The Mindful Counsellor

21/01/2026

‘What does this precious creature most need today?’ Yes it’s not just our pets we shower (without question or guilt) love, tenderness and patience on… We absolutely need to give it ourselves.. Just to add I went to bed at 7pm and Wintered and feel remarkably whooshy again today! My question today for you, dear one, with kindness, is ‘What do you most need today/right now, ‘Precious Creature?’ I hope you can follow your needs too.

And I hope you like the snow Pom Poms from Scottish snow on the poodles!

09/01/2026

A bit of Scottish snow before I head back for client work next week… if we ever make it down the M6 in one piece ❄️

Time off always reminds me how much we need proper pauses — especially when life’s been sad, frustrating, heavy, relentless, or just busy without enough pause.

If the thought of “getting back into things” already feels tricky, that’s okay. You don’t have to sort it all out on your own — sometimes just having a chat can make a difference and starts you off to a plan.

I’ll be back in my therapy room next week, taking things gently with the poodles….

If you’ve been thinking about talking to someone, drop me a ‘info please’ message or just comment “info” and I’ll reply.

For now, I’m just hoping the snow stays on the hills and not the M6 🤍

06/01/2026

After 20 minutes of reading the news today, I reckon calming and regulating the nervous system is potentially the most valuable skill we can have in our life!

Here’s a picture out of my window to balance what I feel about geo politics and the reality of power abuse.

Off to regulate!

05/01/2026

Lovely new client review… It is so wonderful to witness such a life changing transformation and to see this lovely lady feeling more confident, self accepting, connected and calm.

If you’d like support, I currently do have space (Malvern or online) Mymindfulcounsellor@gmail.com

04/01/2026

This is for those who find work deadening… 3 tips:
1. Take a tea break or two with people you like (maybe not in your team or even from work) to have something to look forward to.
2. Get stuff ready the night before and get your best lunch ready too.
3. Book some flex if you’re able this week so shorter week.

Planning a way out is obviously going to be necessary but not this week when you already feel overwhelmed, over stimulated and stressed…

I have personal experience of this feeling and have been trained in Ikigai (work flow and purpose) coaching to help clients find a better matched job. Do reach out when you’ve got through the shock and depression of going back! Thinking of you.

03/01/2026

A beautiful wise post by Donna Ashworth. 💯 percent agree. Rest IS doing. It’s recovery, it’s integration, it’s renewing strength and it’s preparing. It’s why I take one week off every six to rest so I can be fully present and emotionally healthy for all of my clients and myself. So here is to rest! And making decisions that bring in regular spaces and moments to rest. It’s probably the greatest thing our society needs! Rest… Recovery space. Space.

For many, January is a hard, cold month…

When everyone is setting new goals, laying down righteous ground rules and striving to become a better version of themselves, some of us are fighting to find our feet each day...

You see, December is a month of giving, and some of us, come January, are completely and utterly spent.

A month of remembering everyone, and remembering absolutely everything.

A month of including everyone and of reaching out to each and every person we have ever known.

A month of reaching breaking point every day trying to have fun, to be the ultimate hostess, to be the perfect guest.

A month of stretching ourselves financially, emotionally and of letting our boundaries be breached by many... in the spirit of the season.

And then January hits and bam... before we can even begin the arduous task of clearing away the festivities, we are expected to jump on the ‘new year, new you’ bandwagon and transform ourselves entirely.

For some of us this is just too much.

January is the darkest and most depressing month of the year and for many sensitive souls, the barrage of ‘advice’ on how we ‘should’ be living, is just too much.

So perhaps this is a safe place to say that maybe it’s okay to take a week or two to recover and to just be kind to ourselves before demanding better.

And for those of us who really do fall low in the darkest month of the year. For those of us who have given too much and to whom the future looks bleak - perhaps this is the right place to say - you are absolutely fine the way you are. Just stay.

Take some time to breathe.

Take some time to not think about anything much at all except breathing in and breathing out.

Take some time to build back up, not tear your yourself down.

For many, this month is a mountain that looks unclimbable.

Be kind, my friends. Always.

Donna Ashworth

03/01/2026

The wolf moon is a full wolf moon tonight… It was so bright last night it was like dawn all night - with the moon and reflection on the snow here…

Not a bad intention to surround your self with things that are beautiful to you…I’m going to make everything around me beautiful - that will be my life from Sam Cannon Art

E.g For me, Scotland, surrounded by beauty of nature, with the poodles, in Winter.

