The Listening Room

19/09/2022

💛 Reflection 💛 Rituals 💛

Life often moves at a crazy pace with little time to stop and think.

The hamster wheel of life can keep us busy whether with work, family, friends, caring for loved ones or just a bit of everything thrown in the mix!

Over the last 10 days we have seen the use of rituals to prompt, guide and create “space” for reflection.

In some ways the rituals around death are more well known and understood but they can be universal to other life events and experiences.

Whether we choose to perform those rituals in public or private and in whatever form they take they can help us process and absorb life’s events.

These can include:

💛 The importance of community, friends and/or family for support

💛 Time for quiet and stillness

💛 Material tokens such as flowers, cards etc

💛 Visual representation such as wearing specific clothing or certain colours

💛 Retreating to our home for privacy and space

What works for one person may not for another and our processes are as individual as we are.

On this bank holiday Monday may you use the extra time for however you need.

R x

11/09/2022

I have had the privilege to volunteer for a National bereavement charity for nearly 7 years now.

We have a great book group, which is where I first came across Dr Kathryn Mannix. Her book “With the End in Mind” is simply beautiful. A collection of stories from her palliative care career about what happens at the end of someone’s life. It’s provides knowledge, compassion and perspective.

Take a read of her post below about what we can learn from being an observer of the process 💛

08/09/2022

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An oldie. The important reminder that no matter how dark it is, light can be found. Wishing you all a joyful Thursday! Who has been here since this girly was posted? Raise your hand in the comments! ❤️

For my Facebook friends,

If you would like to purchase my book, you can find it on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Target!!

https://www.amazon.com/Wonder-Doodles-Little-Encouragement-Self-Care/dp/1684620430

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wonder-doodles-joanne-shi/1140202323

04/09/2022

And just like that we are in Autumn.

The colourful flowers of spring and summer are being replaced with the orange, red and yellows of the leaves.

I love the bright colours of autumn.

Even though I am happily dancing towards my mid 40’s I still avoid wearing monochrome clothing as it reminds me of my school uniform, and I instantly feel 13 again.

Lots of the schools in England will reopen their doors tomorrow and I love to see the flurry of pictures that will flood social media in the morning. Excited but nervous kids and parents!

Change can be positive, but it can also feel uncomfortable or unsettling. Sometimes only a small amount of stress can be overwhelming. Give yourself as much time as you need to find a new routine, new habits or rhythm of life.

My welly boots have been fished out of the back of the cupboard and are ready to go. But until the rain comes, I plan to soak up any final rays of sunshine and vitamin D.

R x
Art: IG

14/05/2022

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Gemma Correll always creates some beautiful graphics with some pearls of wisdom

This week I have been “taking a break” by trying to take 10 mins out of every day to clear my mind, meditate or just top up my Vitamin D in the garden.

It doesn’t matter if it’s a minute or an hour. Take some time for you this weekend.

Happy Saturday.

R x

10/05/2022

This week is Loneliness Awareness Week.

When it comes to mental health there can be a them and us mentality. There can be a stigma attached to mental health that can lead to isolation and loneliness.

In reality though, there is just all of us. Together.

We all have mental health. At different points of our life we can move up and down the continuum.

It is a normal part of life to experience events and feelings that can impact are mental health - grief, and distress etc.

But wouldn't it be so much less lonely if we could say we are all in this together and you are not alone.

Rachel Griffiths Counselling. Counselling and psychotherapy for adults. Warm and compassionate support. Confidential and tailored to the client. In person, online or telephone support. Based in Sunbury on Thames.

08/05/2022

Something beautiful about this post on this sunny Sunday morning ❤️🌞❤️

28/04/2022

💛 Being Human 💛

The contrast of the black against the white is stark yet beautiful.

Just like this image opposite and sometimes conflicting emotions can exist at the same time.

💛 Anxious and Hopeful
💛 Grateful and Lonely
💛 Sadness and Joy
💛 Happy and Angry

This is a valid and common experience. No single feeling is any more valid than another. Give yourself permission to feel all the feelings.

