Lucy Borthwick Counselling

Lucy Borthwick Counselling Are you tired of feeling anxious and overwhelmed with life? Would you like to feel more in control?

Lucy Borthwick Counselling-Counselling Practice based in Hagley-Therapy comes with a pretty strong sense of the unknown ...
27/10/2025

Lucy Borthwick Counselling
-Counselling Practice based in Hagley-

Therapy comes with a pretty strong sense of the unknown for a lot of people, and it can be uncomfortable to put your trust in a seemingly vague, non-linear process.
Therapy is about having a space to share your feelings and process but also a space to be challenged, learn new skills, and grow. Learning something new or adjusting your mind-set takes hard work, this hard work of having your behaviours or thoughts reflected back at you or challenged can be exhausting.
That exhaustion can be of the seriously emotional kind and a very common reason why some people feel worse sometimes after a session. It is actually normal to occasionally feel bad or worse after therapy, especially during the beginning of your work with a therapist. It can be a sign of progress. As counterintuitive as it may sound, feeling bad during therapy can be good.
The good news is that feeling doesn’t last forever. There will also be times when you leave the therapy room feeling lighter, happier and having a greater self awareness. This can greatly improve your confidence and self esteem leading to you making positive changes and gaining a new perspective on your life.
Therapy is the beginning of a journey toward feeling great, better than you’ve ever felt.
It is OK to feel bad after therapy. If you hang in there and move through the process, it will be worth it.
To find out more, contact me to see how we could work together.


🌐LucyBorthwickCounselling.com
📧Lborthwickcounselling@gmail.com
☎️Tel: 07392 903 735

Lucy Borthwick Counselling-Counselling Practice based in Hagley-People-pleasing is when we prioritise other people’s nee...
25/10/2025

Lucy Borthwick Counselling
-Counselling Practice based in Hagley-

People-pleasing is when we prioritise other people’s needs above our own. This has potential implications for our overall wellbeing and mental health.
Although being kind and helpful is generally a good thing, the persistent neglect of personal boundaries and self-care can result in emotional exhaustion and burnout, leaving the people-pleaser feeling drained and resentful.
Moreover, the suppression of our true feelings and needs in favour of maintaining a pleasing facade can erode self-esteem and self-worth over time, creating a cycle of self-doubt and insecurity that can be challenging to break.
To stop being a people-pleaser, it's important to understand some of the reasons why we might be engaging in this kind of behaviour. A number of factors might play a role, including, Poor Self esteem, Insecurity, Perfectionism and Past life experiences.
Talking to a Counsellor can help you to identify beliefs you hold about yourself and explore how these are contributing to people pleasing behaviours. In turn, this can help you to learn to establish boundaries and balance in your life moving forwards.
Get in touch with to see how we could work together.

🌐LucyBorthwickCounselling.com
📧Lborthwickcounselling@gmail.com
☎️Tel: 07392 903 735

Lucy Borthwick Counselling-Counselling Practice based in Hagley-When we look in the mirror to see ourselves, that is not...
24/10/2025

Lucy Borthwick Counselling
-Counselling Practice based in Hagley-

When we look in the mirror to see ourselves, that is not the whole of who we are.
We should never assume that what we see is exactly what we’re looking at. There are many layers to us and once we recognise these layers, then we can avoid looking at ourselves so narrowly, or so definitively.
What we look like on the outside is not as important as who we are on the inside.
Being a good person and having a good heart will always make you a beautiful person. A mirror shows only one part of us, we are so much more than our reflection.


🌐LucyBorthwickCounselling.com
📧Lborthwickcounselling@gmail.com
☎️Tel: 07392 903 735

Lucy Borthwick Counselling-Counselling Practice based in Hagley-When we're self-accepting, we're able to embrace all fac...
22/10/2025

Lucy Borthwick Counselling
-Counselling Practice based in Hagley-

When we're self-accepting, we're able to embrace all facets of ourselves—not just the positive, more "esteem-able" parts. As such, self-acceptance is unconditional, free of any qualification. We can recognise our weaknesses or limitations, but this awareness in no way interferes with our ability to fully accept ourselves.
It should be apparent that self-acceptance has nothing to do with self-improvement. It isn't about "fixing" anything in ourselves. With self-acceptance, we're just affirming who we are, with whatever strengths and weaknesses we possess.
Accepting ourselves as we are today doesn't mean we'll be without the motivation to make changes or improvements that will make us more effective, or that will enrich our lives. It's simply that this self-acceptance is in no way tied to such alterations.
When we are true to ourselves we allow our individuality and uniqueness to shine through. We respect the opinions of others but do not conform to stereotypes, or the expectations of others. Being true to ourselves takes courage. It requires us to be introspective, sincere, open-minded and fair. It does not mean we are inconsiderate or disrespectful of others. It means we will not let others define us or make decisions we should make for ourselves.
Be true to the very best of who you are and live life consistent with your highest values and aspirations.


