Em’s Therapy Space

10/10/2025

It’s World Mental Health Day and this year the focus is on how constant exposure to news-crisis after crisis, conflict after conflict-can wear us down.

And it really can….
Pandemics, politics, the planet… it’s a lot. And with news alerts and social media on tap, it can start to feel like there’s no off switch.

We might not be able to fix the world, but we can protect our own corner of it.
Taking breaks, switching off, checking in with people who make you feel okay isn’t burying your head in the sand, it’s protecting your sanity.

If the world feels too heavy today or any other day, it’s ok to step back.
That is looking after your mental health. 🩵

08/10/2025

This Friday - October 10th is 🌍 Mental Health Day

Days such as this shine a light on well-being which is absolutely without doubt, a brilliant thing. We all know though, it isn’t just about one day. It’s not a quick five minute fix; it’s the ongoing, conscious choice to put in the effort. Looking beyond temporary fixes towards long-term wellbeing.

Instead of pressuring yourself to achieve “zen” maybe sit with this more challenging question:

“What truth about my well-being am I currently resisting?”

Honest resistance might sound like…
• “I’m resisting the discomfort of setting a boundary.”
• “I’m resisting the vulnerability needed to ask for help.”
• “I’m resisting the acknowledgement that something needs to change.”

This is the starting point for genuine, internal progress. 🩵

Sometimes when you’re really looking inward, things can just feel overwhelming. If you find yourself in a heavy space that’s tough to navigate alone, just know that you don’t have to carry the tough stuff by yourself. Counselling is for exactly this and can really support you through the hard days and the necessary, sometimes messy, work.

07/10/2025

The window of tolerance is a tool that can be really helpful in managing stress and emotions.

When we’re inside our window, we feel more able to think clearly, manage our feelings, and respond to everyday challenges. When we’re pushed outside it, things can feel overwhelming. We might become anxious and stressed, or shut down and disconnected.

There are lots of reasons why we might move out of our window. It could be lack of sleep, school or work stress, arguments with friends or family, reminders of past experiences, or just feeling overstimulated.

I often use this tool with teenagers, but it’s something that can help anyone. It gives us a simple way of noticing when we’re struggling, and finding strategies to bring ourselves back to a steadier place.🩵

03/10/2025

28/09/2025

The power of a pause 🩵⏸️

Pausing might seem like nothing, but it’s often where you gain clarity. It gives us a moment to breathe, to notice, to choose instead of just reacting on autopilot.

Think about it:
✨ Stopping yourself mid-argument and taking a second, so you can respond calmly instead of instantly reacting.
✨ Pressing pause in the middle of a busy day, sitting with a cuppa and letting your shoulders drop for a minute.
✨ Catching that tight feeling in your chest when anxiety creeps in, and giving yourself space to slow your breathing.
✨ in therapy, silences after you’ve spoken can be powerful. They let your words land, and often what you really feel starts to come to the surface.

The world pushes us to keep going, keep ticking things off, keep scrolling. But it’s when we pause that we often find the clarity, calm, or just the tiny bit of breathing space we needed.

🩵 Perhaps today you could try allowing yourself a little pause, and see what difference it makes.

22/09/2025

Identity isn’t always straightforward. We collect roles, labels, and expectations along the way…parent, partner, friend, colleague. But beneath all of that, there’s still ‘you’.

Sometimes life gets so full that we end up going through the motions, ticking off roles and responsibilities without much pause. And then, when we do actually stop for a moment, we might wonder, who actually am I really?

It can often take quite a lot of thought and purpose to work that out. The truth is, our sense of self shifts as we grow and change over the years and through our different experiences. Counselling is a place where you can start to peel back the layers and become more aware of who you really are, beneath all the roles and expectations.

16/09/2025

I’ve been thinking about how quickly things can shift. Just a few days ago (this pic on a dog walk) it was brighter, warmer, not chucking it down. A couple of weeks prior we were BBQ’ing! Now it feels like autumn’s rolled right in with a wintry edge in the air. 🍂
Change can creep up quickly. Things never stay quite the same, even when it feels like they might. The seasons remind us of that, each one with its own pace and rhythm, its own challenges and comforts. One slowly gives way to the next, and before we realise it we’re in a different chapter.
Life works in much the same way. Some phases feel light and easy, others heavier or harder to navigate. None of them last forever. And whilst we adjust to the colder mornings, earlier evenings and the chill settling in, small comforts like a blanket, a cup of tea, or a good Netflix series can help us through the shift. ☕

15/09/2025

The statement below is something I believe, but equaply, I also know it isn’t easy!
Relationship counselling can really help. 🩵

It isn’t about fixing people or pointing blame. It’s about learning how to communicate better, understand each other more, and breaking out of the same old patterns that leave you stuck.

It can help you see things differently, handle conflict in healthier ways, and rebuild connection. Whether you’re dealing with ongoing tension, struggling to move past something, or feeling distant from each other, relationship counselling can give you tools to create a relationship that feels stronger and more fulfilling.

10/09/2025

Pebble Family Therapeutic Services are wonderful for children and families, based in Wilmslow 🩵

A little introduction - because it’s probably helpful to know a little bit about me and my work here at Pebble Family.

My name is Viki. I’m a certified play therapist and work in private practice in Wilmslow. I qualified in 2017 and have been building up my business over the past few years, while parenting 2 wonderful children.

Before qualifying as a play therapist, I have worked with children and families in a number of different roles, and I am so fortunate that I get to bring all this experience to my therapy business.

I absolutely love the work I do and am so glad that I am getting to work within my local community and support families close to home.

I am based from my playroom in central Wilmslow, but also work within some local schools.

I offer;

⭐️one to one play therapy sessions
⭐️parent and child therapy sessions
⭐️ parent consultation sessions
⭐️ professional consultation sessions
⭐️ workshops and training

Please visit my website for more information

https://www.pebble.family/

10/09/2025

This excerpt is taken from a letter about losing a parent to su***de. The writer talks about how they are experiencing the complex emotions that come from su***de related grief, and how they remember their loved one in a positive way.

To share your voice and submit your letter to the loved one you lost to su***de, click the link in our bio.

Keep talking x

***deandco ***debereavement

10/09/2025

If you are looking for an ADHD assessment, I’d highly recommend Clear Psychiatry 🩵

10/09/2025

Are you addicted to having negative thoughts?

It sounds strange, but it can happen.
When you have lived with worry, self-criticism, or ‘worst-case scenario’ thinking for a very long time, your brain wires into those patterns. Each time the thoughts repeat, neural pathways fire and strengthen. Your body also responds, releasing cortisol and adrenaline, the stress hormones that give the feeling of being on edge.

Over time, those thoughts can feel familiar, like your default ‘way’. Despite the fact they are actually unhelpful and detrimental, your mind can begin to crave them like a habit.

The problem is, the more you feed them, the stronger they get. And eventually they shape how you see yourself, your relationships, and the world around you.

Counselling can help you start noticing the patterns, understand why they show up, and learn how to respond differently. Over time, the brain can build new pathways. Change won’t happen overnight, but with support and shift in mindset, it can. 🩵