ESJ counselling

04/02/2026

✨ Reminder ✨

You can be functioning and struggling at the same time.

You can be strong and need support.

Both can exist at the same time 🤍

02/02/2026

Anxiety doesn’t listen to words until the body feels safe.

30/01/2026

Children don’t learn emotional safety from what we tell them…

✨ They learn it from what they see.

They notice:
• how adults react to anger or tears
• whether feelings are dismissed or welcomed
• how mistakes are handled
• how we speak to ourselves when we’re struggling

When children see emotions treated with care, they learn that their emotions are safe too.

Emotional safety is modelled, not taught.

28/01/2026

How emotional safety is built..

Emotional safety isn’t created in one big conversation, It’s actually built quietly, over time, in everyday moments.

It grows when children feel:
• listened to (even when the answer is still no)
• believed when they share their feelings
• comforted before corrected
• repaired with after ruptures

Emotional safety lives in how we respond — especially when emotions feel inconvenient, loud, or messy.

Small moments, repeated often, make the biggest difference.

26/01/2026

What is emotional safety?

Emotional safety isn’t about stopping children from feeling upset, It’s about showing them that their feelings won’t cost them connection, you will still be there no matter what.

When children feel emotionally safe, they don’t need to shout, shut down, or act out to be heard.

They learn that all feelings are welcome — even the hard ones.

23/01/2026

Quick Self-Care Tip for Parents

Parenting is hard work. Taking a small moment for yourself helps you support your child better. Try:

⭐️ 5-minute mindful breathing
⭐️ A short walk
⭐️ Writing down one positive thing about your day
⭐️ Getting time for things you enjoy - reading, music

22/01/2026

Welcome to ESJ Counselling – Let’s Talk

Hello, I’m Ella Jones, an integrative counsellor based in Bridgwater and Burnham on sea offering counselling for children, young people, and adults.

I support children and young people who may be struggling with things like anxiety, low mood, big emotions, worries, or intrusive thoughts, providing a calm, safe space where they can begin to understand their feelings and feel heard.

I also work with parents and carers, recognising how important it is to feel supported when your child is finding things difficult.

✨ Counselling for children & young people
✨ Support for adults and students
✨ Integrative, humanistic approach – your child is always at the centre

In-person in Bridgwater and Burnham on sea or online across the UK

📱 WhatsApp/Text: 07552356745
📧 letstalk@esjcounselling.co.uk
🌐 www.esjcounselling.co.uk

If you’re wondering whether counselling could help your child, or you’d like to talk things through, you’re very welcome to get in touch.

💬 Ready when you are. Let’s talk.

Professional counselling in Bridgwater for adults, children, and young people. Supporting anxiety, low mood, and other emotional challenges.

21/01/2026

Myth-Busting - OCD

❌ Myth: OCD is just about being ‘clean or tidy’.

✅ Fact: OCD is about intrusive thoughts and
distressing urges that people feel they must act on.

Understanding is the first step toward support. 💙

19/01/2026

Helping children talk about their feelings

💡 Tip: Encourage emotional literacy with simple questions like:

⭐ “How did that make you feel?”
⭐ “Can you show me your feeling with your face or body?”
⭐ “what colour is that feeling?”

Games, drawing, or stories can make it fun and safe for your child to open up.

17/01/2026

Repair & Imperfection - Getting It Wrong Still Matters

Body autonomy isn’t built through perfection.

There will be moments where discomfort is missed, misunderstood, or realised afterwards. What matters is the willingness to notice, pause, and repair.

For example, if a child pulls away from a hug and it’s initially ignored, a repair could be done by later on saying something like: “I’m sorry I didn’t notice you didn’t want a hug earlier. I understand now, and thank you for showing me what felt comfortable.”

This kind of response shows the child that their boundaries are meaningful, teaches that it’s safe to communicate, and models that relationships can hold honesty, care, and change.

15/01/2026

Body + Emotional Safety - Feeling Safe in Your Body

When children feel safe in their bodies, it becomes easier to feel safe expressing emotions too.

Body autonomy and emotional expression grow together. Being respected physically supports a child’s ability to notice feelings, name them, and trust them.

Respecting boundaries can be as simple as noticing hesitation, giving space, or checking in gently such as, small responses that show the child their body and feelings are taken seriously.

This connection often carries forward into adulthood, shaping how people relate to their own needs, boundaries, and relationships.

13/01/2026

How body autonomy begins…

It starts right before we use words

Body autonomy begins long before children have the language to explain how something feels.

Children often communicate boundaries through their bodies first, like turning away, going still, pulling back, hesitating. When these signals are noticed and respected, children learn that they don’t need the “right words” to be listened to.

Over time, this teaches something foundational: my body has a voice, and it matters.