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Self Development Leicester

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Self Development Leicester

Vicki Marston
Self Development

Therapist, Writer, Health & Wellness Facilitator, Lover of Life ❤️❤️ Sessions are in person and remotely via
Zoom & WhatsApp.

Vicki Marston - Self Development
An Integrated Personalised Approach to Healing

Trained as an Occupational Therapist in mental health, subsequently trained skilled and experienced in a number of healing modalities including:
counselling, talking therapies, nutritional advice, massage & bodywork, breath work,
flower essences, energy healing. Vicki worked within the NHS in inpatient psychiatry and community mental health for 15 years. In Higher Education for 5 years at Coventry University teaching Interpersonal Skills and
Health Education to Occupational Therapy and Social Work students. In Primary Care in Leicester for 7 years
co developing a psychological service for common mental health problems which was subsequently rolled out locally and nationally. “It became a flagship service, of which I am more than proud!!”
In independent practice for the last eighteen years with a sharp focus on disease and sickness prevention, mental health awareness and wellness promotion.

“prevention is always better than cure”

Offering one to one and small group sessions for anyone over the age of 16 including anxiety & depression, emotional eating, grief & loss, sleep & rest, understanding the stress response, relaxation & meditation, nutritional information and education, healthy weight attainment and the building and maintenance of nourishing relationships. Each session is personalised to meet specific
needs at the time of consultation. Vicki works with organisations to guide and assist
them in the development of a Wellness Culture leading to:

Optimal health & wellbeing
Increased motivation and productivity
Better staff retention
Increased presenteeism
Raised awareness of mental & emotional health
Increased Self Awareness
Effective interpersonal communication
Happier healthier joyful staff

11/02/2026

The Healing Power of Sleep

As a health and wellness practitioner it’s something I always ask about, however no one has ever asked me about my sleep pattern in any depth or explained the health benefits and risks of sleep enhancement and deprivation.

As part of my professional development this month I attended a webinar with Shoela Curry on the metabolic power of sleep. It’s a session I took some years ago and wanted to revisit the latest evidence based studies and papers on how sleep impacts health.

The main takeaways, which I cannot stress enough, are the importance of prioritising sleep. These are my absolute non negotiables, I would love to know your thoughts?

💤 Endeavour to go to bed and get up at the same time each day, ideally around 10pm and 6am.
💤 Leave at least 3-4 hours from eating your evening meal till bedtime.
💤 Come off all devices, in particular smart phones, 1-2 hours before bed. Avoid scrolling and switch your phone off do not use it as an alarm clock!!
💤 Avoid strenuous exercise in the evening.
💤 If you are sleep deprived, or tired, avoid driving and operating any machinery as it simply isn’t safe to do so.

There will be times in life when your sleep pattern is disturbed. During illness, pregnancy, major life events, becoming a parent, menopause, bereavement and more. The important thing is to recognise there’s a problem and do something to get back on track as soon as possible. After just one night of losing four hours sleep; insulin levels, growth hormone and cortisol levels are measurably impacted.

Sleep is much more than beauty, it’s health, metabolic function and longevity!! Please get in touch if this is something you would like to work on and not sure where to start.

Sleep well - Vicki ❤️❤️

08/02/2026

Soulful Sunday - Life With Meaning

I always associated blessing with religion until I began to spend time at the Findhorn Foundation in Scotland, where food is blessed every mealtime when served in the community centre.

I adopted this ritual in our family home. Taking a moment to bless the food, the cook and the day whenever we sit down to eat together. A moment to pause and reflect, to appreciate the food, the growers, Mother Earth for sunshine and rain and the person who prepared the meal with love.

A moment to pause before starting to eat; observing the colour, the texture and the shapes of the meal in front of me. A moment to express gratitude for having food on the table at all, a luxury which half the world does not enjoy.

A pause before eating, and between mouthfuls, allows me to be present. To taste the food, enjoy the flavours and notice when I am full.

Research shows that simply eating slowly and pausing to put down your knife and fork between mouthfuls leads to less likelihood of reaching for seconds and more likelihood of not finishing a meal.

