Hope Arising Counselling

24/07/2025

🛁💆🏃‍♀️Today is International Self-Care Day – celebrated every year on July 24th (24/7) as a powerful reminder that self-care isn't just a one-day event — it should be an integrative aspect of our lifestyle 24/7.
Whether it’s exercising, setting boundaries, prioritising rest, healthy eating or mental wellness, self-care is essential to living a balanced, healthy and sustainable life. 💛

Let today be a reminder to check in with yourself and recommit to the daily practices that keep you well — mind, body, and soul. 🌿

12/05/2025

Thinking of all the kids and parents with SATs this week. Remind them that they are good enough and they have so many other qualities and super powers that exams don’t test.

For anyone with kids in year 6, please show them this and remind them that they, most likely, will never need a lot of the stuff they are being tested on. 🙂🧡

25/04/2025

New blog post out!

The idea is based around making better decisions by connecting with our core values. We already have a powerful internal guide, our moral compass. This blog is about slowing down and using this resource to stay true to ourselves leading to a fulfilling and authentic lifestyle.

How reflecting on our values and personal moral compass can help in making tough life choices. Decision making is part of daily life. Shall I hit snooze on my alarm? What should I have for breakfast? What should I wear to work? Sometimes we must weigh up harder options: Should I remain in this re

26/03/2025

Hello! I have been rather absent as I have had my head down finishing my dissertation on ‘how best to work with adolescents in a therapeutic setting’. Although it has been gruelling I can honestly say I have loved researching this project. It has helped me professionally with counselling secondary school kids. I just wanted to recommend this book. It is brilliant!

I think every Counsellor, Parent, teacher and anyone that works with young people should take a read. It offers practical ways in which we can love our young people and also help them notice ways in which others are reaching out to them that they may not be noticing.

I think open communication around different ways we express and receive love in families, friendship groups and romantic relationships is so important and this book is relevent and relational!

24/12/2024

Wishing everyone a warm, joy filled Christmas.
For some, Christmas is a time of laughter and connection, for others they may face difficult emotions, complex family dynamics, or have painful memories resurface.

Christmas can be a reminder of both love and loss. Both are okay and it is important to honor where you are. Take care of yourself, and may you find peace in whatever form it may take.

24/12/2024

Take some time out to be kind to yourself and kind to others over the Christmas holidays

Unfortunately, Christmas isn't always a time of joy. We are taking a moment to pause, reflect, and consider those who are facing challenges during this season.

07/10/2024

I have a new blog post. I have used this tool with several clients over the last few months. I think the visual representation is really useful, particularly for teenagers grappling to place their emotions. 

Anger is a well-known emotion. We have many metaphors for anger like, a raging storm or a simmering volcano. We have pictures depicting the emotion, boiling with anger, fire, seeing red or steam coming out of our ears. Often anger can be the go-to emotion when we wish to express other emotions which

11/09/2024

I really like this quote. Counsellors are not here to fix everything and do the work for you. A counsellor’s role is to come alongside you, create a safe space, hold you, believe in you and journey with you as you do the work.

It is a brave step, but you are not alone. 

03/09/2024

This quote is so profound. I have seen it many times in practice, but I’ve also experienced it personally. When you have a crisis in your life, more often than not you tackle it head on and get through it as you have no choice.
It’s often afterwards when we are in a more safe space that our bodies and our mind then starts to react. Similar to how you always get a cold as soon as you go on holiday! Your body is in full drive mode until it starts to relax, becoming vulnerable and prone to illness. Mental health is very similar. Prioritise your mental health and be kind to yourself.

Many people who experience trauma will experience some symptoms which dissipate after a number of weeks. However if those symptoms continue for longer than a month, and are affecting your day-to-day life, PTSD or C-PTSD may be present. In around 15% of people, there may be a delay of months or even years before symptoms even start to appear - you may think 'but I was ok then, so why am I suffering now' and not realise your 'new' symptoms are linked.

PTSD and C-PTSD symptoms can vary in intensity over time. Some people with PTSD or C-PTSD learn to ‘manage’ their symptoms and so have long periods when their symptoms are less noticeable, followed by periods where they get worse. Other people have constant severe symptoms, or you may only have symptoms when they’re stressed in general, or when they run into reminders of what you went through.

Every experience of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is unique to every person and people react to traumatic experiences in a variety of ways: you might have experienced a similar type of trauma to someone else, yet be affected in a different way.

As such, knowledge IS power when it comes to PTSD and C-PTSD - and our website is full of information and resources to help you navigate through trauma, a diagnosis or PTSD or C-PTSD, how the conditions might make you think, feel or act, and how to access treatments that can help.

Find out more at PTSDuk.org

30/07/2024

Being outdoors and among nature has a positive impact on your mental health! Self care is so important! Be kind to yourself and take some time to breathe. Doesn’t have to be elaborate; go walk the dog, have a bath, listen to the birds.

There’s something both humbling and grounding about watching the tide. I’m taking some reflective R and R time in one of my favourite places. I’m still taking email enquiries, but unlikely to answer my phone.

27/07/2024

Anxiety is a natural reaction to potential danger, but when it goes into overdrive, even when the threat is over, it can effect mental wellbeing and become debilitating.

Counselling can help, guiding you through techniques such as CBT, mindfulness and relaxation tools or exposure therapy.

23/07/2024

If you’ve ever wondered what the point of Anxiety is or you just love Disney, this may offer some food for thought.

https://www.hope-arising.co.uk/why-i-love-anxiety-from-inside-out-2/Blog%20Post%20Title%20One-wsjhh