Joanne Reed Free to be me Counselling Services

16/01/2026

What people desperately want but rarely say.

Most people I work with want one thing:
for the noise in their head to ease, even just a little.

They want a break from the overthinking.
A moment where their chest doesn’t feel tight.
A day where they don’t have to fight their own thoughts.

They’re often embarrassed to admit it, as if wanting peace means they’ve given up.

It doesn’t.
It means you’re tired of surviving.
It means you’re ready for something steadier.

I help clients to work towards finding peace, quietening down the noise and becoming more at ease. If you would like to work together please get in touch. I'd love to hear from you.

Best wishes

Joanne Reed
Grief and Loss Counsellor, Huddersfield and Online
Free To Be Me Counselling

Email: enquiries@freetobemecounselling.co.uk

Telephone: 07594 720245

15/01/2026

There’s a moment in therapy I see often. The moment a client stops apologising for struggling.

They stop worrying about whether they should be coping better. They stop explaining themselves. They stop hiding the sharp edges of how life feels.

And something loosens.

They begin to feel a little less tense.
They start naming what hurts instead of shutting it down.
They begin to imagine life looking different, even if they’re not sure how yet.

That’s real progress: space returning to a life that’s felt claustrophobic for too long.

How different would life feel for you if you stopped pretending you are fine?

Best wishes

Joanne Reed
Grief and Loss Counsellor, Huddersfield and Online
Free To Be Me Counselling

Email: enquiries@freetobemecounselling.co.uk

Telephone: 07594 720245

13/01/2026

Why anxiety spikes in grief.

Anxiety after loss is incredibly common, but people rarely talk about it.
Your whole world has shifted. Your sense of safety has been shaken. Your body is on alert.

You might find:
• your heart races for no reason
• your sleep is unsettled
• you fear something bad will happen again
• you overthink every small decision
• you feel disconnected from yourself

This isn’t weakness. It’s a nervous system trying to protect you.

When we work together, we untangle what’s fear, what’s grief, and what’s simply overload so you can finally breathe with more ease.

I can help you make sense of your anxiety and work with you to loosen it's grip. Interested to know more or ready to book an appointment?

Just get in touch.

Best wishes

Joanne Reed
Grief and Loss Counsellor, Huddersfield and Online
Free To Be Me Counselling

Email: enquiries@freetobemecounselling.co.uk

Telephone: 07594 720245

12/01/2026

One thing I hear constantly at this time of year:
“Is this still normal?”

People worry they’re too sad, too anxious, too numb, too everything.
They compare themselves to an imaginary version of who they should be by now.

Most of the time, what they’re experiencing is a very human response to a very human pain.

Behind the scenes, my job isn’t to rate how “normal” you are.
It’s to understand you properly so you can understand yourself again.

To help you to understand why you feel, think, act and behave the way you do. To help you make sense of life.

Are you ready to take the first steps?

Best wishes

Joanne Reed
Grief and Loss Counsellor, Huddersfield and Online
Free To Be Me Counselling

Email: enquiries@freetobemecounselling.co.uk

Telephone: 07594 720245

09/01/2026

I hear this a lot in my client sessions. People feeling like they have to edit or water down their grief so as not to upset others or make them feel uncomfortable.

It is not your job, as a griever, to package your pain so others can tolerate it.
You do not owe anyone a softer version of what you are living. You do not have to lower your voice, change the subject, smile at the right moments, or reassure people that you are “doing ok” so they can relax. Your grief is already heavy enough without carrying other people’s discomfort on top of it.
When someone shifts in their seat, goes quiet, or rushes to fix it, that is about them. It does not mean you are saying too much or feeling the wrong thing. It means grief is real, and real grief is hard to sit with.
You are allowed to speak honestly. You are allowed to cry, to be flat, to be angry, to say their name, to say this still hurts. You are not responsible for making loss easier to witness.
And if you find yourself surrounded by people who cannot tolerate the truth of your grief, know this, there are others who can. You are not doing this wrong. What you are feeling is normal, and you are not alone.

09/01/2026

Letting go of the belief you must cope alone.

So many people come to me whispering the same sentence:
“I should be able to handle this myself.”

But strength has never meant doing everything alone.

Strength is recognising when you’ve reached your limit and choosing not to keep suffering in silence.

You’re not weak. You’re human. And humans need connection to heal.

The moment you stop pretending you’re “fine”, things start to move.

I have availability and would love to work with you. You can contact me via phone, message, text or email.

Best wishes

Joanne Reed
Grief and Loss Counsellor, Huddersfield and Online
Free To Be Me Counselling

Email: enquiries@freetobemecounselling.co.uk

Telephone: 07594 720245

07/01/2026

A client once said to me in early January, “I don’t recognise myself anymore.”