Pausing to make a blessing encourages mindfulness and mindful eating means you eat less. Presence fills the gap which may previously have been perceived as emptiness.

With love - Vicki ❤️❤️

07/02/2026

Judge Less Love More

“Omi God, omi God you guys” Legally Blonde at Curve Leicester is incredible. Brilliant casting, fabulous choreography and a great set. It’s also a really good story which showcases society’s tendency to judge, make assumptions and write people off before they have a chance to show what they’re made of.

Human beings have the most incredible potential. Sadly many children don’t spend long in school before their self esteem and confidence start to decline. Too many young people leave formal education feeling that they’ve failed, are lacking in confidence and unsure how they can contribute to society.

El Woods goes to Law School with the intention of winning back her boyfriend who cast her aside when she wasn’t the kind of woman he judged would take him where he wanted to go. El on the other hand has integrity, loyalty, a sense of morality and boundless intelligence.

At the end of the day justice prevails.
Elle finds Emmett
who loves her for who she is,
and with whom she can be herself.

A story about upholding truth, justice and integrity. It’s the only thing that leaves you with a clear conscience and peace of mind!!

With love - Vicki ❤️❤️

05/02/2026

Make Peace

When our kids were small and we were out and about, I would almost always smile and say hello to anyone we passed. They would often ask ”who’s that mummy?” to which I almost always replied, “no idea!”

Smiling is such a simple way to make you feel lighter, brighter and light. It radiates a signal of connection to anyone you meet; in the park, at the checkout, in the playground, anywhere.

Connection is everything, and in these troubled times of division, nothing is more powerful than a smile to instantly melt the mind made barriers of difference and separation.

With love - Vicki ❤️❤️

04/02/2026

Live Well

On world cancer day where statistics indicate that one in two people will get some form of cancer at some time in their lives, you really need to know how to maximise your chances of being in the healthy 50%!!

One of the most helpful and transformative talks I ever listened to on this subject was given by Chris Whoolams in Leicester about the journey he made with his daughter Katherine and the realisation that there was very little evidence based information, at the time, for people with a cancer diagnosis or those who want to prevent the onset of cancer covering nutrition, exercise, supplementation, sleep hygiene, meditation, the power of thought and stress management.

Chris said “the best way to beat cancer is not to get it in the first place.” I have never forgotten these words and they led me to a complete shift in the way I live, eat, sleep, exercise and think.

He has subsequently written two essential reading books: The Rainbow Diet and Everything You Need to Know to Help You Beat Cancer. The website Cancer Active is excellent, packed with evidence based information if you want to know more. www.canceractive.com

And finally; be careful what you believe about genetics and predisposition to cancer data. In a world where most people eat a significant amount of processed food, live with chronic stress and drink way more than the recommended levels of alcohol daily, there is much we can do to take personal responsibility for health and to promote and maintain health, wellness and longevity!!

With love - Vicki ❤️❤️

03/02/2026

Love Me Do

Self love means you are able to prioritise yourself because you recognise the value of you.

Exploring attititudes towards money and the way you are willing to spend money on yourself and others, is telling. There was a time when I was far more willing to spend money on other people than on me.

I did the inner work, explored the blocks, explored the resistance, the guilt and those bad feelings which were always there. So much so, I would regularly end up returning things just to push back the feelings.

I realised at the end of the year I had finally cracked this one when I bought myself a ring on the spur of the moment. It was a test, though I didn’t realise at the time. I thought the “guilty” feelings would come flooding back. I thought I would feel the need to return it. In fact the opposite is true. Every time I look at this ring I realise how beautiful it is and that I am allowed to have beautiful things. It’s taken a while, but I have well and truly smashed it.

So whether it’s a regular haircut, buying yourself flowers, or a piece of jewellery that you love, do it for you!!

Thanks Pete for my fresh cut and curl.

With love - Vicki ❤️❤️

01/02/2026

Soulful Sunday - Imbolc

At this half way point between winter solstice and spring equinox, we know that the light is returning but are not yet out of the dark.

This is a sacred time for affirming positive qualities in all relationships. A time for lighting fires, or lots of candles, to transform anything you wish to leave behind. Affirm these new directions in your life and drum or dance to activate the path.

