Julie Bannon Counselling & Psychotherapy

16/01/2026

Hello you wonderful souls,

I hope you are holding up and allowing your body and mind transition with some gentle care.

I personally find January a month that feels that feels heavy - however I LOVE a new year, it feels like a reset and a new chapter however in reality sometimes we are completely exhausted and burnt out after a wild Christmas and if you are just getting by, by doing the bare minimum that is more than enough.

January is often framed as a fresh start, with the expectation that motivation, discipline, and clarity should return as soon as the calendar flips. For many people, that is not the reality.

December places prolonged emotional, social, and cognitive demands on people, often with little rest. When January arrives, external expectations reset quickly, but internally many systems are still recovering. This mismatch is where January pressure begins.

Stress does not end on January 1st. Energy, focus, and motivation may lag because the nervous system has not fully recalibrated. When this context is missed, low motivation is often misinterpreted as a personal failure rather than a timing issue.

In response, people tend to push harder or force change, especially around productivity. But when capacity is still limited, the system naturally resists added pressure. This is not a lack of discipline; it is a protective response. Forcing change too early often creates more friction than progress.

A more sustainable approach is to treat January as a transition rather than a launch. Allow routines and energy to stabilize before making major changes. When expectations align with capacity, change becomes steadier and more effective.

If I could offer you anything to help support these darker and more challenging months is to go within, listen to what you need, not what society expects of you.

Incorporate 1-2 things daily that can help you feel connected to nature.

Move your body - it doesn’t have to be crazy workouts, a walk with music or friends, possibly think about the next few months make some plans for yourself to look forward too.

And connection, I feel this is key - us humans require connection to feel safe.

With heart,

Julie. 💛

29/08/2025

🌿 New Counselling Spaces Available 🌿

After the busyness of summer, it’s easy to get swept up in life and forget about our own needs. As the seasons shift, this can be a good time to pause, reflect, and take care of yourself.

I now have a small number of limited spaces for counselling with adults and young people. I offer a calm, supportive space to help you explore and navigate whatever’s on your mind — whether that’s:
💛 Anxiety
💛 Low mood
💛 Grief and loss
💛 Confidence and self-esteem
💛 Family or relationship challenges
💛 Exploring your sense of self
💛 Or simply needing a safe place to talk

You don’t have to manage it all alone. If this feels like the right time to reach out, you’re welcome to message me to arrange a free introductory chat or to book your first session.

✨ Flexible appointments
✨ In person or online sessions
✨ Confidential, compassionate support

04/07/2025

As this week comes to a close I would like to take a moment to say… thank you. 💛

To every single one of my clients—past, present, and even future—I’m so grateful for you. Thank you for showing up, for trusting me, and for letting me be part of your journey.

It’s not always easy to open up, to sit with the hard stuff, or to work through the messy middle. But you do it—and I see your courage, your growth, and your strength, even on the days you don’t.

Holding space for you is something I never take for granted. You matter. Your healing matters. And I’m honoured to walk alongside you.

Here’s to the work, the wins, and all the little steps in between. 🫶

As the weekend arrives - whatever you may be experiencing in your heart I offer you so much compassion and care. Hug your loved ones or yourself that little bit tighter.

With heart,

Julie 💛

20/06/2025

🧠The Importance of Self-Care for Mental Health 🧠

Self-care isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity. It plays a vital role in supporting our mental and emotional health by helping us manage stress, build resilience, and reconnect with ourselves.

But for some, self-care can feel uncomfortable or even triggering.

Slowing down and tuning in can bring up emotions we’ve been avoiding — sadness, guilt, restlessness.

And that’s okay. Healing often begins in those moments of discomfort. I'd never encourage you to force something that feels unsettling.

🌿 Self-care looks different for everyone, and it doesn’t have to be grand.

It can be:
• Saying no without guilt
• Taking a mindful walk
• Turning off your phone for an hour
• Journaling your thoughts
• Reaching out to a therapist
• Getting enough rest
• Nourishing your body with good food
• Spending time with people who feel safe
• Letting yourself cry when you need to

True self-care is about meeting yourself with compassion — especially when it’s hard.

Start small.

You are worthy of care every single day.

As I write this I am also giving myself the permission to take some rest this weekend as I can feel myself becoming full to the brim in many ways. Practicing what I preach 🫠

I had a check in with my meditation teacher this weekend and she gave me such an important reminder that having a practice of some sort is actually ESSENTIAL for our own well being.

Whatever is your self care practice I hope you can honour it this weekend for yourself.

Have a wonderful weekend whatever you are doing,

Julie.

💛


# counselling

17/06/2025

WHAT TO EXPECT IN COUNSELLING & PSYCHOTHERAPY 🛋️🧠
Starting therapy can feel like a big step—but knowing what to expect can make it a little less intimidating.

Here’s a gentle guide to what the process is like:

A Confidential Space -
Your therapist’s role is to create a non-judgmental, private environment where you can speak openly—whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, unsure, or just curious about your inner world.

Someone Who Listens Deeply -
You’re not expected to “have it all figured out.” Your therapist is trained to listen, reflect, and help you explore your experiences, feelings, and thought patterns—at your pace.

Practical Tools & Insights -
Therapy isn’t just talking—it’s learning. You may gain coping strategies, ways to manage emotions, or tools to navigate relationships and stress.

Personal Growth & Understanding
You may uncover things about yourself you never saw clearly before. This process can lead to deeper self-awareness, resilience, and change.

It’s a Journey, Not a Quick Fix -
Progress looks different for everyone. Some sessions may feel light, others heavy—and all of it is okay. What matters is showing up for yourself.

Whether you’re new to therapy or returning after a break, remember: reaching out for support is a powerful and courageous act.

