Be Kind To Yourself Therapy

30/11/2025

So we went to Amsterdam for my partners 'special' birthday. Booked accommodation well in advance, because hey I'm organised. Less than 1 hour before we were taking flights I received a message to say the accommodation we booked was no longer available. Imagine my horror.

The accommodation they offered was like a matchbox and not somewhere to spend a special birthday. Time was not on our side, we had a young child with us so I had some choices to make and quickly.

Here's how I dealt with it:
* I took 2 rounds of deep breaths, out breath was longer. This helped me move out of my fight (with the agency) or flight (and ignore the situation) system.
* I asked my partner to give me some time to think and keep our little fella distracted for a bit. This helped me put our options on the table.

After this I was able to make a new choice and we ended up going for staying on a boat which was really cool. Happy partner, happy child, happy me.

Somethings crap things happen to make space for great things.

Tell me about a time when you've had something crap happen so that a new thing could be brought in.

26/11/2025

Take What You Need
Do you ever notice how you might spend an entire day doing what’s expected of you yet at the end the day feel like something’s missing or that you havent achieved anything meaningful? Yip me too.

Sometimes it’s not because we’ve done too little, but because we've done more for others than what we have done for ourself. In short we haven't given ourselves what we actually need.

Maybe today you need a slower pace.
Maybe you need to ask for help.
Maybe you need some quiet time to yourself.
Maybe you need to reach out and connect with someone.
Maybe you need space.
Maybe you need to be heard and seen in your relationship or your family.
Maybe you need a proper meal, a breather, or someone to say, “I get it.”

Whatever it is, it counts.
Your needs aren’t luxuries. They’re the things that keep you grounded, sane, and connected to yourself and the people you love.

So before you rush into the day, just pause for a moment and ask yourself:
“What do I need today?” wait for an answer and then (here’s the brave bit), give yourself permission to take it.

Not perfectly. Not dramatically. Just a small step toward meeting yourself where you are. You deserve that kind of care. Not just on your best days, but on this one too.

23/11/2025

Kids are so free and I love it :-)

Our boy was having a wear yellow day at school recently to raise money for Children in Need and he wore his neon yellow top and ..... shorts!!!! In the rain, happy as larry on his scooter up the road to school.

As a parent I love watching him express himself and letting him choose what he wants even if it means he will be freezing. I'm often reminded as I parent this wonderful boy how great freedom is. Freedom to be yourself and just ho with it.

Too often we get stuck in our heads and start changing who we are to fit in.

If this is you, and you find you are a bit lost in yourself, reach out. I can share some things that will help.

21/11/2025

Therapists get scared too.

This is a story about a blood test and gratitude.

So I had to have a blood test recently and I don't like them. I get super nervous and am prone to fainting because I have small veins and it can be difficult to draw blood. I put the blood test off for as long as I can and I have dry mouth and heart racing while I'm in the queue waiting. I use the techniques I teach others on myself and I always get through it, alive and well, not having fainted and have a laugh, because humour in these situations help me.

I had not one but two amazing phlebotomist ladies helping me out. I'm sorry if I took up two people's time but they were amazing with me and I did what I needed to do to help myself. One lady worked her magic and did the blood where the other lady distracted me with chatting and humour. I politely asked if I could hug them afterwards out of appreciation to which they were happy to.

Now all I'm left with from my big brave girl moment is a bruise and my tattoo of gratitude and a reminder that I get to have an amazing NHS to help me.

Let me know what you really dislike doing and I will share some tips on how you could help yourself.

17/11/2025

Sometimes it's ok to change the way you do things.

Yesterday I was making a roast for us and some friends and I really fancied roasted butternut. Peeling the butternut is not my favourite thing because I find it difficult to do. So yesterday I went on the ole tinterweb to find a new way of peeling it and found a way which was much easier. I microwaved it for 3 minutes and was able to peel the skin in a better way.

This means I now have a new way of doing roasted butternut and can enjoy it more often.

Just because we always think or do something in a certain way, does not mean we should keep doing it. It's important to challenge our thinking and our behaviour so we can be better.

DM me if there is a way of thinking or behaving that you would like some help to change.

14/11/2025

At my first ComiCon recently I got to get on the bike with E.T. and it was so great. Myself and a friend hesitated to jump on because we "thought" it was childlike.

As I know how these "thoughts" work and how they often hold us back from doing things we might really like, I encouraged my friend along and we got our picture taken. I mean where else can adults feel great doing childhood things than at a ComiCon.

Tell me what "thoughts" you had recently that tried to stop you from doing something you loved.

10/11/2025

A parcel arrived in the post for me recently, from a friend who saw something and thought of me. It filled my heart with love and appreciation because it's not often a chosen parcel from a friend arrives in the post these days and I felt very special.

When was the last time you sent or received something thoughtful in the post? How did you feel sending or receiving it?

05/11/2025

31/10/2025

This is me .... STILL being covered by cushions, pillows and blankets at our son's bedtime. He loves setting it up like this and then taking a few pictures of me. I've no idea why he enjoys this so much but I let him do it. I posted a similar picture a few months ago and here I am again.

What unusual things do you do for your loved ones, not because you necessarily want to but because you want to see them happy and enjoy.

27/10/2025

My Journey to 50 Update
As I write that I kind of cringe because I just cannot get my head used to the idea that soon enough I will be 50. Like how did that even happen. One minute I was leaving Ireland aged 23, a whole lot of madness happened inbetween (like travel, marriages, child, animals, property etc..) and soon I will be 50.

I am choosing to embrace this next chapter because quite honestly I'm feeling good.

Does life as an adult feel a bit crazy every now and again? - oh yes it does.

Do I wish it could slow down a bit? - of course.

Are there still things I need to work on? - oh yeah!!!

But here I am ticking some of those wonderful things off my list.

What are you ticking off your list? Let me know in the comments.

26/10/2025

Bella, our mischievous cat. She's so curious and whenever something new arrives into the house she feels the need to test it. Boxes, bags, items of any sorts, she's on them.

Maybe we could all take a book out of Bellas book and be curious about life. She's a wise ole cat that one.

24/10/2025

The card I pulled for today is a reminder that we can change our mind. Stay open and stay flexible as life is rarely plain sailing.