Chapman Counselling

08/01/2026

Just checking in! How are things going for you?
Like many of us here in Aberdeenshire, we’ve been snowed in, and it’s been a challenging start to the year.
I managed to leave the house today for the first time since New Year (other than shovelling snow on the street!), and it felt so good to be outdoors. I’m often surprised by how much fresh air and open space help me feel calmer and more grounded. The blue skies also brought a sense of hope that brighter days are ahead!
I’m really looking forward to seeing clients face to face again soon. In the meantime, having the option to connect online has been invaluable, and it’s been lovely to see you all in that way.
I hope things are beginning to turn around weather-wise, and that everyone is staying safe and well. 🤍

06/01/2026

How’s everyone doing in this wild weather? ❄️
I really hope you’re all OK and managing to keep safe.
Weather like this can be incredibly disruptive and stressful, especially for those who still need to get out on the roads for work, medical appointments, or caring responsibilities. I hope you’re managing as well as possible.

It can be tricky for our youngsters too. A snow day might be fun for a day or two, but when it goes on longer it can bring its own worries. Prelims on the horizon, missing routines, and not seeing friends can all mount up and make things feel quite intense. (Certainly in my house anyway! And apparently keeping enough supplies in - and rationing toilet roll 😆 – is also a big concern!)

I haven’t yet been back to the office (the joys of living in the sticks!) but it’s been really good connecting online with clients this week. If you’re booked in, please don’t worry if you need to reschedule or switch to an online session. This is an out-of-the-ordinary situation, and everyone’s safety comes first.

Take care of yourselves just now.

(Pics: me next to the snow after the street snow shovelling fun, Ru running round the poodle path I had to make in the garden and big Doug after he shook most of the snow out all over the kitchen.)

31/12/2025

A wee end-of-year ramble…
Are you a bide up for the bells person, or a go to your bed and forget about it kind of person?

I hope you’re doing OK just now, and if you’re not having to work, that your Hogmanay is what you want it to be. I’ll be biding up, mostly because I suspect I’ll be on teenager taxi duty tonight 🚕😆

This time of year can stir up all sorts of things. Folk start talking about fresh starts, big plans, getting “back” to routines, and eating “normal” meals again (as opposed to chocolate and cheese… drastic, I know!)

I often get quite reflective at Hogmanay. It can bring a feeling of leaving people I’ve lost behind in another year. Like the calendar turning somehow creates more distance between us. I know that’s not logical, but feelings rarely are. For many people, feelings of loss can feel especially close to the surface just now.

At the same time, my mind starts drifting ahead. Changes in routines, things I should plan for, things I’d rather not think about yet (tax returns 😩🤦‍♀️😆).

For some, worries come bubbling up at this time of year too. Health, work, family, friendships. Often about things we don’t have much control over.

So this is really just a wee end-of-year check-in. Maybe some of this ramble resonates! 😆

If your inner world feels busy, heavy, conflicted, or emotional right now, you’re not doing this time of year wrong.

It’s OK if you don’t want to see the bells in.
It’s OK if you don’t have big plans.
There’s no need to feel grateful, positive, or “ready” for a new year.
Sometimes noticing, and getting through, is more than enough.

And whatever might be ahead in 2026, you don’t need to walk through it on your own. Maybe this could be the year you allow yourself some support, and don’t carry it all by yourself 💛

(Pic of Ruairidh enjoying his walk in the woodies, I suspect he will be looking forward to more of the same in 2026!)

20/12/2025

Just a wee note before I take a little break to say thank you to the fab folk I work with. I really appreciate the trust, effort and honesty you bring. It means a lot to me, and I’ve genuinely enjoyed getting to know you over this year.
I’ll be off for a short while and back at number 15 from 5th January. I’ll still reply to any enquiries while I’m away, but I might take a minute longer than usual amongst the festive chaos. 🎄
This time of year can be tough for lots of reasons, so I hope you can be kind to yourselves.
It’s OK if things don’t go to plan or if you’re feeling totally unfestive. (I’m out wearing my elf hat while visiting graveyards to put wreaths down, so if that doesn’t bring festive cheer I don’t know what will 🤣🫣)
Take good care 💕💕

09/12/2025

So, somebody recently asked me how I was and I replied that I was “hanging on by a thread.” 🧵 Partly said in jest (oh how we laughed 😬the old dark-humour coping mechanism clearly thought this was its moment to shine! 🤣).

But actually, it made me pause and check in with myself, and it confirmed my decision to take a couple of weeks’ break over the festive period.

I’ve updated my Counselling Directory profile to “waiting list only”, but I’ll still be seeing clients until next Friday, and I’ll be back in the counselling room at Number 15 from the 5th of January.