Thinking about taking the first step? It could change everything.

With heart,

Julie.

20/05/2025

I’ve made more room — for you. 💛

My new therapy space is in the heart of the West End of Dundee where it provides the perfect energy for myself and I hope for my clients too.

We have the water and the beautiful gardens surrounding the studio and I can now finally offer more availability for new and my existing clients.

Whether you’re navigating anxiety, overwhelm, low mood, or simply feeling a bit lost, you don’t have to go through it alone.

Counselling and psychotherapy offer a chance to pause — to breathe, explore what’s going on underneath the surface, and begin to make sense of your thoughts and feelings in a way that feels safe and supported.

It’s not about having everything figured out.

You don’t need to have the right words — just a willingness to begin.
And I’ll meet you there, with warmth, care, and curiosity.

This space is here for all of it:
The questions
The heaviness
The hope
The healing work
And everything in between.

Whether you’re just beginning to think about therapy or ready to take the next step, I’d love to connect and explore what might be possible for you.

📍In person & online
🗓️ Availability as of now
💌 Message me to find out more or arrange a first session

You deserve support. You deserve space to grow.

With heart,

Julie 💛

18/05/2025

“Spring invites us to bloom—but not all at once”.

As the days get warmer and brighter, there can be a quiet pressure to do more, be more, or feel better. Social media is full of picnics, workouts, adventures, and seemingly perfect moments. But your pace is your own.

This season, remember that rest is productive. Slowing down is not falling behind. Nature shows us that growth happens underground before anything blossoms.

Take gentle care of yourself—whether you’re in full bloom or just soaking up the sunlight one quiet moment at a time.

Have a wonderful Sunday whatever you are doing today.

Fill up “YOUR” cup up for the week ahead.

With heart,

Julie. 💛

27/04/2025

Hello you beautiful people,

Every Sunday, “I try” to get my head and heart ready for the week ahead.

Not with big to-do lists or pressure, but just asking: what do I need this week? Where can I be a little kinder to myself? What are the most important things to do and achieve?

And today feels even bigger… because I can finally share something I’ve been working towards for a long time.

I’m opening my own counselling space.🎉

A space that will be built on warmth, safety, growth, change and connections
I'm not going to lie it’s scary and exciting all at once, but mostly it just feels right.

Since qualifying my journey as a therapist has taken many different directions from training within the NHS, working in addictions, working with children and young people in primary and high schools and most recently, for a third sector wellbeing charity whilst navigating my private practice.

I've loved being held within the workplace as an employed therapist as counselling can be an isolating career at times, however, it feels like the right time to become a fully self employed therapist.

Stay tuned 😂

More to come soon, but for now, just holding a lot of gratitude, excitement and a natural dose of nerves.

I will now be opening up my diary with more time and space for potential new clients - which is everything and more.

Love,

Julie. 💛

05/02/2025

✨ Now Accepting New Clients ✨

If you’ve been thinking about starting therapy or need a safe space to explore your thoughts and feelings, my diary is now open for new appointments. Whether you’re navigating anxiety, stress, life transitions, or simply want a space to focus on your well-being — I’m here to support you.

🗓️ Limited slots available
📍 Face to Face and Online sessions available
📧 My booking system is on my website which is posted above

Take this step for yourself — your well-being matters.

With heart,

Julie 💛

11/01/2025

There's an old Japanese proverb that we have three faces; I think it should be updated now to include a fourth – our online identity/interaction.

Our online identity/interactions represent us in the cyber world, and sometimes they can reflect us just as we are, and at other times we can express through them a lack of restraint or disregard of social conventions or rules. If we are disinhibited, we may act without forethought and without regard to risk.

Please remember this when posting and commenting online.

For information on the disinhibition effect, have a look at https://counsellingtutor.com/disinhibition-effect-in-online-therapy/

08/01/2025

Happy Birthday CR.

"The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change."
– Carl Rogers

Today, we celebrate the birthday of one of the greatest pioneers in psychotherapy, Carl Rogers (8th January 1902).

To honour his legacy, we’re highlighting one of his incredible achievements:
Did you know that Carl Rogers, the father of person-centred therapy, was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize?

Rogers didn’t just transform psychotherapy, he applied his groundbreaking principles of empathy, acceptance, and communication to global conflict resolution.

From Northern Ireland to Russia, Rogers worked to bring divided factions together, demonstrating that understanding and dialogue could pave the way for peace.

His contributions to the field were widely recognized. In 1961, Rogers was elected a fellow of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, one of many honours he received during his illustrious career.

Carl Rogers showed us that empathy isn’t just a therapeutic tool, it’s a force for global change.

What can we learn from Rogers’ vision today?
How can we bring more empathy into our personal and professional lives?

08/01/2025

🌅 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐥 𝐑𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬 🌅

Born on this day in 1902, Carl Rogers has left a legacy that continues to inspire and guide those in the counselling profession and beyond. His ability to view people with unconditional positive regard and awe, much like a sunset, is beautifully captured in this quote:

"𝑷𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒔 𝒘𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒖𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒕𝒔 𝒊𝒇 𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒃𝒆. 𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑰 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒂𝒕 𝒂 𝒔𝒖𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒕, 𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒔𝒂𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈, '𝑺𝒐𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒂 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕-𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒓, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒖𝒕 𝒂 𝒃𝒊𝒕 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒑𝒖𝒓𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒔𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒂 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒖𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒖𝒓.' 𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒅𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕. 𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒕𝒓𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒍 𝒂 𝒔𝒖𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒕. 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒂𝒘𝒆 𝒂𝒔 𝒊𝒕 𝒖𝒏𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒔."
— Carl Rogers, Way of Being

💬 What’s your favourite Carl Rogers quote or teaching?

Let’s celebrate his wisdom together by sharing the moments or words that have resonated most with you.