🌐LucyBorthwickCounselling.com
📧Lborthwickcounselling@gmail.com
☎️Tel: 07392 903 735

Lucy Borthwick Counselling-Counselling Practice based in Hagley-If you’re a worrier, then you’re well aware of “what if”...
21/10/2025

Lucy Borthwick Counselling
-Counselling Practice based in Hagley-

If you’re a worrier, then you’re well aware of “what if” thinking. “What if” thinking is the stress, panic, and worry that your brain creates by constantly asking future oriented, “what if” questions.
We can waste an enormous amount of energy thinking about stuff that never happens. We can spend hours strategising and making plans for stuff that never happens. And your anxiety totally tricks you. It convinces you that this “what if” thinking if helpful. That it prepares you. But it doesn’t. It just takes up a huge amount of your time and energy, keeping you in a vortex of worry.
Often, we recognise that we are caught in the spiral of the what-if thinking by our feelings. We may feel angry, sad, anxious, worried or stressed. When you can recognise that you are going over and over the what-if’s, stop yourself and ask yourself, ‘What is the worst-case scenario here?’ By doing this you are stopping the re-run of the what-if and it is usually this re-run after re-run of the thought that causes the anxiety. Often you will find that the worst-case scenario is not as bad as what you were thinking.
Remember too that no matter what life throws at you, you can handle it. It may not be pleasant, and in some cases, it may bring hardship, but whatever it is you have the ability to handle it.
When you take the scenario, you have been playing over and over in the negative, try taking the same scenario and see the best possible outcome instead. This can change your viewpoint and reduce the anxiety.
What we have to remember is that all of this is taking place in our own mind. Nowhere else. And we have complete control over our thoughts. We can control our thoughts. Our thoughts do not have to control us. We have choices.


🌐LucyBorthwickCounselling.com
📧Lborthwickcounselling@gmail.com
☎️Tel: 07392 903 735

Lucy Borthwick Counselling-Counselling Practice based in Hagley-Are you tired of feeling anxious and overwhelmed with li...
20/10/2025

Lucy Borthwick Counselling
-Counselling Practice based in Hagley-

Are you tired of feeling anxious and overwhelmed with life?
Would you like to feel more confident? Calmer? More in control of your life? Would you like to understand yourself better? Know your patterns, how and why you may be processing events and situations in your life?
Counselling can have a profound impact on the lives of individuals. Counselling helps people navigate difficult life situations, such as the death of a loved one, divorce, stress, anxiety or the loss of a job.
It provides space for people to discuss their problems and any difficult feelings they encounter in a safe, confidential environment.
I provide therapeutic counselling to help you to explore your thoughts and feelings and make lasting changes. I am currently working face to face with clients as well as online using zoom. Get in touch to find out how I may be able to help you.


🌐Lborthwickcounselling@gmail.com
📧Lucy Borthwick Counselling.com
☎️Tel: 07392 903 735

Lucy Borthwick Counselling-Counselling Practice based in Hagley-Sometimes, holding on does much more damage than letting...
17/10/2025

Lucy Borthwick Counselling
-Counselling Practice based in Hagley-

Sometimes, holding on does much more damage than letting go. Holding on becomes a heavy burden that leaves us aching with scars and blisters. And yet, we hold on to so much in life. If we want to move our lives forward, we must be willing to let go of what’s holding us back.
All the things we must let go of in order to see the change we want in our lives lies within us. If we first change the inside, the outside will fall into place.
Let go of fear, it holds us back from growth. Let go of self-doubt, it holds us back from creation. Let go of the need for approval, it holds us back from living a life that’s authentically ours. Let go of limiting beliefs, they hold us back from seeing all the gardens of possibility. And let go of the need to have it all now, it holds us back from enjoying the slowness of the beautiful and rich journey that is life.
Letting go draws the wind into our sails. It liberates us to dream, imagine, and create.


🌐LucyBorthwickCounselling.com
📧Lborthwickcounselling@gmail.com
☎️Tel: 07392 903 735

Lucy Borthwick Counselling-Counselling Practice based in Hagley-Being authentic means that you act in ways that show you...
16/10/2025

Lucy Borthwick Counselling
-Counselling Practice based in Hagley-

Being authentic means that you act in ways that show your true self and how you feel. Rather than showing people only a particular side of yourself, you express your whole self genuinely.
It is when our actions and words are congruent with our beliefs and values. It is being ourselves, not an imitation of what we think we should be or have been told we should be.
However, the authentic version of you may not suit everyone around you. Those closest to you are familiar with how you are, it suits them and at times may meet their needs. So when they notice you making changes they may react. It may make them feel unsure, it is unfamiliar.
Despite this, it is important to keep going, make the changes you need and eventually those around you will adapt and if not, then maybe they weren’t really meant to be in your life at all.
Talking to a counsellor can help explore your values and identify what you truly want from life so that you can make the changes you need to moving forward.

