Gemma Claire

31/12/2024

To my clients.
You've taught me so much this year.

Finding your way through, discovering who you are, naming what needed to be named, reframing the framed, learning your own voice, trusting your own voice, uncovering the past, to practice being present, self-care and self-compassion, sitting with thoughts and feelings without avoiding.
It is an honour to sit with you.
Thank you.

05/10/2024

It goes without saying all this comes with the following:
Empathy, congruence and
unconditional positive regard.
Time to speak and ask questions.
Learn about confidentiality and approaches used.
Ask about credentials.
Reflect in your own time and space to see if you feel we are a good fit.
No pressure to start therapy 🙂

12/08/2024

09/08/2024

Self-care, let's talk about it!

Some of us can get confused as to what self-care actually is.
Self-care is a term that has been used a lot more in the recent years, but what actually IS self-care?

Here are some examples, but there are loads more!

Getting enough sleep. 😴
Eating well 🍈🍊🍎
Taking time to drink your tea in the morning 🍵
Journalling or similar, if that's your thing 📝
Preparing for your day the night before 🌙
Read a book that interests you, listen to a podcast or your favourite music 🎶
Draw something ✏️🖍
Spend time in your favourite places 🏠🌇🏖
Use a weighted blanket 💗
Set boundaries 😊

04/07/2024

09/06/2024

Read that again...
Give yourself permission to grieve.

26/05/2024

I am a therapist, I have lived with degenerative disease, chronic illness, and progressive conditions alongside an array of secondary symptoms for over 10 years.

Why am I disclosing this about myself?
Having lived experience can help you ( the client ) to feel validated, seen, and heard.

With an understanding of the complexities of chronic illness and of the daily challenges faced, this often helps me to be able to support you and stand in your shoes with you.

Your experiences with chronic illness are shared in therapy but are always your own.
It isn't compared to or viewed by my own lens.
It just helps me to be able to view things by yours.

I have often found that lived experience and knowledge just help to strengthen the therapeutic relationship.

When you have a strong therapeutic alliance, you'll find the work will be collaborative and changing. 💫💫












www.gemmakirkpatrickcounselling.co.uk

25/05/2024

I currently have availability for weekly sessions.
If you are looking to start therapy, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

I offer online therapeutic counselling via telephone and video.

Gemma.

www.gemmakirkpatrickcounselling.co.uk

22/05/2024

Don't forget to celebrate those wins.
They might have gone unnoticed,
where and how did you show up for yourself today?
Let me know in the comments,
Be kind to yourself. 🙂