Highland Well-Ness Collective

21/02/2026

18/02/2026

You might have heard of Attachment Styles - but what does that actually mean?

Well - I think this infographic is a great starting point - a brilliant resource created by Mike Cooper in collaboration with Xabier Lopez (shared here with permission). Originally posted in the Counselling Tutor Facebook group, and I’m so glad he did.

Attachment theory, developed by John Bowlby and expanded by Mary Ainsworth, explores how our earliest relationships, particularly with caregivers, shape the way we relate to others throughout our lives. Those patterns don’t just disappear; they quietly influence how we show up in friendships, romantic relationships, and our relationship with ourselves.

Understanding your attachment style can offer a moment of “oh, that’s why I do that.” It can bring compassion where there’s been self-criticism, and curiosity where there’s been confusion. It can help make sense of why closeness feels easy for some and terrifying for others, or why certain dynamics keep repeating.

But here’s where I want to be honest with you : please don’t just file yourself under a category and move on. That would be doing yourself a disservice.

Attachment styles exist on a spectrum. Most of us hold more than one depending on the relationship, the context, even the day. They’re not fixed identities, they’re patterns, and patterns can shift with awareness, time, and the right support.

This infographic is a door. What’s behind it is a much richer, more personal conversation, one worth having properly.

If something here resonates - or unsettles - sit with that feeling. Ideally with a good therapist, a trusted person, or your own quiet curiosity.

Use this as a spark, not a label. 🤍

Credit: Mike Cooper & Xabier Lopez - shared with permission.

16/02/2026

Gentle reminder: Your capacity today doesn’t define your capacity forever.

Capacity isn’t fixed - it shifts based on sleep, stress, health, relational safety, systemic pressures, grief, medication changes, life transitions, and a hundred other variables most of us aren’t taught to track.

Some seasons you have more internal and external resources.

Some seasons those resources are depleted or redirected toward survival, caregiving, or managing things outside your control.

Both states are real.
Both are allowed.

Neither one is a character flaw or personal failing.

What we often call “productivity” or “motivation” is frequently just nervous system capacity meeting relatively stable conditions. When conditions destabilise - whether that’s through trauma, oppression, chronic stress, illness, or loss - capacity contracts. That’s adaptive, not broken.

You’re not doing something wrong when you can’t hold what you used to hold.
You’re responding to real conditions in real time.

And when people tell you to “just push through” or “stay disciplined,” they’re often ignoring the reality that your system is already working hard to keep you functional.

Low capacity isn’t permanent.

It’s also not a reflection of your worth, your potential, or what you’re capable of when conditions change.

The version of you that could do more isn’t the “real” you that you’ve lost, it was you under different circumstances. And those circumstances can shift again. Not because you forced them to, but because conditions change, resources return, and nervous systems can recover when given what they actually need.

You haven’t broken yourself by being in survival mode.
You’re doing exactly what you’re supposed to do - adapting to what’s real.

And when things stabilise, your capacity can too.

💬 So tell us - What’s one thing that affects your capacity that you wish more people understood? 🤍

18/01/2026

A full day-into-night community festival creating sober social spaces is set to take place in Inverness.

More below.

19/12/2025

✨ Festive pause ✨

We’ll be taking a proper break from emails and enquiries from 19th December - 5th January to rest, recharge, and step back for a little while.

During this time, we’ll also be offline on social media, aside from a few posts that have already been scheduled. Messages and DMs won’t be monitored, but we’ll respond as soon as we’re back in the new year.

This time of year can feel very different for everyone. We hope you’re able to take care of yourself in ways that feel right for you - gently, and without pressure.

Thank you for your patience, understanding, and continued support 💚

Wishing you a peaceful and steady end to the year x

17/12/2025

Therapy is often misunderstood because so much of the work is invisible.

What looks like “just listening” is actually skilled, intentional, emotionally demanding work - held with care, ethics, and years of training behind it.

Therapists hold stories that are heavy, complex and deeply human. We track nervous systems, pace safety, manage risk, reflect patterns, and stay regulated while sitting with pain that many people have never spoken out loud before.

This work requires extensive training, supervision, continuous learning and ongoing personal reflection.
It asks a lot - emotionally, mentally and ethically.

And yet, it’s still often undervalued.
Not because it isn’t skilled…
but because the skill looks quiet.

Therapy isn’t “just listening.”
And it certainly isn’t something anyone can do simply because they’re empathetic or have picked up a few counselling skills.

This work involves years of professional training, ongoing supervision, continuous CPD, and the ability to safely hold trauma, grief, identity ruptures and deep emotional pain, week after week.

Because counselling in the UK isn’t legally regulated, it matters who you work with. Ethical practice, professional membership, trauma-informed training and accountability aren’t optional extras, they’re essential.

The work is quiet.
The responsibility is huge.
And the impact is real.

These are just some of the things happening in the room when you’re working with a trained therapist - even when it looks like we’re “just listening.”

15/12/2025

This is Sober-Ness 💚

A day-into-night mini festival celebrating sober culture through creativity, connection, and community.

On Saturday 31st January at WASPS Inverness, we’re creating alcohol-free spaces that feel welcoming, pressure-free, and genuinely social.

✨ Daytime (11:00–16:00)
Movement, workshops, talks, creativity, and calm connection, across two different spaces so you can choose what feels right for you.

✨ Evening (from 18:30)
A big sober social night with a ceilidh and silent disco. High energy, good vibes, zero alcohol.

Whether you’re sober, sober-curious, or just looking for a different kind of social space - you’re welcome here.

👉 Swipe for the full programme
💚 Save this post + follow for updates + book your tickets here: https://www.highlandwellnesscollective.co.uk/events/soberness

Made possible thanks to funding from Highland Third Sector Interface Ltd and the Highland Alcohol & Drugs Partnership (Highland ADP) through the Local Improvement Fund





zine.bothy

SoberNess

10/12/2025

A few weeks ago I had the chance to join Drew Hendry on the Growth for Good Podcast to talk about the journey of building the Highland Well-Ness Collective, and why community-centred, accessible wellbeing matters so much here in the Highlands.

It was such a brilliant opportunity to shine a light on what HWC actually does day to day:
> person-centred counselling
> community wellbeing events and creative workshops
> rural support that meets people where they are
> and a growing network of partnerships all focused on reducing barriers to mental health care

Running a social enterprise in a rural region comes with its fair share of challenges: distance, limited provision, funding gaps, but it also comes with incredible strengths: closeness, creativity, and communities that genuinely care about one another.

Speaking with Drew really reminded me how much passion and possibility sits behind this little organisation we’re building, and how important it is to keep sharing the story so more people know the support exists.

If you’d like to listen to the conversation or explore the feature, you’ll find both here:
📝 Article: https://www.drewhendry.scot/highland-wellness-collective/

🎧 Podcast on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/eHidMgft

🌐 Growth for Good Website: https://lnkd.in/e8bHeFCF

Huge thanks to Drew and the Growth for Good Podcast for the invitation and platform, and for helping raise awareness of the work happening here in our communities.

This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn