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Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 2pm - 7pm Thursday 9am - 5pm

Counselling for Families

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Cheltenham
Counselling for Families

Counselling for Couples, Parents & Carers, Teenagers and ages 9 to Adult in Cheltenham and Online.

Parents and Carers sometimes have little time to think of themselves whilst caring for special needs children or a disabled, sick and dependant relative. Counselling is an opportunity for you to think and gain clarity and say the things you can't tell someone else and be really listened to and deeply understood. So often the cared for person is being well looked after by professionals, but you may feel you need someone to talk to.

24/07/2025

Why should parent/carers of neurodiverse children seek counselling?

Better understanding of neurodiversity...

A qualified counsellor—especially one familiar with neurodivergence—can help parents understand their child’s unique brain wiring. This understanding fosters empathy, patience, and more effective parenting strategies.

Have a read of Julie's new blog 'Parenting on Empty: Signs You Might Need Support' at 🌐www.juliewalescounselling.co.uk/my-blogs/parenting-on-empty-signs-you-might-need-support/

22/07/2025

Why should parent/carers of neurodiverse children seek counselling?

Emotional support and stress management...

Parenting a neurodiverse child can be emotionally taxing, involving ongoing advocacy, medical appointments, educational challenges, and sometimes social isolation. Counselling provides a safe space to process emotions, reduce stress, and build resilience.

Have a read of Julie's new blog 'Parenting on Empty: Signs You Might Need Support' at 🌐www.juliewalescounselling.co.uk/my-blogs/parenting-on-empty-signs-you-might-need-support/

17/07/2025

Beyond Carers Week (9th-15th June), let this be your reminder:
You can care deeply for your child and make space for yourself. You can love your family and need support.
You are not alone.

💛 If this blog resonates, I’m here. I work with parent/carers, couples, and families navigating neurodiversity, school anxiety, and emotional overwhelm.

Together, we can explore the support that helps you reconnect—with yourself, your partner, and your family.

Have a read of Julie's new blog 'Parenting on Empty: Signs You Might Need Support' at 🌐www.juliewalescounselling.co.uk/my-blogs/parenting-on-empty-signs-you-might-need-support/

15/07/2025

Parenting on empty doesn’t just affect you—it can quietly affect your couple relationship too.

Especially when life feels heavy, you might notice:
💙 Conflicting parenting styles creating tension
💙 Feeling distant or disconnected from your partner
💙 Arguing more, especially about your child’s needs
💙 Struggling to find time or energy for each other
💙 Resentment building silently

Add in the challenges of neurodiversity, trauma, or a child unable to attend school, and the pressure can become immense.

You may both be doing your best, but feel like you're carrying the load differently—or carrying it alone.
Reaching out for relationship support doesn’t mean your relationship is failing. It means you're investing in it, together.

And that connection? It becomes a source of strength for the whole family.

Have a read of Julie's new blog 'Parenting on Empty: Signs You Might Need Support' at 🌐www.juliewalescounselling.co.uk/my-blogs/parenting-on-empty-signs-you-might-need-support/

10/07/2025

When you're exhausted, anxious, or emotionally flooded, it’s so much harder to stay calm in the chaos. But here’s something gentle to consider: your ability to regulate your emotions supports your child in learning to regulate theirs.

Co-regulation is the invisible dance between parent and child. When you take time to calm your nervous system, you’re not just helping yourself—you’re helping your child feel safer, too.

Start small:
🟡 Pause and take three deep breaths before responding
🟡 Notice what you’re feeling without judgement
🟡 Offer yourself compassion for having limits

Self-regulation isn’t about being calm all the time. It’s about recovering, resetting, and responding with care when you can.

Your child learns from how you repair after a hard moment—not from being perfect.

Have a read of Julie's new blog 'Parenting on Empty: Signs You Might Need Support' at 🌐www.juliewalescounselling.co.uk/my-blogs/parenting-on-empty-signs-you-might-need-support/

08/07/2025

We often tell ourselves, “I’ll be okay once things calm down.” But what if the calm never quite comes? In those moments, it’s not selfish to reach out—it’s wise.

Because when we’re supported, we’re stronger. When we’re heard, we’re more able to hold space for others. And when we care for ourselves, we model self-compassion for our children too.