She hated feeling stuck. Hated how flat her days felt. Hated that she couldn’t just get on with things like everyone else seemed to.

Six sessions in, something changed. Not a dramatic breakthrough. Not a sudden surge of motivation. Something quieter.

She said, “I woke up today and didn’t dread the whole thing.”

That’s what early progress looks like. Ordinary moments becoming less painful.
A bit more space in your chest. A tiny flicker of yourself returning.

Small shifts matter. They build. I help clients to explore and process their thoughts, feelings and emotions helping them to feel lighter, calmer, understood and supported.

I would love to do the same for you, just get in touch to explore how we might work together.

Best wishes

Joanne Reed
Grief and Loss Counsellor, Huddersfield and Online
Free To Be Me Counselling

Email: enquiries@freetobemecounselling.co.uk

Telephone: 07594 720245

06/01/2026

Why grief feels worse in January.

If everything feels heavier right now, it isn’t just you. January magnifies whatever you’ve been carrying.

Shorter days.
Disrupted sleep.
Post-Christmas comedown.

The pressure to “start fresh” when you barely have the energy to function.

When your nervous system is tired and overloaded, grief and anxiety get louder. That doesn’t mean you’re going backwards. It means your body is worn out.

You’re not failing. You’re adjusting. And adjusting takes time. Be kind to yourself, listen to your body and rest when you can.

Best wishes

Joanne Reed
Grief and Loss Counsellor, Huddersfield and Online
Free To Be Me Counselling

Email: enquiries@freetobemecounselling.co.uk

Telephone: 07594 720245

05/01/2026

How to contact me:

Email: enquiries@freetobemecounselling.co.uk

Telephone or WhatsApp: 07594 720245

Website contact form: www.freetobemecounselling.co.uk

Facebook Message: Joanne Reed Free to be me Counselling Services

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jo_freetobeme/

I respond to all messages and questions and if I cannot help I'll try to signpost you where possible.

Best wishes

Joanne Reed
Grief & Loss Counsellor, Huddersfield & Online
Free To Be Me Counselling

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05/01/2026

How do I find my footing again after everything that’s happened?

You might be looking around in January thinking everyone else has found their rhythm… and you’re just trying to stay upright.

If that’s you, I hear you. My new blog explores how to ease yourself back into life when everything still feels a bit wobbly.

https://www.freetobemecounselling.co.uk/free-to-be-me-blog/findyourfooting

It’s gentle, grounding and written for anyone who needs a steadier start to the year.

If you would like to discuss how we might work together I offer a free 15 minute introductory phone call, or you can book an appointment to get started.

Best wishes

Joanne Reed
Grief and Loss Counsellor, Huddersfield and Online
Free To Be Me Counselling

Email: enquiries@freetobemecounselling.co.uk

Telephone: 07594 720245

You might be looking around in January thinking everyone else has found their rhythm… and you’re just trying to stay upright. If that’s you, I hear you.

05/01/2026

How I start the year as a grief therapist.

January is one of the rawest months in my therapy room. People arrive tired, stretched thin, and often ashamed of how much they’re still struggling.

I spend a lot of time normalising what the world doesn’t talk about.

That grief doesn’t pause for Christmas.

That doing the “right things” doesn’t always make you feel better.

That holding yourself together through December takes more strength than anyone realises.

My role isn’t to push you towards some quick turnaround. It’s to meet you where you are and help you steady yourself again, without judgement or pressure.

Behind the scenes, my work in January is simple: make sure people feel understood for once.

If you would like to work together please get in touch. I have appointments available. You can call, text, email or message.

Best wishes

Joanne Reed
Grief and Loss Counsellor, Huddersfield and Online
Free To Be Me Counselling

Email: enquiries@freetobemecounselling.co.uk

Telephone: 07594 720245

01/01/2026

New Year pressure vs real-life grief

If you’re already exhausted by the idea of “New Year, new you”, you’re not the only one.

January can feel brutal when you’re grieving or running on emotional fumes. The world wants momentum. You just want a moment to breathe.

You might look around and think everyone else is getting back to normal. But what most people don’t see is how hard it is to wake up each morning carrying a loss that didn’t magically disappear on 1 January.

If you’ve been telling yourself you “should be further on by now”, try shifting the question.

Not “How do I fix myself?”

But “What would make today slightly more bearable?”

Small steps count. Especially when everything feels heavy.

I have availability and would love to work with you. You can contact me by phone, text, email or direct message. I respond to all enquiries.

Best wishes

Joanne Reed
Grief and Loss Counsellor, Huddersfield and Online
Free To Be Me Counselling

Email: enquiries@freetobemecounselling.co.uk

Telephone: 07594 720245