🌐LucyBorthwickCounselling.com
📧Lborthwickcounselling@gmail.com
☎️Tel: 07392 903 735

Lucy Borthwick Counselling-Counselling Practice based in Hagley-Our beliefs about ourselves (core beliefs) can often eme...
15/10/2025

Lucy Borthwick Counselling
-Counselling Practice based in Hagley-

Our beliefs about ourselves (core beliefs) can often emerge from early life experiences. As adults, there are things we do on a day-to-day basis that will keep these beliefs alive. The way we interpret our daily experiences, the unhelpful rules and assumptions we live by, and particularly, our responses to certain day-to-day situations, all serve to keep our negative core beliefs going.
We tend to pay attention to things we expect and interpret things in a way that is consistent with our expectations. As a result, we tend to remember things that happen that are consistent with our beliefs.
When we perceive ourselves negatively, whether we label ourselves awkward, unlovable, obnoxious, shy, etc., it becomes more and more difficult to believe that others could possibly see us in a positive light.
While we cannot change the past, we can do something about the things we do on a day-to-day basis in the ‘here- and-now’ that maintain the negative core beliefs we have about ourselves. This means that things can be different and you can overcome low self-esteem.
Talking to a counsellor can help you to identify your negative thought patterns around yourself and start to reframe your thinking to begin to recognise your strengths and have a more positive outlook.


🌐LucyBorthwickCounselling.com
📧Lborthwickcounselling@gmail.com
☎️Tel: 07392 903 735

Lucy Borthwick Counselling-Counselling Practice based in Hagley-The way you treat yourself sets the standard for others....
14/10/2025

Lucy Borthwick Counselling
-Counselling Practice based in Hagley-

The way you treat yourself sets the standard for others.
For example always putting the interests and well-being of others first may make you feel noble and wanted, but it teaches the people in your life that your needs aren’t as important as their own. They also then have an expectation of how your relationship works which tends to suit them more than you.
We often then feel annoyed or frustrated, feeling that sometimes we are being used or taken for granted.
However, we need to recognise that we allow it, we give unspoken permission just by our actions or inaction.
If you want to generate change that is meaningful and sustainable, you need to first recognize how your own behaviour contributes to the way others treat you.


🌐LucyBorthwickCounselling.com
📧Lborthwickcounselling@gmail.com
☎️Tel: 07392 903 735

Lucy Borthwick Counselling-Counselling Practice based in Hagley-If you are considering therapy, or if you are about to h...
13/10/2025

Lucy Borthwick Counselling
-Counselling Practice based in Hagley-

If you are considering therapy, or if you are about to have your first therapy session, you may be nervous, skeptical, or downright frightened about starting. Most people have a natural fear of the unknown, which may be contributing to your feelings.
It is completely normal to be nervous about beginning therapy, especially if you have never engaged in therapy before.
Meeting a stranger, and potentially revealing things to them that are personal and private is scary.
A good therapist will help you feel comfortable and work to build a strong connection with you so that soon enough you arrive at appointments and feel free to share what’s on your mind.
So, it’s normal to be nervous about therapy, but a good therapist will put you at ease so that even if it is difficult to tell your story, somehow you will feel better and more hopeful for having told it—perhaps even a little bit lighter than when you first came in.


🌐LucyBorthwickCounselling.com
📧Lborthwickcounselling@gmail.com
☎️Tel: 07392 903 735

Lucy Borthwick Counselling-Counselling Practice based in Hagley-Depending on others to confirm that you’re worthwhile is...
11/10/2025

Lucy Borthwick Counselling
-Counselling Practice based in Hagley-

Depending on others to confirm that you’re worthwhile is a recipe for disappointment.
When we come to understand that our sense of self-esteem actually comes from the inside, not from the outside we can learn to accurately estimate ourselves instead of only relying on another person’s interpretation of us which, for better or worse, is often inaccurate.
As a result we don’t rely on others to validate our existence or define us. We feel increasingly more connected with ourselves.
Talking to a counsellor can help you to explore reasons why your self esteem is impacted and work on developing a greater sense of self worth.
Get in touch to see how we could work together.

🌐LucyBorthwickCounselling.com
📧Lborthwickcounselling@gmail.com
☎️Tel: 07392 903 735

Address

Rooks Meadow
Stakenbridge
DY9OPT

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 7:30pm
Tuesday 10:30am - 7:30pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 7:30pm
Thursday 10:30am - 7:30pm
Friday 9:30am - 2pm

Telephone

+447392903735

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