Lorna Knott Counselling and Psychotherapy

01/02/2026

We're thrilled to receive a grant from the Scottish Children's Lottery, which will help us ensure we can be there for every bereaved child who needs us.

It is estimated that 1 in 29 children are experiencing bereavement at any one time, which is roughly a child in every classroom.

Our support can be life-changing and will help them cope and adjust to what is likely to be one of the most difficult times in their lives.

Scottish Children's Lottery Trust

31/01/2026

This is a bit long but I’m constantly seeing this in my practice. I’ve also experienced it myself. Worth the read and it may hit the spot for some of you.

27/12/2025

27/12/2025

On days when grief feels heaviest, remember: the love they had for you doesn't disappear.

Honour their memory by treating yourself with the same kindness, patience, and compassion they showed you.

Remember, we are here for you if you need support. Find out more via our website: buff.ly/OBfAFRP

27/12/2025

Twixmas is possibly one of my favourite times of the year.

These strange few days between Christmas and New Year when no one knows quite what day it is, the inbox goes mercifully quiet and to get dressed feels absolutely optional. Yes, that does mean I am in my pyjamas at 11am, watch the television I’ve ignored all year and eat leftovers from the fridge. It is excellent. All the while I plan my stuffing and turkey-filled sandwich for an entirely unnecessary afternoon snack.

After all the giving, the hosting, the showing up, this bit matters. It’s the exhale. The moment you stop performing and start to notice how tired you actually are. What you’ve had enough of. What you miss. What you don’t want to carry into next year.

For some, this stretch feels very lonely. If that’s you, please know you’re not alone in that feeling.

Twixmas isn’t about fixing yourself or setting goals. It’s about letting yourself rest for a few days. To stop being productive. Do less and feel more. Be more

If you need me, I’ll be right here. Same pyjamas. Let the year catch up with me.

I only write this little note to say you’re allowed to do exactly the same. Absolutely guilt free.

Julia x

13/12/2025

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQCPVn4CDia/?igsh=MTVjZHFraXVkcTZpag==

25/11/2025

At some point in our lives, we all face the loss of someone we love. A parent, relative, friend, or child. These moments change us forever.

There is no "right" way to grieve. Every person's journey through loss is different, and every feeling you experience is valid.

Cruse Scotland is here to walk alongside you. We provide professional and compassionate support to bereaved adults, children, and families throughout Scotland. We also provide training to help communities better support those who are grieving.

For more information and support: https://buff.ly/C73oIfZ

20/11/2025

Children find it hard to talk about s loss of a dear loved one as mostly they don’t even understand what is happening to them with new feelings and emotions. It can be so scary for them. This short film shows the benefits of support from professional counsellors who specialise in children and young people suffering from grief.

This is "In Their Own Words" by Bill Bruce on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

18/11/2025

It’s hard to know what to say when someone you know is suffering a bereavement but saying something, even just a few words to acknowledge their pain rather than nothing will help them feel supported. Saying “ this must be so hard for you” is ok and will have a deeper meaning than saying something like ‘let me know if there’s anything I can do”. They won’t ask, don’t be scared of keeping it real. They will appreciate it and thank you for it.

The Elephant In My Room

Every time I run into someone I haven’t seen in a while, and I happen to mention the person I lost, their face immediately changes.

You know that look, wide eyes, frozen smile, like they’ve just walked into an emotional minefield. Suddenly, they’re calculating what to say next, or silently wondering why on earth I’m still talking about it.

It’s funny, in a tragic sort of way, how quickly the mood shifts. One minute we’re chatting about the weather, and the next, boom, there’s an elephant in the room.

And let's be honest…that elephant is my grief.

If I say their name in a crowd, the air suddenly feels a little heavier. If I start to share my story, people start eyeing the exits. It’s not that they don’t care, it’s that grief makes people uncomfortable. They treat it like it’s contagious, as if one mention of my loss will get my sadness all over them.

Here’s the thing…for me, pretending what happened never happened isn’t an option.

How could it be?

To stop talking about someone I love so deeply would be like pretending they never existed, and I just won’t do that. That love, that loss, it shaped who I am.

What I wish, what I truly wish, is that people would stop skirting around the elephant. Ask me about them. Share a memory. Say their name out loud. It doesn’t hurt me to hear it; it hurts me more when I don’t hear it.

And here’s where the story takes a turn: I learned that elephants are actually compassionate, fiercely protective, and they mourn their dead. They even visit the bones of loved ones. They grieve in their own quiet, tender way.

So maybe the elephant in the room isn’t just my grief, maybe it’s also me. Big-hearted, a little clumsy at times, and just doing my best to carry both love and loss with me.

And maybe the only people who truly see me…are the ones who have their own elephants.

Gary Sturgis – Surviving Grief

09/11/2025

04/11/2025

Instead of saying, "I know what it feels like", let's say "I cannot imagine your heartbreak".

Instead of saying, "You're strong, you'll get through this, let's say " You'll hurt, and I'll be here.

Instead of saying, "You look like you're doing well, Let's say, "How are you holding up today?"

Instead of saying, "Healing takes time", let's say "Healing has no timeline".

Instead of saying, "Everything happens for a reason, let's say "This must feel so terribly senseless right now".

And when there are no words to say at all, you don't need to try and find some. Love speaks in silences too.

~ 'Words' by Ullie-Kaye

~ Art by Jennifer Yoswa