Connect, Reflect, Grow

23/10/2025

I had an enjoyable walk through the woods yesterday and was amazed at the many varieties of fungi found growing there (is it me, or is it a good year for fungi?!)

I find fungi fascinating; they are present all year round, but their fruiting bodies only become visible when both warmth and dampness are present.

It got me thinking about the qualities we all carry... Our environment makes all the difference to the qualities we feel we can reveal, and may even nurture qualities we didn't know we possessed.

Occupational Therapists always consider the environment in relation to a person's ability to carry out daily activities.

What sort of environment brings out the best in you? 🍃🍄🌱

15/10/2025

🌿 The Pause Project 🌿

A mindfulness course starting in Leicester in November, facilitated by Kate and Daisy from Wellbeing Therapy Solutions

It's time to take care of you ...

🌿 Introducing The Pause Project 🌿

A new mindfulness-based group with Wellbeing Therapy Solutions in Leicester, designed to help you slow down, breathe, and nurture your mental health.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, anxious, low, worried or stressed, these sessions offer you the chance to step away from the busyness of life and give yourself the pause you deserve.

👉What’s on offer?

• A calm, supportive space to learn practical skills and strategies to feel calmer and more in control
• Gentle mindfulness practices, group discussions, and guided activities to nurture your wellbeing
• The opportunity to connect with likeminded people who understand what you’re going through

Sessions are designed to leave you feeling calmer, more connected, and better equipped to nurture your mental health and are welcoming, relaxed, and open to working-age adults (18+)

• Tuesday 11th November
• Tuesday 25th November
• Wednesday 17th December

Time: 6:00pm – 7:30pm (arrive from 5.45pm)

Location: Bodie's House, 254 Braunstone Lane, Leicester, LE3 3AS

• 11th November: £10 per person (+ small online booking fee)
• Future sessions: £15 per person (+ small online booking fee)

The Pause Project is facilitated by Kate Jackson (Occupational Therapist) and Daisy Shepherd (Practice Assistant)

👉Book your place for our first session by 4th November via Eventbrite

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-pause-project-mindfulness-group-tickets-1795532789909?aff=oddtdtcreator

14/09/2025

12/09/2025

Today, I was representing Wellbeing Therapy Solutions & attended the Create and Grow Club, run by lovely Nat and Mel from Cosby Yarn Bomb

The group were learning Bargello, a traditional tapestry and needlework technique, using this to decorate handy, everyday objects; bookmarks, coasters and storage tins.

I made a coaster based on a certain football club’s colours (any thoughts?! ⚽️ )

On a similar “organisation” theme, the wellbeing topic today was “life laundry - getting things done” - we explored motivation boosters and alternatives to “to do lists”.

As always, we had some interesting conversations & group members shared some of their own strategies, too.

03/09/2025

I came across this beautiful poem today by Jarod K. Anderson & think the message it conveys is one worth sharing. It’s all too easy on those difficult days to struggle to identify gentle alternatives 💖

29/08/2025

I visited the lovely Create and Grow Club today, run by Cosby Yarn Bomb, where group members were working on some beautiful pieces using visible mending and hand stitching.

Today's wellbeing theme was Self Compassion, something a lot of us can struggle with, for a variety of reasons.

We had some very heartfelt conversations, including talking about:

Myth busters
What self compassion might look like
A word about words!
Positive affirmations
Self compassion prompts

Towards the end of the session, I invited group members to consider the following:

"Over the next week, I can show myself self compassion by…"

Over the next week, I am going to try & write things down more - I have a tendency to store information in my head, then wonder why my mind is so busy!

What might self compassion look like for you over the next week..?

25/08/2025

I’ve spent Bank Holiday finishing my decoupage lantern, started in Cosby Yarn Bomb’s lovely Create & Grow Club! 🏮

The group looked at colour therapy & how colours can enhance our mood.

These colours certainly boost my mood!

How has your Bank Holiday been..?

20/08/2025

Every 2 years, the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) randomly select 2.5% of the Occupational Therapy profession to audit.

This audit period, I am one of the 2.5%!

I am currently in the process of checking & editing my Continuing Professional Development (CPD) log ready for submission, by October 31st.

Have you been through this process? Are you navigating it currently? What has been helpful? I’d love to hear more.

So far, I’ve found it helpful to remember that…

🟢 CPD consists of various activities, not just formal learning / course attendance
🟢 Did you learn from something? Would this impact the service user / people you support? If so, this counts as CPD
🟢 Logging your CPD regularly (ideally each month) definitely makes life easier, as well as highlighting how much CPD you are actually achieving
🟢 “Learn it, log it”
🟢 The HCPC can be contacted for further information and/or advice
🟢 Support from furry friends is optional (but much appreciated!)

08/08/2025

Happy International Cat Day!

Anyone who has worked with me will know that my cat, Aviva, is prone to making the odd appearance!

I always check to see if the person / people I am speaking with are ok with this, of course.

Working from home can inevitably mean that sometimes the unexpected can happen! 🐾

However, I would say that a cat joining an online call (even briefly) has prompted some really interesting conversations & at times has enabled people to open up in a way they may otherwise have struggled to do.

What are your thoughts on pets joining online calls?

01/08/2025

I joined the wonderful Create and Grow Club today, led by the lovely Nat and Mel of Cosby Yarn Bomb 🧶

The group were making sensory wind chimes, which both looked & sounded amazing! 🎐

To go alongside this, as part of today’s wellbeing session, I spoke about our sensory systems.

This included:

🔴 The 8 sensory systems
🟡 Brain Thresholds
🟢 Sensory Regulation
🔵 Sensory Ladder
🟣 Creating a Sensory Toolbox

There were some really interesting group conversations around strategies that people were already using, sharing of sensory experiences & ways to tune into our sensory preferences.

01/08/2025

Altruistic August 🌻

🫶🏼 It’s the 1st of the Month and Action for Happiness are encouraging us to spread a wave of kindness around the world with Altruistic August!

10/07/2025

After a challenging couple of weeks, I set aside some time for my own wellbeing this week (practising what I preach!) & attended a "Foraging on the Waterways" course.

Spending time by water is always something that helps calm my nervous system.

Led by a highly experienced Community Herbalist (it takes a minimum of 5 years to train as a Herbalist) we learnt about the various health benefits of plants that might otherwise get overlooked ... brambles, nettles, burdock, meadowsweet and hawthorn, to name a few.

We even got to sample some freshly brewed herbal teas onboard the boat!

It was a true sensory experience & reminded me yet again, that carving just a few hours outside of our usual routine has enormous benefits.



If you're based within or close to Leicestershire, do check out the wonderful Peter Le Marchant Trust. They run fully accessible day trips and holidays on the waterways & are very welcoming. 😊