COLE Counselling

24/11/2025

22/11/2025

My daughter tried crocheting for the first time and made this little teddy… and honestly, it’s the sweetest reminder that healing doesn’t have to look perfect to be meaningful. 💛🧸

Just like this teddy, our journey is often full of knots, restarts, uneven stitches and moments where we feel like giving up. But with patience, curiosity and gentleness, something beautiful takes shape.

Mental health isn’t about being flawless — it’s about trying, learning, creating, and giving yourself permission to grow at your own pace.

Small steps. Soft beginnings. Imperfect progress.
They all count. 🌿✨

18/11/2025

Sometimes the most healing moments happen in the quiet.
Tonight’s sunset reminded me that even on the days that feel heavy, there is still space for softness, hope and a fresh start.

Just like the sky changes colours, so do our emotions — none of them stay forever.
If today felt tough, let this be your reminder: it’s okay to pause, breathe, reflect, and begin again.

Your mind deserves the same gentleness you’d offer this sunset. 🌅💛

18/11/2025

The Change in Weather and the Change in Us

As the seasons shift, we often notice changes not just outside, but within ourselves. The days grow shorter, the air colder, and many of us feel a subtle shift in mood and energy.

I notice it in myself too. Some mornings feel heavier, motivation harder to find. And that’s okay. Our minds and bodies naturally respond to the world around us. Just as nature slows down in colder months, we too may need to rest, reflect, and adjust our pace.

For some, this seasonal shift can bring low mood or tiredness, sometimes linked to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Even if it’s mild, it reminds us that mental health is deeply connected to the rhythms of life.

Here are a few gentle ways to support yourself:

Seek light: Spend time outside, even briefly, to lift mood and energy.

Stay connected: Reach out to friends or family; connection helps more than we realise.

Create comfort: Warm blankets, soft lighting, and nourishing food matter.

Be kind to yourself: Slowing down is balance, not failure.

We’re not meant to bloom all year round. There’s beauty in every season — even the quiet, reflective ones. So if you’ve felt this shift too, know you’re not alone. We’re learning to honour each season — outside and within.

16/11/2025

🌊 Out of Our Depth 🌊

Sometimes in life — just like in water — we find ourselves feeling out of our depth.
The ground disappears beneath us, panic sets in, and it feels like we’re struggling just to stay afloat.

But just because you can’t touch the bottom doesn’t mean you’re drowning.
It means you’re learning to float, to trust, and to move through things you once thought were too deep.

In those moments, it’s okay to pause, catch your breath, and reach for support.
Even the strongest swimmers need to rest on the surface sometimes.

You don’t have to do it all alone — asking for help doesn’t make you weak, it keeps you afloat. 💙

14/11/2025

In bowling, getting a strike isn’t just about power — it’s about alignment, focus, and patience.
You take your time, find your stance, and aim carefully… but even then, sometimes the pins don’t all fall.

Mental health works much the same way. You can prepare, reflect, and do everything “right,” yet some days still won’t go to plan — and that’s okay.
Progress isn’t always a perfect strike; sometimes it’s just about showing up, resetting, and trying again.

Every throw teaches you something new about balance, perspective, and persistence.

Keep lining up — your effort matters more than perfection.

12/11/2025

🔥 Fire and Mental Health 🔥

Just like fire, our emotions can burn bright — giving warmth, light, and energy when they’re managed carefully. But when left unchecked, that same fire can feel overwhelming, consuming, or out of control.

Mental health isn’t about putting the fire out — it’s about learning how to tend to it.
Sometimes that means adding fuel (rest, connection, joy), and other times it means stepping back, taking a breath, and giving ourselves space to cool.

You don’t need to fight the fire within you — just learn to understand it.

07/11/2025

🐧 Be Like the Penguins 🐧

When life feels cold, chaotic, or uncertain — penguins huddle together.
They don’t try to do it all alone.
They lean in, share warmth, and take turns holding space for one another.

There’s something beautiful in that reminder:
You don’t have to be strong by yourself.
You can lean on others. You can rest. You can breathe.

Some days, being a penguin simply means standing side by side, surviving the storm together. 💙

05/11/2025

🎆 Fireworks & Mental Health 🎆

As beautiful as fireworks can be, they can also be incredibly overwhelming for many people — and animals too.

💥 For some, the loud bangs and flashes can trigger anxiety, panic, or distress, particularly for those with:

PTSD or trauma histories

Sensory sensitivities (including those on the autism spectrum)

Veterans and emergency responders

Those who simply find sudden noise unsettling

If you or someone you know struggles during this time, here are a few gentle reminders:
🕯️ Prepare – use noise-cancelling headphones, close curtains, and create a calm space.
🌿 Ground yourself – focus on breathing, hold something comforting, or play soothing music.
💬 Communicate – let neighbours or friends know how fireworks impact you.
💗 Be kind to yourself – you don’t have to “just get over it.” Your feelings are valid.

Let’s remember that celebration looks different for everyone.
Be considerate, check in on others, and choose compassion over judgement this fireworks season. ✨