You can be both. You are just human.

Rachel x

Photo:

Rachel Griffiths Counselling. Counselling and psychotherapy for adults. Warm and compassionate support. Confidential and tailored to the client. In person, online or telephone support. Based in Sunbury on Thames.

26/04/2022

“Being human is not about feeling happy. It’s about feeling everything” Glennon Doyle.

25/04/2022

💛Feelings💛

This beautiful graphic by is a great visual representation of the range of emotions and sensations that we can feel at any given time.

We feel emotions and sensations for a reason. They can provide us with all the information we need. They can motivate us, protect us from danger or help to work out what we need or highlight where are needs are not being met.

The wheel is fantastic for expanding our vocabulary beyond the primary emotions of happiness, sadness , anger, surprise and fear.

If you can identify an emotion from the centre/core of the wheel then work your way out - what emotion resonates with you the most?

Or are you feeling a sensation in your body from the outer ring? Work your way inwards and see whether you can identify the emotion causing that sensation.

Understanding your emotions can help you talk about your feelings more clearly, allow you to understand yourself and others and help manage your behaviours.

Check in with yourself - what emotions and sensations are you feeling today?

Rachel x

Rachel Griffiths Counselling. Counselling and psychotherapy for adults. Warm and compassionate support. Confidential and tailored to the client. In person, online or telephone support. Based in Sunbury on Thames.

09/04/2022

“We have a tendency to think in terms of doing and not in terms of being.

We think that when we are not doing anything, we are wasting our time. But that is not true.

Our time is first of all for us to be.

To be what?

To be alive, to be peaceful, to be joyful, to be loving.

And that is what the world needs most.”

Words: Thich Nhat Hanh
Art:

08/04/2022

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Wishing everyone a happy, relaxed AND PEACEFUL weekend.

05/04/2022

I find us humans truly fascinating - which is helpful when you are a therapist!

I will be the person who chooses the seat in a restaurant, with my back against the wall looking out at all the other people.

We are made up of so many faces, personas and roles.

Sometimes we choose which aspects of us that we want to show or hide.

What role are we performing today?

We are complicated and messy. This is what makes us curiously unique.

Also, if I am completely honest, I absolutely love this photo and wanted to share ❤️

Rach x

Photo: IG:

Rachel Griffiths Counselling. Counselling and psychotherapy for adults. Warm and compassionate support. Confidential and tailored to the client. In person, online or telephone support. Based in Sunbury on Thames.

31/03/2022

The Mud Maid is a living sculpture by Sue Hill at The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Cornwall, UK.

Depending on the season, the mud maid’s ‘hair’ and ‘clothes’ change when the seasonal plants and moss grow over the sculpture.

This got my thinking about how we grow and change as humans - both internally and externally.

Sometimes we retreat in, we hibernate, we consider or just pause for a while. We can choose to hide or feel unseen.

At other times we can flourish, grow and change. We can shine brightly we can show new sides of ourselves.

Each phase can be beautiful in its own way - there is always something we can learn through ever season of life.

Rachel x

Photo: Wonders of the Planet Earth

Rachel Griffiths Counselling. Counselling and psychotherapy for adults. Warm and compassionate support. Confidential and tailored to the client. In person, online or telephone support. Based in Sunbury on Thames.

30/03/2022

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27/03/2022

Wishing you a Happy Mother’s Day 🌼🌼

To all the people struggling today, I see you, and send my love and support ❤️

Picture: Mumborneveryminute

25/03/2022

Hope the sun is putting a smile on your face … it’s adding a spring to my step as well as topping me up with some much needed vitamin D 🌞🌞🌞

May even help me forget I will shortly be loosing an hours sleep!

Happy Friday everyone.

Rach x

Photo: Rosie Made A Thing

17/03/2022

“Identity is a decision not a destiny”. - Adam Grant

There is no one path for anyone, there are forks in the road, new branches to take and different paths to follow.

It just takes courage to consider the possibilities.

Happy Thursday ❤️

Picture credit: IG