Lorna Knott Counselling and Psychotherapy

19/08/2025

love came first…

My love to all who are grieving. ❤️

(A beautifully illustrated version of this is in my next book ‘Joy chose you’ )

13/08/2025

When people ask me if I enjoy my job and how hard it must be to listen to others in pain, especially bereavement, I’m not always sure how to answer. I feels odd to say I love it, but it’s not about loving it, liking it……it actually is an honour to sit beside another person in the dark. Just to be present for them, hear them and not be an expert on anything as we are all unique, sometimes I don’t know either. But I’ll be there, steady and supportive and present .

“The best medicine you can bring for sadness is not joy. it is not telling them that they need to move on or get over it or realize how much worse things could be. no. the medicine for a spirit in mourning is tenderness. and warmth. and compassion. and connection. and presence. sit with someone in their grief and let them cry their ugly tears. do not shine and scurry grief away. they must walk through it. this is love. to abandon all that we think we know and be so full of grace that we are invited in to partake in someone else's darkest moments. what an honour it is to simply be a light. the antidote for sadness is love. it is always love.”
- "the antidote" by Ullie Kaye
Poetry
~ Art 'Mending the Broken Heart' by
Claudia Olivos
www.stephysplace.org

12/08/2025

I wish the world was kinder.
A little softer on those who are healing, grieving, waiting,
or just starting to understand how lonely the road can be.
May we greet one another with the same kind of light that we ourselves are searching for.
Just because we look strong doesn't mean we feel strong -
we just carry the heavy things well.

~ 'Kinder' by: Ullie-Kaye

~ Art 'A Moon to Call Their Own' by: Sam Toft

12/08/2025

07/08/2025

My friends and colleagues have started a new counselling hub. I’m often asked if I know of any male counsellors that would appeal to men of all ages. Couldn’t recommend these guys more highly and the lovely Zoe of course too. Something for everyone at this wonderful service in Aberdeen.

07/08/2025

My friend and colleague, check out her counselling service

Why do people come to therapy?

Well, there are a multitude of reasons! You could need support while navigating a particularly challenging time in life. You could be struggling with a bereavement, anxiety or stress and need a safe environment to talk it through while you process. Maybe you feel unheard or lonely, and need someone to listen and understand you.

In the therapeutic space, you can truly be your most honest self, without fear of judgement, criticism or rejection.

The reasons for seeking therapy are personal and individual, and at Hillside Counselling you can expect to be met with warmth, kindness and empathy. Whatever has brought you here, I'll walk beside you.

04/08/2025

“But it made you strong!”

How often we are tempted to say this to someone when they’ve been through a difficult time.

And it may well be the case.
But chances are that they are feeling anything but strong. They are likely feeling
exhausted
shattered
weak.

And they need someone who recognises that. Someone who - for just a while - can be the strong one for them. Can offer them a shoulder to cry on and an arm to support them.

Yes, when they feel like that, they need to rest.
They need to recharge, recoup and regain the strength they’re being told they have inside of them.

Because what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.
But it sometimes very nearly kills us -
exhausts us
shatters us
weakens us.

They didn’t want to have to be strong.
They wanted life to be kinder.

And as it wasn’t, it might help them more than we realise

If we bring the kindness instead.

******
Becky Hemsley 2023
Beautiful artwork by Julia Blackshaw (she has so many lovely artworks of friendship)

‘Kindness’ is from 'Letter from Life' https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CHL9MZC1...

28/07/2025

You never really know until it’s you.
Your story. Your pain. Your fight.

Life humbles us in the most unexpected ways… and suddenly, everything we thought we understood hits different.

Be gentle with others… and yourself. We’re all just walking each other home, one experience at a time.

11/07/2025

When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand.
The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness,
That is a friend who cares ...

Henri J.M. Nouwen 🌼

Artist Credit : Camilla Perkins

05/07/2025

Thanks to everyone for your support, encouragement and well wishes over the past few years. I’ve graduated at last. What a journey! I’ve learned so much and probably changed a lot too through this process. I wish I’d learned this form of counselling first but I will embody to absorb it into my practice from now on.

For those asking, check out my website that lovely son just made for me. I will be working mainly for Cruse Scotland but do have a room in Banchory and offer face to face, online and telephone sessions.

Compassion, trust & understanding. People come to counselling for all sorts of reasons. You might be feeling anxious, low, overwhelmed and not sure how to cope. You may be bereaved, struggling with a relationship, family issues, a loss of income, or finding it hard to believe in yourself.Sometimes l...