Embracing Emotions Therapy

14/07/2025

Some late June and July moments 💙

I've taken it super easy these last few days/weeks. My body said no and I had to listen 🫡 I'm feeling better... I think! 🤞🏻

I had a fun few weeks walking, picking strawberries and cherries, visiting Margate for a Haim concert, and spending some time at the beach. Along with the odd cycle here and there. But boy has it been hot 🫠

If you know me you know I am not a big fan of hot weather. So I have been resting at home a lot. Air con unit on 🌬️ I guess it worked out timing wise to be a little ill whilst it's hot. I haven't missed out on much.

I hope you've been enjoying the last few weeks! 🌞

Not being in tip top health always reminds me to be grateful for my body and what it can do. And it reminds me to respect my body. I'm trying to incorporate more gratitude into my life. Especially as it's proven to be good for mental health ☺️👍🏻

☯️

18/06/2025

Interesting statistics here 🤓

29% of men have been to therapy, compared to 41% of women, according to our Public Perceptions Survey.

Of those who've had therapy, 73% of men and 73% of women say it was helpful.

So what’s getting in the way of more men seeking therapy? 🤔

Stigma, social expectations, and discomfort around opening up all play a part. But attitudes are slowly shifting.

This Men’s Health Month, we’re taking a closer look at how men view therapy, and how those views are changing.

Read more here 👉 https://orlo.uk/XmtKR

12/01/2025

Happy New Year! ✨2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣5️⃣🎊

I hope that this year is a wonderful one for you.

It's cold here at the moment ❄️ The first picture was taken yesterday, it was a blue and frosty day. Days like this are rare in winter, so I pushed myself out the door and I was rewarded with lovely scenes 🌾

If your area is also cold, do keep warm! And rest a little more, let that guilt go about "not being productive enough". We are part of nature and we also need to hibernate a little 💤🌡️

Thanks so much for your presence here in 2024 🌍

12/10/2024

I love the location of Therapy Spaces ☯️

There's so much nearby. You can take yourself for a coffee in one of the many cafes ☕ before or after your session.

Or grab your food shopping or snack in Waitrose just around the corner 🍎

There's a little park by Surbiton clock tower about a 3 minutes walk away 🌲

A yummy independent Japanese restaurant called Boat is a few doors down 🍣🍛

I chose this space for my clients because of how comfortable and convenient it is. Transport and parking are nearby, and there are lots of options for both 🙌🏻 and bike racks! 🚲 I also like how it's a unique place, offering various therapies. It's great that Therapy Spaces supports and brings together independent practitioners.

31/07/2024

3️⃣☯️🧠 Embracing Emotions has been around for 3 years! 🎉✨

Thank you for being here! 😊 I am so grateful for all of you. My clients, past, present, and future, charities I work with, online therapist friends, my loved ones, anyone who's passed my name on, or supported me, thank you ❤️ It means so much.

Here's to more years of embracing emotions! 😁🥰🛋️

23/07/2024

🆕🌊🐚🏖️ I spent a few days at the beach last week 😌

Here's a long update from me...

The beach was so fun! I had *delicious* fish and chips, hot doughnuts, and managed to balance it with a run and lots of beach walks. The sand at Bournemouth is gorgeous! 💛 Have you been before?

I've had moments to read my book. Although I'm pretty behind on my book club read!! 😬 I'm enjoying reading Emily Henry, this is Funny Story. In the background I've also been moving, so that was a little stressful! Yoga has helped 🙏🏻🌬️ See the garage picture for some reality amidst the scenic pictures and yummy food, I moved a bunch of my stuff when it was 30°C 🥵

I've had some exciting things happen recently! I've had a few introductory video calls, it's so lovely to meet new potential clients 🥰 And some new clients booked their sessions using my new scheduling system. I'm so happy and excited that I'm embracing technology more and hopefully it's making things smoother for you all! Here's what's new...

🆕 You can book online sessions yourself, flexibly, aka not necessarily at the same time each week, pay using a secure system, reschedule (if >24 hours ahead of the session time), and more!💻🗓️ But I'm still getting my head around the system myself. And this is something I'd like to eventually use for in person sessions too 🛋️🌿

Remember you don't need to be local to me to do online sessions. You can book your introductory call or online session by clicking "book" on my Instagram profile, or going to the appointment page on my website, also linked on my profile 🔗🌎

If you have any questions just leave a comment or message me 😊

I hope you enjoy your evening 🌆

☯️

01/06/2024

I contributed to an article in ! ✨ Grab your copy, issue 86, go to page 36 and you'll find my face 🤓

I used to buy this magazine before I became a therapist and now I've contributed to an article in it, all about nurturing creativity and our inner child 🎨 A full circle moment!

05/05/2024

The last few weeks! 🛋️👩🏻🪻🍛😬📱🌳🚲 Some highlights...