Over the past few weeks my practice has filled up in that very natural, slightly chaotic end-of-year way. New clients arriving, existing clients juggling Christmas commitments, diary gymnastics and me hoping I can still fit everyone in!

And as much as I want to take everyone on all the time, I’m probably at capacity right now. I say probably because, if I can squeeze someone in, I usually try, and I don’t mind doing a bit of diary juggling! (December has been full of swaps, changes and general festive chaos for many of us, me included!)

But even with those wee gaps in the diary, I know I’m at my limit for now. Emotionally, mentally and physically, I’m holding what I can hold at the moment. I often hope my clients learn to recognise their limits and boundaries with compassion and kindness. So I’m reminding myself to do that too.

So this is me practising that. I need to press pause before I overstretch. Making space to look after myself so I can continue to offer the grounded, present support my wonderful clients deserve!

And probably I need to have a bit of time to run and move as I’ve been a bit sedentary lately! (You know I like to moan about running, well, I also like to moan about not running!)

So a festive break is definitely needed!

If you’d like to go on the waiting list, or book for January, feel free to contact me through my website or ping me a message and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.

And if you’re reading this and noticing something similar in yourself, consider this a gentle nudge: it’s OK to step back before you reach your limits.
You’re doing enough.
And you matter. 💙

Pic of Rhuairidh the Poodle resting! He is very wise!

07/12/2025

Not feeling festive? That’s OK. You don’t need to be. There can be a lot of pressure at this time of year to feel excited and full of cheer.

Sometimes our feelings just don’t line up with all the festive expectations around us. Sometimes those expectations even come from ourselves, wanting the “perfect” Christmas, doing all the fun activities, finding the perfect gifts… or remembering to move the elf yet again.

The elf has outgrown our home now, and I have to say we weren’t too sad to say cheerio to the wee troublemaker. I remember those evenings of suddenly sitting up in bed thinking, oh no… the elf! (That’s actually far more polite than what we often thought, but you get the idea!🤣) It became a nightly scramble we never quite planned for!

The pace of life ramps up for many people in December, and it can feel unsustainable, like you’re constantly trying to meet expectations you never quite reach.

You might be feeling worn out, a bit low, disconnected or simply not in the Christmas mood. You might be carrying the weight of the loss of a loved one, and it is hard to get up and keep going.

Life keeps happening, even in December, and it’s normal if you’re not feeling how you think you “should.” You are allowed to slow the pace and just be where you are.

A few things to keep in mind:
🎄Your feelings are valid.
🎄You don’t need to force anything.
🎄It’s OK to take a step back and pause
🎄You’re not the only one feeling this way.

Take good care of yourself and take it easy where you can if you are feeling that pressure building up.

30/11/2025

This week has felt a little harder than usual for me. It’s been a lot. I found myself having to pause and remind myself to ground, to breathe, and to come back to the present instead of pushing through on autopilot.

Cracking on at full throttle is an old coping system for me, and I have to catch it sometimes. Reminding myself not to make decisions in gung-ho mode is always worth doing, as is asking myself, “Will I worry about this in a few months?” If not, maybe I can let it go. Maybe you can resonate with that too.

I cheered myself up by putting up my Christmas tree! I love all the festive stuff out, and when I spotted my neighbour’s fabulous tree glowing in her window, that was my green light too! A moment of “why not now?” and a chance to bring a bit of warmth and sparkle into the week. Saying that, my father-in-law used to say that one elf dies for every Christmas tree put up in November 🤣 but I’m taking the risk. (That’s two elves that are at risk, as I’m bunging another tree up today 😱)

Today also marks my son turning 16. Reflecting on that, I’m reminded of how quickly life moves, and how important it is to notice the small things. Birthdays sometimes make us think about what’s important to us and what is maybe less important. That can often tell us something useful too.

If you’ve had a difficult week as well, I wonder what small thing might bring you ease or joy. Something just for you. It doesn’t have to be big, and it doesn’t have to wait for the perfect time.

If, like me, you like to live dangerously, you could take the risk and put your Christmas tree up! 😉

We’re allowed to care for ourselves. We’re allowed to choose comfort, especially when life feels heavy.

You’re not alone if things feel tough right now.
Be gentle with yourself where you can. (Here’s a wee pic of my tree by the way! No elves were harmed -I hope)

25/11/2025

Over this week I’ve been reflecting on how easily stress can seep into every corner of our lives.

Sometimes it shows up in obvious ways, like trouble sleeping, feeling overwhelmed at the thought of the day ahead, struggling to find the time or headspace to eat properly, exercise or take care of ourselves. Other times it’s maybe more subtle, a quiet sense of dread or powerlessness that builds slowly in the background.

