Story Healing with Debra

17/04/2026

Anxious thoughts stop us from doing what we need to do. We might scroll or watch TV but the thoughts are still there when we stop. Whereas if we pick up something creative, like making clay, knitting wool, wood carving, drawing pens, painting brushes or model making tools, all the anxious thoughts drift while we concentrate on the creative thing in front of us. Anxiety cannot co-exist with creativity. That’s why I encourage my clients to write by hand, it lets your thoughts process in the background while your mind relaxes. Then your brain can make positive decisions and you can follow through with those changes, drop unwanted habits and move forwards. Which story do you need to re-write? My next sessions start from 21 April… see what six weeks could change for you.

16/04/2026

Thank you so much for the latest reader photo of our book on tour! Is it possible to be jealous of your own book? On the beach, O’ahu in Hawaii in the sunshine. I hope you enjoy our short stories!

The thing is, we all carry those stories, little moments, big milestones and memories that make us who we are. Sometimes, if it’s impossible to let them go, maybe it’s better to reframe them?

Thank you to our reader who sent a copy of the book to a friend over there. 🌺

16/04/2026

Spring flowers in my therapy space this week, which smell absolutely glorious (they’re stocks) and it reminds me that using all five of our senses can help us to very quickly regulate our nervous system. In the same way a smell can alert us to danger, it can also calm us down. Personally, I love the various flower scents and the smell of the seaside or forest, but I’m not so affected by baking or bread - which some people are! Like most things, if you need to find calm, start with noticing your breath. Then add in the things which soothe you most… memories, images, the taste of favourite foods, the feeling of comfort touch or a texture or intentional movement or scents… It’s your preferences that will help you design the next steps for your fastest recovery… whether it’s stress, anger, anxiety or frustration that you need to overcome.

13/04/2026

Looking forward to my next talk on Tuesday 21 April… about sleep, stress factors and how to overcome the anxiety…

See you at Bishopston Library at 6.30 for 6.45 start with Debs Penrice and Friends of Bishopston Library, or if you can’t make this one, would you like me to run it online? Or do you want me to send you the “Sleep reset” resource afterwards?

08/04/2026

Sometimes stress gets the better of us. Working too hard, not getting enough exercise and feeling anxious about social situations can stop us from enjoying life. Becca was in her 20s facing all of this and more… and yet by the time she went on holiday after our first five sessions, she was feeling confident enough to start a business with her partner. Read more about her story on my website or contact me: is there a change you’d like to make?

08/04/2026

Sometimes stress gets the better of us. Working too hard, not getting enough exercise and feeling anxious about social situations can stop us from enjoying life.

Becca was in her 20s facing all of this and more… and yet by the time she went on holiday after our first five sessions, she was feeling confident enough to start a business with her partner.

Read more about her story on my website or contact me: is there a change you’d like to make?
Debs Penrice

04/04/2026

Met Abigail in real life last summer in London and she helped me find the brilliant designer who created our beautiful book cover… She had been working behind the scenes for months to help me think about publishing options and book marketing ideas… and then here we are, near Bristol in March for our next get together at the book launch… What these pics don’t give away is her incredible story… you can read a fictional near death story of hers in the book, or visit my website blog to find out more… Thank you so much Abigail

01/04/2026

Are you a therapist or wellbeing practitioner? I’d love you to meet and - they’re two of the wonderful co-authors of my book, ‘Untold and Retold’ and they each share more about their journey over on my website blogs.

They both work with the body and mind - breath work and somatics - which help us process emotions and release blocks or fears. I can highly recommend a chat with them or going along to their events at Or of course you can buy our book!

20/03/2026

What a fantastic informative evening, meeting and his colleagues and connections to learn more about the beautiful Mozambique. Thank you so much for inviting me along. The book is out now and it’s a fascinating view behind the real lives, towns, trades and conservation of the National Park.

22/02/2026

Navigating grief and deciding how to honour our losses is never easy. In our forthcoming book, has shared a story about how much difference and peace of mind comes from writing your wishes before you go. Join our waitlist to hear about the paperback release or pre-order on Kindle now. Or come for our launch event on Thursday 5 March.

18/11/2025

It’s the week for increasing your self-care. What can you make time for?

💚📚 Self Care Week 2025: Your Mind and Body Matters!
💚📚 This week, we're celebrating Self Care Week at the library.
💚📚 A time to pause, reflect, and prioritise your wellbeing.
💚📚 Self-care is for everyone.🌿 Drop by your local library for:
🌿 Calming reads and wellbeing resources
🌿 Quiet spaces for rest and reflection
🌿 Books to help with sleeping, eating well and exercise
Self Care Forum Bristol City Council

18/09/2025

Want to know how to help your kids understand their brain? One tool that works well for adults is the Ratey metaphor when we talk about the parts of our brain in relation to the roles in a company. Prefrontal cortex = your boss or CEO brain.

This beautiful book arrived here yesterday…

And it goes one step further to make the information accessible to kids, using animals for the story.

I’d highly recommend it if you want to start a conversation about the thoughts in the younger ones heads… to help them train their guard dog!