1. Pre-client time! Setting up the room this day was relaxing, as it usually is. Especially with the iced latte! 🧋

2. A chilled therapy room selfie 🤳🏻

3. Some beautiful bluebells on one of my many de-stressing walks 😌💚 So much has been blooming 💐🌸

4. Homemade sweet and sour chicken. It was delicious 😋

5. A not so chilled therapy room selfie. I was behind schedule and something went wrong 🤯🤦🏻‍♀️ I still had time for a picture though 😂

6. Some kindle time on one of my train journeys. I love reading on the train these days 📚

7. Spring showing itself 😊🌳🌄 on another walk 🚶🏻‍♀️

8. Finally back cycling 😅 after resting my neck and knee ❤️‍🩹💪🏻 Enjoying my new watch too!

31/03/2024

Yesterday I went to a sound bath, my first one ✨🔔☕ Thanks to & .co.uk

💓 What's a sound bath like?
It involves tea first, to ground you, yoga mats in a circle, cushions, blankets, a gong, and singing bowls played in a specific order 😌 And it's a form of meditation. You lie down and listen to the sounds and notice the vibrations 🫨 they are meant to allow you to connect to the present moment and potentially your subconscious.

It was so relaxing. I encourage you to create your own wellbeing toolkit 💼 have some relaxing and preventative options you can lean on. Or to experiment with a new one.

Here's some examples, other than a sound bath:

🔸an art or creative class
🔸breathing exercises
🔸sports you can do at a slower pace 🏊🏽‍♂️🏌🏿‍♀️
🔸meditations - guided or unguided
🔸nature walks

And try it in a group if that feels okay. The reason I think this is so important is because in the UK, as an increasingly secular society, many people have lost elements of spirituality and community that often come with religion. Spirituality and community are arguably pillars of wellbeing, especially community. The reality is, we are social creatures and that group experience is precious ❤️

17/03/2024

How do you choose a therapist? 🤯🥴

It can get confusing and overwhelming!

Sometimes I forget that my clients, potential clients, their families and others don't know as much as I do about therapy. I can forget that we aren't all familiar with how it works and how to find one (I'm sorry!) Or you might just want some tips! 👇🏼

Well, something that's important is that they're a member of an ethical body. My one is called the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP for short) 🤓 There are others too such as NCS, UKCP and BABCP. I'll leave the acronym decoding research to you! 💻 You may see "MBACP" on therapists/counsellors Instagrams and websites and that means that they are a member of the BACP. Or they may be accredited with them.

As a member, it's my duty to follow the BACP's ethical guidelines. I have completed a certain amount of training to be allowed on their register. Also, if I was to ever harm a client they could file a complaint through the BACP. These bodies help uphold responsibility, morality and professionalism in the mental health field 👍🏼 They may have flaws, but their existence is a massive green flag!

You can check out each ethical body and search their registers for a therapist near you or one that offers what you need. Alternatively, you can use websites like or to search for one. These websites require all therapists to be a member of an ethical body.

Make sure your therapist is on one of these ethical bodies registers. I am happy to answer any questions about this. Do you have one? Just write a comment or send me a message 😊

16/03/2024

Instagram vs reality therapist story time 🏞️🚶🏼‍♀️🧠💪🏼😥📈😭🪨😃🌲

I went to the peak district this week. I took some days off to relax and explore the UK a little. Whilst I had a blast, it was also super challenging and I learned a lot. It involved some tears... But I'm sharing because I hope it's insightful.

I climbed one of the peaks to Bamford edge where the rocks formations are beautiful 🪨 and so is the view! But as cliché as it sounds, climbing the hill was no easy task. Mountains and hills are often used as metaphors and I really learned why.

Water was forgotten 😭 (a self care no no) and the path was, erm, not really a path 😬 We couldn't find it. Instead, we climbed through bracken and small trees (see 3rd picture) and the ground was covered in muddy, slippy leaves. The steepness of the hill in the pictures vs how it felt at the time doesn't match up 😵‍💫 I wasn't sure I could do it. I got scared; I was already most of the way up and either way I had a difficult task ahead. I got overwhelmed, started crying and I panicked a bit. I just let it out. I spoke to my walking partner, shared my fears, got a hug, paused for a moment and then carried on. One foot in front of the other.

I was SO relieved when I got to the top 😌🎖️

I want you to know that challenges that are small or medium are good for us. Crying is okay. This challenge may have been on the cusp of being too much for me but I am *so* glad I made it and have this experience to reflect on.

I challenge you to challenge yourself this coming week! Do something small that makes you nervous. What will you do? 👇🏼 We need to push ourselves out of our comfort zone every now and then so that we grow even more 🌱

If you read this far, then here's an Instagram high 5 🖐🏼😂

☯️

29/01/2024

Having worked alongside children and young people for over 8 years, mainly in schools (I feel a bit old!), it felt great to enhance and solidify my existing knowledge by doing a diploma in counselling children and young people 🏫👩🏻‍🏫🚸

Here's my certificate because I'm pretty proud 🤓

Have a lovely week everyone! 😊