And even when the signs seem obvious, we don’t always recognise them in ourselves. We can become so gripped by stress and so focused on simply getting through the day that it’s hard to step back and notice what’s really happening. It might take a moment of pause, a shift, or someone gently noticing from the outside before we realise the toll it’s taking on us.

Many people who come to counselling carry a sense that stress has begun to take over their thoughts, their energy, and their ability to feel grounded.

It can be frightening when life starts to feel unmanageable, and it’s easy to believe we just need to push on. You don’t have to navigate that alone.

Counselling offers space to pause, to notice what’s happening beneath the surface, and to explore what might help you feel more supported and more in control of your wellbeing. Sometimes it’s the first place we finally get to breathe again.

If you’re feeling the weight of stress in your own life, you’re not alone, and it’s OK to reach out.❤️

***Although my books are now closed to new clients for 2025, I expect to have limited availability for new clients in early 2026 and will share an update closer to the time.***

23/11/2025

I’m delighted to support the Donside Girls U10 football team by providing their new training jackets. As a football fan myself, it means a lot to be able to support a local team of talented young players.
Sport plays such an important role in supporting positive mental health and wellbeing, building confidence, resilience, teamwork, and a sense of belonging.
Wishing the team a fantastic season ahead!

A massive thank you to Chapman Counselling for supporting us and providing our U10 girls with amazing new jackets. Here is Caroline from Chapman Counselling handing them over. The girls are delighted with their jackets.

21/11/2025

About these snowy days… ❄️

With the yellow weather warnings and all the changes they’ve brought, many people I’ve spoken to have said their week has felt a bit different.

I’ve felt that too, as although it’s bonny to look at and fun for the kiddos, as it’s been a bit of a juggle trying to get safely around the North East and navigate the traffic chaos. The kids were delighted with their snow day, but even that can bring a mix of things: a pause, a disruption, or just a strange change in pace.

Snowy days can affect mood, energy, and stress levels, and you might have noticed that for yourself. If you’ve been feeling a certain way about it, whatever that might be, it’s OK.

You might have enjoyed the slower moments, or you might have found the change unsettling or stressful. Your experience is your own.

Some people find that small things help them feel a bit more settled, like a warm drink, a breath of fresh air, a chat with someone, or simply checking in with how they’re feeling.

You’ll know what feels supportive for you, and it might shift from day to day.

However this week has been for you, be kind to yourself as you move through it. (And hopefully the snow will get a shift in time for the weekend and more normal service can resume for everyone!)

16/11/2025

Sunday ramblings and a wee check in! 😀

It’s the usual Sunday vibes here tonight as we get ready to head into a new week. Dogs chuffed to be by the fire as per usual! Hope you’re all doing ok and managed to carve out a bit of time for yourself if you could.

I’ve spent the day essay writing and eating mince pies (purely for brain fuel of course). It felt a bit colder today and with the rumours of snow flying about, I decided it was totally acceptable to crack on the Christmas playlists on Spotify. No regrets!

I also caught the John Lewis advert earlier. Damn you John Lewis! My wee heart 😭They really know how to go for the emotional side of us parents and carers of teens.

It did get me thinking though about how certain things can stir up old memories or bring feelings to the surface when we least expect it. Music is one of those things for me for sure.

That’s something I see a lot in counselling too. The small moments that catch us off guard can tell us a lot about where we’re at, what we’re holding, or what we might need. Sometimes it’s just a wee nudge to check in with ourselves.

Anyway, however you’ve spent your weekend, I hope you’re ok. There’s a busy week ahead so I’m taking the calm while I have it tonight.

Take care, and be gentle with yourself as we head into Monday.

15/11/2025

Each person’s feelings belong to them.

This is something I’ve had to learn (and relearn) over the years. As a reformed people pleaser, I spent a long time believing it was my job to keep everyone else happy, often at the cost of my own wellbeing.

If someone was upset, disappointed, or a bit grumpy, I would leap straight into fixing mode. (It was probably quite annoying for folk, but what can I say… it came from a good place. 🙃)

I was so uncomfortable with other people’s emotional discomfort that I’d often assume I must somehow be to blame. Even when it had absolutely nothing to do with me.

Looking back, I can see how often I put my own needs aside or carried emotions that were never mine to carry. It was well intentioned, but it was heavy.

And here’s the lightbulb moment: it didn’t belong to me.

These days I try to remind myself that caring about someone doesn’t mean taking responsibility for how they feel. I can listen, be present, and offer support, but their emotional world is theirs to navigate. Just like mine is mine.

We are all allowed to feel sad, mad, grumpy, disappointed, and that is OK.

So maybe this week is a gentle nudge to notice the moments when you pick up responsibility that isn’t yours. And to see how it feels to put it back down. 🧡