Toad Counselling Ltd

12/03/2026

🐾 Day Fifty-Something: Staff Break

Even therapy dogs need a break.

After a busy morning at Toad Counselling, greeting clients, supervising emotional wellbeing, and making sure the biscuit situation remained under control, management agreed it was time for a quick run in the park.

So here I am in Victoria Park, Bideford, conducting a very important lunchtime inspection.

My responsibilities during this break include:

👃 Sniffing absolutely everything
👀 Scanning the horizon for potential dog friends
🐕 Assessing whether anyone is available for a quick game

There was one small dog in the distance.
We made eye contact.
I wagged.
He wagged.

But sadly… he was busy with his human and did not accept my invitation to Professional Park Zoomies™.

Still, the fresh air helps reset the brain and stretch the legs before heading back to work. And sometimes that’s exactly what both humans and dogs need in the middle of the day.

At Toad Counselling we believe breaks matter. A short walk, a bit of fresh air, a moment to breathe, it can make all the difference.

Right. Break over.
Back to supervising therapy sessions and monitoring biscuit logistics.

💚 Affordable, supportive counselling
💚 No long waiting lists
💚 Self-referral: https://toadcounselling.co.uk/

🐾

09/03/2026

EMDR Training for Counsellors
16–19 April 2026 | Bideford, Devon

Many of us are already working with trauma, holding complex material with care, pacing thoughtfully, and staying grounded in relationship.

If you’ve been considering EMDR but want to learn it in a way that integrates with your existing counselling approach, this four-day, in-person training offers a contained and clinically grounded route into practice.

The training focuses on:

A comprehensive understanding of the EMDR protocol

Ethical and safe integration into existing therapeutic work

Supported practice and reflective discussion

Learning within a small group where uncertainty and questions are welcomed

This is not performance-based learning. It is skills development held within clinical integrity and relational awareness.

Details
16–19 April 2026
Bideford, Devon
£1797 (payment plans available)
Limited to 12 participants

Designed for qualified counsellors and mental health professionals (Level 4 or equivalent), this training prioritises depth, safety, and integration.

Join our live EMDR training and gain hands-on experience in trauma therapy. Learn how to apply EMDR techniques effectively, enhance client healing, and earn your certification. Perfect for therapists seeking practical, expert-led EMDR training.

05/03/2026

🐾 Day Fifty-Something: The Selfie Incident

I would like to begin by saying this was not my fault.

Tony left his phone unattended.
Just… sitting there.
Within reach.

Now, as Head of Security and General Oversight, it is my responsibility to investigate unattended objects.

So I did what any responsible therapy dog would do.

I picked it up.

Unfortunately, the phone appears to have a selfie mode. And apparently when you press it with your nose… it takes pictures.

Several pictures.

Evidence suggests the following occurred:

📱 Nose contact
📱 Camera activated
📱 Extreme close-up photography

I did try to maintain professionalism.

One photo shows my “serious therapy dog” face.
The other shows what I believe is called “accidental tongue deployment.”

Look, nobody warned me about front-facing cameras.

At Toad Counselling we encourage curiosity, exploration… and occasionally discovering that technology is not designed for dogs with noses.

The good news is I’m considering expanding my role to include Social Media Manager.

Although Tony says I need to work on my angles.

💚 Affordable, friendly therapy
💚 No long waiting lists
💚 Self-referral: https://toadcounselling.co.uk/

Right.
I’m off to see if the phone also orders biscuits.

26/02/2026

🐾 Day Fifty-Something: Absolutely Not Approved

I would like to address a very serious matter.

A vegetable was presented to me.

Not in a bowl.
Not chopped.
Not disguised in gravy.

Just… upright.
On the bed.
Like it belonged there.

It’s called a leek.

First of all — rude.
Second of all — I am a dog.
Third of all — dogs should NOT eat leeks.

So naturally, I conducted a full Risk Assessment Sniff™.

👃 Strong onion energy.
👃 Zero biscuit notes.
👃 Definitely not on my approved snack list.

Tony scratched my ear as if this was some kind of taste test.

Sir.

I am here for emotional support.
Not vegetable evaluation.