Celebrate:
your emerging self,
all your accomplishments
and each others.

With so much love - Vicki ❤️❤️

31/01/2026

Never Doubt

That a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead

29/01/2026

This Moment

A conversation with a client about mindful living and ability to be present reminded me of my own journey to a happier, healthier, everyday.

Whatever you experience becomes the norm. So why would you think you need be any different, or think and act differently until the bubble finally bursts. It’s only when you can no longer function and hit rock bottom that the majority of people take action.

It doesn’t have to be this way. Health only breaks down when there is imbalance on a physical, emotional, mental or spiritual level. These parts of us are all equally important, yet many people are focussed predominantly in one or two aspects, virtually ignoring the rest.

Living mindfully allows you to enjoy the present moment without being preoccupied with past or future. The past has gone and the future remains uncertain. The only thing that’s real is now.

If you ignore the present,
because your mind is flip flopping
between past and future,
you miss your life.

Yoga was, for me, the key which unlocked a completely new way of being. It enabled me to be present for longer and more frequent periods of time. I would love to hear your thoughts on this and what helps you to be present?

With love - Vicki ❤️❤️

28/01/2026

Keep Your Heart Open

I loved Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell and had a slight reservation about the film adaptation which was instantly swept away by the stunning performances in this beautiful film about the endurance of love.

We have seen in recent years the revisiting of stories from a female perspective and this is a perfect example spotlighting the relationship of Agnes and William (Shakespeare) with the focus very much on motherhood, home life, responsibility and the role of women in society.

Grief rips your heart wide open and the pain is so visceral you can hardly breathe. And yet without love, this pain would never be experienced. Grief is the price you pay for love.

Grief unites us, it is a human experience which everyone can identify with. The process of grief is a journey we must navigate alone and collectively. There is no clear beginning or ending, only gradual healing, acceptance and reconciliation.

As Agnes watches the play Hamlet, she realises her husband’s process of grieving is different to her own. In that moment, she builds a bridge rather than a wall to keep both her heart, and the door to their relationship open.

With love - Vicki ❤️❤️

25/01/2026

Soulful Sunday - Traitors

Watching the final episodes of Traitors I have been completely hooked by the ability of the traitors to lie their way to victory.

I know it’s a game and recognise the inability of the players to seek support from friends and family on the outside. However, it has been a fascinating insight into our ability to be influenced and swayed by psychological manipulation.

It’s always hard to know if you can trust someone and my take is to meet people with an open mind assessing whether my confidences are kept secure, then down track how reliable, trustworthy and competitive, to the point of sabotage, people prove to be!!

Money, power and status are highly seductive and my dad used to say “everyone has a price.” I thought this was harsh and cynical and have always looked for the good in people and tried to understand the reasons for say, a lack of compassion. That said, understanding the reason doesn’t change unacceptable behaviour and for me once a red line has been crossed that’s it.

You cannot change unacceptable behaviour, but you can choose not to associate with people who perpetrate it.

With love - Vicki ❤️❤️

23/01/2026

Coffee Break

One of the main drivers of stress related anxiety is going from one thing to the next without a break.
For many people, it has become normalised to work through the day without proper breaks grabbing a sandwich at their desk, or eating in the car on the way to the next appointment. This has increased exponentially since 2020 with more people working from home without legislated breaks.

At our meeting this morning we had proper coffee and home made cake. As I savoured each mouthful, I remembered the days when I had a full hour lunch break and two twenty minute breaks mid morning and mid afternoon.

Less breaks does not equate to more efficiency or higher productivity. In fact the opposite is generally true. Breaks are good for physical, mental and emotional health. They give you a chance to decompress and eat slowly. They also provide opportunities to socialise, to rest and get some fresh air outside and away from your working environment.

I would love to hear your observations and experiences of modern day work practices and in particular breaks!!

With love - Vicki ❤️❤️

Address

North Street Oadby
Leicester
LE25AH

Opening Hours

Wednesday	10:30am - 7pm
Thursday	1pm - 6:30pm
Friday	11am - 7pm
Saturday	9am - 10:30am

Website

http://www.vickimarston.co.uk/

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