Enjoy your beautiful things whether a cup of tea in a favourite cup or a bird on the feeder or something else , enjoy and enjoy some more!

03/01/2026

Number 1 read in The Guarduan today! A great read about ‘doing what makes you happy’ instead of beating yourself up with improvement!

Stop stressing about self‑improvement or waiting until you’re on top of everything. This year give yourself permission to prioritise pleasure

01/01/2026

Concessionary online places available - Please click through and forward to anyone who may need support. I'm particularly interested in supporting women aged 18-25 as there has been much in the news that impacts them: employment struggles, harassment in public places and identity, housing, university debt, anxiety to name a few. However, the offer is open to any women who need support. Concessionary places: 2 x online / 1 x face to face. I have priced the concessionary rates at what is affordable to me currently. https://www.mymindfulcounsellor.com/current-offer-trial

I am also taking on new full price clients both online and face to face.

31/12/2025

Resolutions/Anti new year!

As we hit new year mayhem, I keep thinking about how many women will be wishing for more drive or self-improvement and for those who need something different (because that never seems to work).

In my experience, women I see just want ‘simple’ things. They want peace in relationships, purpose in their life and to sleep properly. They want life to feel less tight or restricted, and a lot less effortful.

So many of us get to new year and reflect with exhaustion! We see we have been holding it together for a long time - doing the right thing, keeping too many plates spinning, avoiding conflict but our expense just getting through. When we stop to reflect we don’t like the past year.

I often hear, ‘I just can’t do another year like that.’ Not dramatically but with poignant tender realism and self honesty.

There’s actually a kind of valuable wisdom in reaching that desperate honesty point. Absolutely NOT the sort that pushes you to try harder, but the kind that starts asking different questions. Why am I so tired? Why does my body feel on edge? Why does rest feel out of reach even when life looks fine from the outside? What am I doing that’s making me unhappy? What am I not doing that would bring me closer to my true self? It’s the point you want change enough to be ready for change. A beautiful but scary point!

For many women, what helps isn’t striving and resolutions. It’s clarity! Understanding our selves better. Seeing our situation for what it really is. Making gentler, more truthful choices about where we place their energy and who we keep around us.

My hope for us all in the coming year is heartfelt but simple: more ease, more kindness, fewer battles — especially the ones we fight against ourselves.

If you’re at a point where you want space to think, to feel, and to be met properly, to have support through that, I’m currently taking on clients face to face in Malvern, as well as online.

I can offer a gentle, warm, real connected place to pause and begin again in a way that feels more aligned to you. Helping women find a more aligned path is my passion.

Please get in touch mymindfulcounsellor@gmail.com

30/12/2025

Feeling excited. Just purchased a short course for next year Ikagai coaching to help support clients with that feeling of frustration at work…. Loads of courses on here ranging from angelic and shamanic to healing, s*x to art, dog therapy and natural courses. Great gifts if that is your budget.

Whilst not qualifications, I love learning new things and you may find things of interest too! Here are just a few of the options I screen grabbed. Part of my commitment to try to support those who can’t afford therapy means I will be sharing useful resources this year as well as continuing to offer 1:1, concessions, women’s circles and retreats.

I don’t think they qualify you to be insured to practice without a base qualification but very much of interest at personal level.

All these courses are less than £50 and second one half price. https://certified-excellence.com/?ref=2093

29/12/2025

House moves… Eeeek! Still will keep Mskvern F2F clients from therapy rooms …
The hoped move to Knowbury in January is getting ever closer. I will be continuing to offer therapy in both Malvern and Knowbury once moved.

Moving house brings a lot of things for anyone - not knowing will this actually happen being the worst for me!

But others are: Who am I really connected to and what do connections mean? What does all this physical 'stuff' mean and contribute to my life? How do I simplify things? How do I cope with uncertainty, lack of control, not knowing? How robust are my stress management and de-stressing techniques? To name just a few...

It's certainly a challenge! Being in transition feels even more overwhelming for neuro-spicy folks but I'm trying to Yin myself out and doing a lot of breathing resets....

To Malvern - I have enormous gratitude and to Knowbury a hopeful heart that my home will be happy and supportive space for new women and young people I'm yet to meet. I will be renting a therapy room in Malvern so still taking Malvern clients Tuesday afternoon availability for therapy room once moved and morning home visits.

Please get in touch if you'd like a free chat to see if you feel counselling with me is matched to your needs - mymindfulcounsellor@gmail.com
www.mymindfulcounsellor.com