Support doesn’t always mean big changes. It might mean:
💙 Talking to someone who really gets it—like a counsellor who understands family life and neurodiversity
💙 Taking half an hour for a walk, a bath, or a quiet cuppa
💙 Letting go of guilt for not doing it all perfectly
💙 Saying “yes” to help, or “no” to one more thing
💙 Reconnecting with your own needs, even gently, and bit by bit

Have a read of Julie's new blog 'Parenting on Empty: Signs You Might Need Support' at 🌐www.juliewalescounselling.co.uk/my-blogs/parenting-on-empty-signs-you-might-need-support/

03/07/2025

Parenting is never a light load. But when your child experiences anxiety, neurodiversity, trauma, or struggles to attend school, the emotional toll often runs deeper.

You’re not just juggling practical needs—you’re carrying their worries, navigating systems, advocating in meetings, and trying to hold it all together at home.

You might find yourself:
💙 Waking up already tired, no matter how much sleep you’ve had
💙 Feeling tearful over small things, or not feeling much at all
💙 Snapping at your partner or other children, then feeling guilty
💙 Forgetting things more often, or struggling to concentrate
💙 Feeling like there’s no room left for you

These aren’t signs of failure.
These are signs of overwhelm—and they’re your nervous system’s way of waving a little white flag.

Have a read of Julie's new blog 'Parenting on Empty: Signs You Might Need Support' at 🌐www.juliewalescounselling.co.uk/my-blogs/parenting-on-empty-signs-you-might-need-support/

01/07/2025

Have you ever driven your car for so long without checking the fuel gauge, only to feel it stutter and slow?
Parenting can feel a lot like that.

We push through the day-to-day, doing everything we can for our children—especially when they have additional needs—until one day, we realise we’re running on fumes.

And yet, asking for help can feel like one more thing on an already overflowing list.

If you’re reading this and nodding, take a deep breath. You’re not alone—and you don’t have to keep going on empty.

💫 Have a read of Julie's new blog 'Parenting on Empty: Signs You Might Need Support' at 🌐www.juliewalescounselling.co.uk/my-blogs/parenting-on-empty-signs-you-might-need-support/

26/06/2025

📣 My website has had a little makeover!

My website has had a little refresh – it’s now clearer, easier to use, and really reflects what I’m about.

Whether you're looking for support for your teen, some breathing space as a parent, or help reconnecting with your partner, it’s all there in one place.

Pop over for a nosey and let me know what you think!
👉 www.juliewalescounselling.co.uk

Interested in counselling? Contact Julie Wales today on 📞 07412651894 ✉️ hello@juliewalescounselling.co.uk.

24/06/2025

NEW E-BOOK DROP!

Connected & Understood: A Communication and Connection Guide for Neurodiverse Couples

💛 This practical guide is packed with:
✔️ Conversation starters
✔️ Reflection activities
✔️ Printable tools
✔️ Love languages from a neurodiverse perspective

📥 Ready to feel closer and more understood?
Grab your copy now → www.juliewalescounselling.co.uk/resources

19/06/2025

If you're autistic, do you feel like no matter what you do, your partner is upset with you?

That you're being misunderstood or unfairly criticised for being different?

You’re not alone—and it’s not your fault.

💬 In sessions, I help you:
• Understand your partner’s emotional world
• Communicate without overwhelm
• Build connection in ways that work for you

Let’s make your relationship feel safer and more manageable.

Contact Julie Wales today on 📞 07412651894 ✉️ hello@juliewalescounselling.co.uk.

17/06/2025

Feeling confused, hurt, or emotionally drained in your relationship with an autistic partner?

You're not alone.
🎯 In counselling, we work on:
• Understanding autism through a neuro-affirming lens
• Expressing needs clearly and kindly
• Setting healthy boundaries without guilt

👣 Step by step, you can feel heard, valued, and supported again.

🖥️ Book a session at www.juliewalescounselling.co.uk

Or contact Julie Wales today on 📞 07412651894 ✉️ hello@juliewalescounselling.co.uk.

Address

Cheltenham

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	2pm - 7pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+447412651894

Website

http://www.juliewalescounselling.co.uk/

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