Quiet Kin Counselling & Animal Assisted Therapy

26/05/2026

Wise words from HeadStrong

19/05/2026

I like this. What’s your thoughts?

16/05/2026

Glimmers can be thought of as the opposite of triggers. Instead of heralding unpleasant thoughts, feelings, and traumatic memories, they bring joy.

Deb Dana first used the term to describe “micro-moments of regulation that foster feelings of well-being.” Occupational therapist Bec Secombes went further, categorising them as “a satisfying sensory delight that fills someone with fervent ecstasy.”

Glimmers can be anything, and they’re unique to every individual. A glimmer to someone may be unpleasant or even a trigger to someone else. They can stimulate any sense, be they sounds, textures, sensations, tastes, smells, internal feelings, or sights.

They might bring back happy memories, transport us to a safe place, or make us feel a strong sense of joy or contentment. We may feel very connected or smiley. Anything or anyone can be a glimmer. They come from without and within.

Some Neurodivergent people can be more attuned to glimmers, just as they may be more responsive to triggers. It’s important to know your triggers, and knowing your glimmers is really useful too!

They don’t erase our triggers and aren’t about pretending everything is ok, but making space for glimmers and embracing moments of joy can be especially valuable during difficult times. These three resources may help you on that journey.

L!nk below.

15/05/2026

15/05/2026

I have some limited availability for sessions.

14/05/2026

14/05/2026

I was talking with one of my supervisors this week about how I like to research and do my homework before attempting something new.

In Transactional Analysis we talk about drivers — unconscious messages we learn about how to be “OK” in the world. Two common ones are “Be Perfect” and “Try Hard.”

“Be Perfect” can sound like:
“I need to get this right before I begin.”
“If I don’t do it properly, I’ve failed.”

“Try Hard” can sound like:
“I must put huge effort in.”
“If it feels easy, maybe I’m not doing enough.”
“If I am struggling, just try harder”

These drivers can help us achieve things, but they can also keep us stuck at the starting line, waiting until we feel ready, knowledgeable enough, or certain enough before beginning.

Couch to 5K has been reminding me that you do not need to be perfect before you start. You don’t need to already be a runner to begin running.

Sometimes growth comes from allowing ourselves permission to be learners, beginners, uncertain, messy, and human.

13/05/2026

Finn and I are doing the Couch to 5K and currently on week 5.

I’ve been reflecting on pacing lately, and how important it is to go at your own pace rather than somebody else’s.

The first run starts with 60 seconds. Just 60 seconds can feel hard when your body and mind aren’t used to it. Yet somehow, by week 5, you can find yourself running for 20 minutes and it feels manageable. Not necessarily easy, but possible.

There’s something in that for therapy too. Growth often happens gradually. What once felt overwhelming can, over time, become something we can hold, tolerate, or move through differently.

I also think there’s something powerful about exercise and mental health. Not in a “fix everything” way, but in the small, steady ways movement can help us reconnect with ourselves, release stress, build confidence, and notice progress we couldn’t see at the beginning.

Sometimes the goal isn’t speed.
Sometimes the goal is simply to keep going.

13/05/2026

health awareness

12/05/2026