Minding Me Psychologists

31/12/2025

A new year doesn’t promise an easy road, but it does offer the chance to begin again. Resilience isn’t about never falling, it’s about continuing, even when we’re tired, discouraged or unsure.

This Christmas was a reminder of that for me. A bad chest infection meant cancelled plans, missed get-togethers with friends, and not yet getting to meet my beautiful 9-day-old baby nephew. It wasn’t how I imagined the holidays, but after a second antibiotic and steroids, I’m finally starting to feel a bit better.

This year also held heartbreak, including the loss of a dear friend. A reminder of how fragile and precious life is, and how important it is to be gentle with ourselves.

This year, I’m holding on to noticing the good when it comes, and meeting the harder days with steadiness and care. Life will knock us down sometimes. What matters is that we keep going, knowing we can endure and recover, supported by connection and hope.

Happy New Year.
Be kind to yourself — especially on the hard days.

Minding Me Psychologists

19/12/2025

I’ve had the privilege of working with some very special people this year. While Christmas brings happiness and excitement for many, I know it isn’t an easy time for everyone. This season can hold joy alongside grief, longing, and memories of those who are no longer with us.

I’m thinking especially of anyone who has lost someone they love. I hope you can find moments of comfort. This Christmas, I’m thinking of those we’ve lost, and carrying their memory with me in the love and joy we share.

Wishing you a peaceful Christmas ❤️

18/12/2025

“You helped me see light at the end of a very dark tunnel… You helped me enjoy life again. I feel more confident and resilient. It’s been the best decision I’ve ever made.”

So grateful to do the work I do 💛 Shared with permission.

16/12/2025

Confidence can be eroded by criticism, especially when it comes from someone we trust.

It’s been a real privilege to see their confidence grow again and to see them return to doing what they love.

Shared with permission 😊

28/11/2025

When people feel heard, believed, and supported, real change can happen. A client’s reflection on their coaching experience, shared with permission.

“I came to Sarah nervous, shaken, and unsure if I could even talk about what had happened. She immediately put me at ease. She listened without judgement, created a genuinely safe, comforting space, and encouraged me to go deeper when I needed to.

Sarah provided a non-judgemental, psychologically safe space to process a deeply distressing experience. Through listening and thoughtful questioning, Sarah helped reduce the emotional intensity I was carrying. Over time, the distress in my voice faded to almost nothing. There was no pressure, no rush, no imposed timeline, the process ended naturally when coaching was no longer needed. I will forever be grateful for the professionalism, compassion, and support I received. Thank you Sarah.

08/11/2025

✨Every Day is a New Day ✨

No matter what happened yesterday. the things you said, didn’t say, did, or didn’t do, today is a new opportunity to begin again.

🌤 Have a lovely day

07/11/2025

How good are you at forgiving yourself?

We had such a brilliant time in England seeing family, full of laughter, connection, and fun being surrounded by the people I love. But once again, the experience was tinged by the challenges that come with disability.

When I’m away from my own space, the impact of MS becomes even more evident. The loss of control, the physical limitations, the dependence on others, all of it seems magnified. And when that happens, I can’t help but be flooded with difficult emotions. Sadness. Grief for what I can no longer do. And, this time, a deep and overwhelming sense of despair.

It’s the first time in twenty years of living with MS that I’ve felt guilt and despair so profoundly. I’ve always been proud of how resilient I am-how well I’ve managed to stay positive despite the challenges. But last week, I found myself feeling guilty that I hadn’t done enough to look after myself since diagnosis.

That I hadn’t always eaten as healthily as I could.
That I hadn’t always prioritised rest.
That I hadn’t exercised enough.

Knowing that while I can’t cure MS, I might be able to make small improvements through my choices, yet not always being able to live that out perfectly. I found myself thinking:

Maybe if I’d been more consistent, I’d be able to stand and hug Danny and the kids without falling over.
Maybe I’d be able to walk into the kitchen without holding onto the furniture for balance.
Maybe my legs wouldn’t tremble so badly when I stand that I end up on the floor.

Those thoughts were heavy. They took me to a place of self-blame and regret that I hadn’t experienced before. But as I sat with those feelings, I realised that I needed to dig deep — to remind myself that none of this is my fault.

Yes, I could have made different choices. We all could have. But regret and despair don’t heal; they keep us stuck. Forgiveness, on the other hand, gives us a way forward.

I’m now on day six of sticking to healthy eating again, and I can already see the smallest signs of progress — being able to take a few steps with crutches, feeling a little more steady, a little more hopeful. Who knows how long it will last this time.

Forgiving myself for what I didn’t do in the past has allowed me to focus on what I can do now. And that shift, from guilt to compassion, is everything.

So I’ll leave you with this question:
Has anything happened in your life where guilt made it hard to forgive yourself?

Because forgiveness doesn’t erase pain or undo the past — but it does open the door to healing. It’s the bridge between who we were and who we’re still becoming. And sometimes, the most powerful act of strength is learning to offer that forgiveness to ourselves.

21/10/2025

I’ve lived through some terrible things in my life, some of which actually happened.” — Mark Twain

This quote has always struck a chord with me.
So often, our minds create pain from worries that havent happened. We replay events, imagine worst-case scenarios, and our bodies react as if it’s all real.

Yet sometimes the “terrible things” do happen.
Recently, there’s been tragedy and such deep sadness in our community, young lives lost too soon, families and friends left heartbroken.

It’s a reminder that while our thoughts can hurt us, life can too, and that’s why kindness, connection and compassion matter more than ever. Kindness and compassion for other people, AND for ourselves!

So please, be gentle with yourself and others. Reach out. Check in.
And when your mind starts spinning stories, take a breath and come back to now.

Right now, you are here. And that matters. ❤️

16/10/2025

People often want to get rid of uncomfortable feelings, anxiety, sadness, guilt, frustration.

The goal isn’t to erase these emotions. It’s to understand them.

To learn what they’re trying to tell us.

Emotions are messengers.

Anxiety can highlight where we feel uncertain or unsafe.
Anger can show us when our boundaries have been crossed.
Sadness reminds us what (or who) matters.

When we stop fighting our feelings and start listening to them, we open the door to real self-awareness and change.

You don’t have to control every emotion, you just have to get curious about them. 💛

15/10/2025

Useful advice for all of us ❤️

You can’t stop it — minds are judgment machines. But you can choose how to relate to it. When self-criticism shows up, pause and notice: “There’s my mind, doing what minds do.” You don’t have to fight it, and you don’t have to buy into it. Imagine carrying your thoughts on a tray instead of swallowing them whole. That space gives you freedom to act on what matters, not what your mind shouts.
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Do you have a question for me? Write it in the comments below and I might answer it next.

09/10/2025

Even after 21 years of having these scans, I still get a knot in my stomach. Usually, I take them in my stride, but today, I can’t help feeling a bit anxious. I know it’ll be a while before I get the results, but of course, I’m hoping there’s no sign of disease progression or new lesions.

Moments like this really remind me what my clients go through when they’re dealing with anxiety. It’s one thing to teach coping strategies, and another to really feel them in action.

So today I’m practising what I preach, using CBT and ACT techniques to stay grounded and focused on the present.

Wish me luck 🤞🏻🤍

06/10/2025

Beautiful card and flowers received from a happy client. They are feeling content, less anxious and more at ease after our sessions ❤️