

But if they are demand avoidant, this can be hard. The world outside is full of demands, and whilst they are pulled towards it, they are also pulling back. Some of them get stuck, not able to take the steps they want to make towards independence, but needing to start to move outside their home and family.

That’s what I’m talking about in this webinar. It’s for parents of demand avoidant adolescents. It’s particularly suitable for those with children aged 9-14, in early adolescence. It is recorded.

Please share if you know parents who might benefit.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/understanding-and-helping-your-demand-avoidant-teen-tickets-1283983492189?aff=fb1

23/03/2025

The Pressure Paradox is one of the most powerful traps in parenting. Stated in a few words, it’s this.

The more you pressure your child to do something, the less likely it is that they will do it.

The reason why this is so difficult for parents to get their heads around is because the Pressure Paradox is the opposite of how we are told that parenting works.

Most of what you read about parenting is typically about how to use pressure effectively. The idea is that a good parent will pressure their child into ‘good behaviour’ by a series of strategies, and then over time this will be internalised and the child will no longer need to be directly controlled by their parent. They don’t call it pressure. They call it ‘authority’ or ‘being in control’ or ‘firm leadership’. But to a demand avoidant child it can feels like pressure.

Sometimes this pressure is very obvious – shouting and punishments – and sometimes it’s much more subtle – shaming and emotional pressure – but the basic paradox remains the same. The harder the parents try, the worse the problem gets. Everyone gets entrenched.

If pressure makes your child anxious, then none of the usual techniques are going to be helpful. Not star charts, not clear consequences, not counting to 3, not Time Out. Not being firm but fair or warm-strict. They will all make things worse. If all the solutions which parents try are based on pressure, then all their efforts are doomed to make things worse. It starts to feel as if you are banging your head on a brick wall.

Do you want to understand more about the psychology of demand avoidance? Come and join me at my webinar on March 24th. It's recorded if you can't make the time.

Illustration by Eliza Fricker.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/understanding-and-helping-your-demand-avoidant-child-tickets-1246046932919?aff=fb4

23/03/2025

17/03/2025

We’re Supporting Neurodiversity Celebration Week! 🌟

At Hope Therapy Services, we believe in embracing and celebrating the strengths of neurodivergent individuals. Neurodiversity Celebration Week (March 17-23, 2025) is a global initiative that challenges misconceptions and promotes inclusion, understanding, and support for those with different ways of thinking and experiencing the world.

As mental health professionals, we recognise the importance of creating safe spaces where neurodivergent individuals feel heard, valued, and empowered. Whether through therapy, counselling, or simply raising awareness, we are committed to supporting the neurodiverse community.

💡 Join us in celebrating and advocating for neurodiversity! Learn more at 👉 www.neurodiversityweek.com

15/03/2025

✨ A Simple Trick to Calm Your Nervous System ✨

Did you know that something as simple as blowing on your thumb can help reduce anxiety and calm your body?

This gentle technique stimulates the vagus nerve, which plays a key role in regulating your heart rate and relaxation response. By activating this nerve, you're giving your body a signal to slow down, breathe deeply, and release tension.

It’s a small yet powerful tool for moments of stress, overwhelm, or panic. The best part? You can do it anytime, anywhere.

Next time you feel anxious, try it for yourself—pause, take a deep breath, and blow softly on your thumb. Your nervous system will thank you.

💙 Small actions, big impact.