Let it be known:
I did not bite it.
I did not lick it.
I did not consume it.

I simply sniffed… judged… and declined.

At Toad Counselling, we believe in healthy boundaries.

And sometimes that boundary is:
“No thank you, that is not safe for me.”

💚 Safe, supportive therapy (for humans)
💚 Clear boundaries (for dogs and vegetables alike)
💚 No leeks were harmed or eaten

Self-referral: https://toadcounselling.co.uk/

12/02/2026

🐾 Day Forty-Whatever: Plot Twist

I have made a decision.

Yesterday I agreed to negotiations.
There was a paw.
There was warmth.
There was teamwork.

Today?

I have taken full control.

Yes, that is my paw.
Yes, I am holding the hand.
No, you may not leave yet.

If we are facing this cold, grey, slightly offensive weather… we are doing it properly. That means slow mornings. Extra tea. No dramatic life changes before 10am. And absolutely no pretending we’re bursting with motivation.

Sometimes support isn’t loud. It’s not advice. It’s not fixing.
It’s just staying.
And occasionally applying gentle paw pressure until the human calms down.

At Toad Counselling, we’re big believers in steady presence. Whether you’re thriving, surviving, or just blinking at the week wondering what happened, we’re here.

💚 Affordable, human counselling
💚 No pressure to be “better” instantly
💚 Self-referral: https://toadcounselling.co.uk/

Right.
You may proceed with your day.
But I’ll be monitoring you. Closely. 🐾

05/02/2026

🐾 Update: Negotiations Have Begun

Terms and conditions apply.

After declaring a full blanket-based protest against the cold, wet, miserable weather… I have agreed to talks.

This is me, Ripley, placing one paw gently on Tony’s hand.
Not a demand.
Not a bribe.
Just a subtle reminder that emotional support works both ways.

Translation:
“If we must face the day, we will do it together. Slowly. With snacks. And possibly another nap later.”

Some days don’t need fixing. They just need a bit of warmth, a steady presence, and someone to sit with you while the world feels a bit soggy and grey.

At Toad Counselling, that’s kind of our thing. Whether you’re wrapped in a blanket or trying to hold it together, you don’t have to do it alone. Sometimes support looks like talking. Sometimes it looks like a paw on your hand.

💚 Affordable, supportive counselling
💚 No pressure. No rushing.
💚 Self-referral: https://toadcounselling.co.uk/

Right.
Handshake complete.
We’ll try the day now. 🐾

30/01/2026

🐾 Cold. Wet. Absolutely Not.

January has gone too far.

It’s cold.
It’s raining.
The sky has that grey disappointment look about it.

So today, I’ve made an executive decision: I live here now.
Under the blanket.
No meetings.
No motivation.
Just naps, snoring, and occasional sighing for dramatic effect.

Tony suggested a walk.
I suggested he look outside again and reconsider his life choices.

If you’re feeling slow, fed up, unmotivated, or like you’d rather hibernate until spring, congratulations, you’re responding perfectly to the weather. You don’t need to be productive. You just need to be warm and get through the day.

At Toad Counselling, we get it. Some days are for big feelings and brave steps. Other days are for blankets, gentle pacing, and doing the bare minimum required to exist. Both count.

💚 Affordable, supportive counselling
💚 No pressure. No judgement.
💚 Self-referral: https://toadcounselling.co.uk/

I’ll be here for now.
Wake me when it’s dry. Or spring. Whichever comes first. 🐾

22/01/2026

🐾 Important Announcement

I can smell you through the screen.

Hello. It’s me. Ripley.
Please don’t be alarmed — I’m just checking in very closely to make sure you’re okay.

This is not personal.
This is not intrusive.
This is therapeutic sniffing.

Tony says, “Ripley, personal space.”
I say… personal space is a social construct. Especially when I can sense feelings, biscuits, or mild emotional distress.

At Toad Counselling, we take a very hands-on (nose-on?) approach. Whether you need support, reassurance, or someone to stare deeply into your soul until you laugh — I’ve got you.

💚 Affordable, friendly counselling
💚 No long waiting lists
💚 Self-referral: https://toadcounselling.co.uk/

Now please remain still while I finish inspecting your face.

