Tracy Smithers. Step By Step Counselling.

24/12/2025

SPECIAL NOTE TO ALL..

I was lucky enough to meet an old friend at the weekend. 🙂

Paddington brings back many happy memories of my childhood, particularly around Christmas time. I remember going to see Paddington in London as a child in a well known department store. One year my Mum made me my own Paddington. That year we had a tape recorder. Very 1970's and we were recorder. The tape has long since gone.
But I as I type this I am reminded of what I said aged about 7 or 8. It was..

Paddington just what I always wanted. 🙂💖

As an adult, I can't help thinking of how wonderful that was and how simple life would be if life was like this as an adult too. 💖💖💖

I wanted to wish you all a very peaceful Christmas and say this. Even if the day, the experience, or those you are with aren't what you want or would choose. Christmas 2025 will only last a short time.

YOU will still be wonderful you regardless of what happens.

YOU still have the ability to create changes.

YOU have the power to create change.

There is support out there if you are struggling. Please don't feel you are alone. There are many help lines offering support over the Christmas period. There are numbers on my pinned post. 🙂👋

Take care of yourselves, and stay safe. 🙂 Posts are scheduled throughout the Christmas period. I am working again from the 2nd January. Thank you. 🙂

©Tracy Smithers

24/12/2025

24/12/2025

HELPLINE NUMBERS. 👋👋👋

Don't struggle in silence this Christmas time. Please talk to someone.

There are many organisations offering support this Christmas and someone at the end of the phone wanting to listen to what you say and to offer you support. 💖👋

Please don't be afraid to reach out that's what they are there for.

👋Samaritans 116 123

👋NHS 111

👋Shout text SHOUT to 85258

👋Refuge 0808 2000 247

👋Saneline 0300 304 7000 (4-7pm)

👋Cruse Bereavement 0808 808 1677

23/12/2025

So it's that time of year again. An opportunity for many of us to switch off, relax, and have some time out. Perhaps also indulge our inner child.

I appreciate that others will be working hard and won't get the time to do this. However, I hope you can find a way to celebrate at a different time.

I am also aware that for others, this can be an extremely difficult time. I hope that if this is a difficult time you are able to seek support and be safe. Please know
that support is available for you. I will put the contact numbers for organisations offering support in the comments.

Sending you all my best wishes for a safe and peaceful time. Thank you for your support this year. Every like, share and comment really does make a difference, as it helps the FB algorithms and enables people to find me.
I have scheduled a range of different posts, however won't be reply for a few days.
Take Care of yourself and kind to yourself.

Sharing a few photos that symbolise some aspects that capture Christmas for me.
Thank you. Best wishes, Tracy

22/12/2025

Andys Man Club.. Free peer support for mens mental health. There are groups across the UK as well as online support.

They are held every Monday night apart from bank holidays across the UK. The groups run for a couple of hours and refreshments are provided.

Locally there are groups in Carlisle and also Penrith.

These is a really wonderful opportunity for men to access support. I've obviously never been but I am aware of it. Please spread the word to any men you might know who might find this helpful. Thank you. 🙂

ANDYSMANCLUB are a men’s su***de prevention charity offering free to attend peer-to-peer support groups across the United Kingdom and online.

21/12/2025

Sharing for anyone that might need this or knows someone who might do.

There is support out there for you regardless of who you are or your circumstances. The Samaritans is one organisation that you can contact if you need someone to talk too.

20/12/2025

SATURDAY FUN!! LETS TALK CHRISTMAS PLAYS AND CONCERTS!!
How many of you remember taking part in a Christmas Play or Concert?

This is a photo of me as Mary 'starring' in the Cove County Infant School Nativity around 1977.

I have also appeared as a Shepherd and a narrator, too. But the role I actually remember is my role as Joseph in the Brownie Nativity. I had a speaking part , and I remember walking across the stage too quickly. I had to 'lead' a pretend Donkey on stage and ask 'Do you have any rooms for us?

Before becoming a counsellor, I spent a lot of my working life as a Nursery Nurse. During that time, I was involved in many Christmas plays. They all had something special about them. The thing for me that is one of the most special was the sound of children's voices singing carols and Christmas songs.

What about you? I would love to hear about your Christmas Play experiences? Was there a part you always wanted but never got to do?

I'll let you into a secret, the one role I would have liked to have been an Angel.

19/12/2025

THANK YOU. 🙂

As we head towards Christmas, I'm taking some moments to reflect on my counselling practice over the last year. I just wanted to say thank you. 🙂

Thank you to those who have arranged appointments with me, those that have enquired, those who have read a blog post, or liked, commented, shared or messaged me.

A counselling practice doesn't just happen it, it is very much reliant on others. I never forget what a privileged role I have. I am immensely grateful to all those who have put their trust in me or expressed an interest in the work I do.

You might be surprised to learn when I first moved to Cumbria seven years ago, I nearly didn't set up my practice here. I had been a counsellor for sometime and wasn't sure if I would continue. I am very glad that I did. 🙂

I would suggest that counselling is a two way street, and I know I have grown and learnt so much from my work and the people I have met.

This year I have started practicing from a second venue which has been a wonderful opportunity. 🙂

I am not finishing working until next week, and I have today scheduled 2 weeks worth of posts through the Christmas period. But as I reflect tonight, I just wanted to take some time to say thank you. 🙂

19/12/2025

SELF CARE CHRISTMAS CALENDAR.. 💖

If you do with a little nudge in the right direction regarding self care in the lead up to Christmas, it's not too late to download a pdf copy of my SELF CARE CHRISTMAS CALENDAR. 🙂

The calendar offers different ways to manage your emotional wellbeing over 24 days, and it's available to download for free from my website. 🙂

The link is in the comments. 🙂

19/12/2025

Word of the Week..
Joy. 🙂💖🎄