06/01/2026

🐾 January 6th: The Bit Where We All Pretend We’re Fine

Spoiler: it’s okay if you’re not.

Right. Christmas has packed up and left.
New Year has waved enthusiastically and then disappeared.
And now it’s January 6th, the day where everyone quietly realises this year is actually happening.

This is me, Ripley, and my sister Milly. We’ve had a few good walks, a few big naps, and a long discussion about whether we should still be getting treats just for existing (answer: yes).

If you’re feeling a bit sluggish, unmotivated, or like your brain is still buffering, congratulations, you’re doing January correctly. No one needs a new personality by now. No resolutions required. Just showing up counts.

At Toad Counselling, we’re properly back, cushions fluffed, kettle on, therapy dog operational (me). Whether you’re starting the year with hope, dread, or a vague sense of “what is time?” you’re welcome here.

💚 Counselling for adults, children & young people
💚 Affordable, human, and judgement-free
💚 Self-referral: https://toadcounselling.co.uk/

January doesn’t need big goals. Sometimes it just needs kindness, a steady pace… and maybe a dog who will sit near you while you figure things out. 🐾

08/12/2025

🐾 Day Forty-Five: The Full Flop

Sometimes, you just have to give in to gravity.

After a long week of guarding doors, counselling clients, resisting chocolate, and surviving the Great Chew Toy Incident… I have officially reached The Flop Stage.

No more sitting. No more half naps. No more pretending to be alert. Just… full stretch. Maximum surface area. Flat as a pancake.

Tony said, “Ripley, are you okay?”
I didn’t move. If he wanted a sign of life, he could check for tail wag vibrations.

Because honestly? Even therapy dogs need a break. It’s not easy being this emotionally available and this cute.

At Toad Counselling, we know the feeling, when you’ve given your all, and there’s just nothing left but the world’s most dramatic lie-down. And that’s okay. Sometimes resting flat is the best kind of progress.

💚 Affordable, supportive therapy
💚 No long waiting lists
💚 Self-referral: https://toadcounselling.co.uk/

Do not disturb. I’m currently recharging my wag.

25/11/2025

🐾 Day Forty-Four: The Mystery of the Chew Toy

Evidence was found. I plead the fifth.

There I was, minding my own business in the therapy room — being calm, professional, and emotionally available — when suddenly Tony appeared holding… this.

A suspicious, half-eaten object.
He said, “Ripley… what’s this?”
I said nothing. Silence is powerful.

For the record, it might be part of my chew. It might be something that used to belong to me. Or it might have just mysteriously appeared there. Who’s to say? I’m not a detective. I’m a therapist.

The good news? The client laughed, Tony sighed, and I got a replacement chew (because self-care is important).

At Toad Counselling, we know life sometimes gets a bit… chewed around the edges. That doesn’t mean it’s ruined. It just means it’s well lived.

💚 Affordable, supportive therapy
💚 No long waiting lists
💚 Self-referral: https://toadcounselling.co.uk/

Case closed. Until next time.

11/11/2025

🐾 Day Forty-Three: The Power Nap Protocol

Because emotional support requires proper rest.

After a long week of counselling sessions, hoover encounters, stair patrols, and squirrel surveillance… I, Ripley the Therapy Dog, am officially out of steam.

Tony says, “You’ve had quite the week, haven’t you?”
Yes, Tony. I’ve supervised everything. The hallway, the park, the biscuit jar. It’s exhausting being this responsible.

So today, I initiated the Power Nap Protocol.
Requirements:
💤 One soft blanket.
💤 Optimum snout-to-pillow ratio.
💤 Zero interruptions.

Sometimes, the best thing you can do for yourself is absolutely nothing. Just rest. Breathe. Reset your wag.

At Toad Counselling, we know rest isn’t lazy, it’s healing. Whether you’re recharging between sessions or recovering from life’s chaos, you deserve a moment of peace (preferably with your nose in a blanket).

💚 Affordable, supportive therapy
💚 No long waiting lists
💚 Self-referral: https://toadcounselling.co.uk/

See you after my nap. Or maybe the one after that.