Zelna Faurie Counselling

23/11/2025

When someone is unkind, tries to exclude you, or violates your boundaries, you have the right to be upset. Research suggests that saying "ouch" to them, out loud, could be empowering. Here's why.

An honest reaction signals you'll stand up for yourself.

18/11/2025

A late start doesn’t mean a lesser journey ☺️

I began my psychology path at 39. Much later than most… but it became my greatest strength.

For a long time I felt behind. But I learned that growth has no deadline and purpose has no age limit.

My late start shaped the way I connect, understand, and support the people I work with.

If you think you’re starting too late…
You’re not. Your timing is perfect.

18/11/2025

A late start doesn’t mean a lesser journey☺️

I began my psychology journey at 39, much later than most, but with a depth of life experience that became my greatest strength.

For a long time, I carried the quiet fear that I was behind everyone else… that stepping into psychology, counselling, and later research at that age meant I would always be trying to catch up.

But what I discovered is this:
Growth has no deadline. Purpose has no age limit.

Every step I took into trauma focused psychotherapy, postgraduate study, and research was driven by resilience, curiosity, and a commitment to meaningful healing work. Over time, what once felt like a disadvantage became a unique and powerful foundation.

Today, I’m proud of the path I’ve taken.
Proud that I closed the gap.
Proud that my late start became the reason I connect deeply with the people I serve.

To anyone who feels they started too late or took a different route:
Your journey is still valid.
Your timing is still perfect.
Never give up!

17/11/2025

16/11/2025

Childhood Trauma Leaves a Mark the Body Never Forgets

New research shows that early-life trauma doesn’t just shape our memories; it leaves a chemical imprint on the brain itself. Scientists have identified elevated levels of the stress-related kinase SGK1, a neurochemical signature linked to depression and suicidal behaviour later in life.

This means childhood stress is not simply “in the past.” It becomes biologically embedded, influencing how the nervous system regulates mood, safety, and resilience across adulthood.

Understanding this imprint changes everything:
• It validates why trauma survivors often struggle in ways others can’t see.
• It highlights the lifelong interaction between toxic stress, the brain, and mental health.
• And importantly, it gives researchers a measurable target for future treatments, opening the door to new interventions that may reverse or soften trauma’s biological legacy.

Childhood trauma may leave a mark, but neuroplasticity and body-based therapies remind us: the brain can heal.

21/10/2025

How Storytelling Style Shapes the Way the Brain Forms Memories

The brain processes emotional and sensory storytelling in unique ways.

Conceptually driven stories trigger brain regions tied to meaning and self-reflection, while perceptually driven stories activate sensory areas.

These differences determine what details are remembered and how vividly.

The research offers insight into why some stories linger in memory while others fade.

21/10/2025

Harmony in a relationship means understanding, not just agreeing. When in a disagreement, people may feel their identity is threatened and must convince a partner to agree.

Start by asking, How do you experience this?

10/09/2025

Your Body Remembers What Your Childhood Nervous System Felt

Researchers revealed a fascinating connection between our childhood experiences and our adult bodies. A new study shows that the patterns and signals formed by the nervous system in early life leave lasting imprints that continue to influence the way our bodies function decades later. These neural “memories” are not just in the brain—they are embedded in muscles, organs, and even immune responses, silently carrying the story of our earliest experiences.

The implications are profound. Childhood stress, trauma, or even nurturing environments can shape how we respond to stress, regulate emotions, and maintain physical health as adults. For instance, early exposure to chronic stress may affect heart rate, digestion, and immune resilience long after the triggering events have passed. Conversely, positive childhood experiences can strengthen neural pathways that support emotional stability, learning, and overall wellbeing.

This research challenges the long-held assumption that our adult bodies are entirely separate from our early experiences. Instead, it highlights a deeply interconnected system where mind and body continuously communicate, reminding us that healing and personal growth may involve more than just addressing the present, it may require understanding and nurturing the echoes of our past.

By recognising that our bodies carry the story of our childhood nervous system, we gain new tools for health, self-awareness, and emotional resilience. Every ache, tension, or reaction may hold a clue about the life we lived and the ways we can shape a healthier future.

07/09/2025

The body keeps the score

Your Body Remembers What Your Childhood Nervous System Felt

Researchers revealed a fascinating connection between our childhood experiences and our adult bodies. A new study shows that the patterns and signals formed by the nervous system in early life leave lasting imprints that continue to influence the way our bodies function decades later. These neural “memories” are not just in the brain—they are embedded in muscles, organs, and even immune responses, silently carrying the story of our earliest experiences.

The implications are profound. Childhood stress, trauma, or even nurturing environments can shape how we respond to stress, regulate emotions, and maintain physical health as adults. For instance, early exposure to chronic stress may affect heart rate, digestion, and immune resilience long after the triggering events have passed. Conversely, positive childhood experiences can strengthen neural pathways that support emotional stability, learning, and overall wellbeing.

This research challenges the long-held assumption that our adult bodies are entirely separate from our early experiences. Instead, it highlights a deeply interconnected system where mind and body continuously communicate, reminding us that healing and personal growth may involve more than just addressing the present, it may require understanding and nurturing the echoes of our past.

By recognising that our bodies carry the story of our childhood nervous system, we gain new tools for health, self-awareness, and emotional resilience. Every ache, tension, or reaction may hold a clue about the life we lived and the ways we can shape a healthier future.

01/07/2025

Cheating doesn’t just hurt... it changes people. It changes how they love, how they trust, how they show up in the world. You don’t just break hearts when you cheat... you break the version of them that believed love could be safe.

And the worst part? They will sit in silence, replaying every conversation... every late reply, every shift in energy, every gut feeling they ignored. They will carry the weight of your lies and wonder what they could’ve done differently. They will question their worth, not realizing that it was you who failed to meet the standards of love... not them.

People talk about cheating like it’s an accident. No. It’s a process. You chose to hide, you chose to lie, you chose to keep talking, texting, flirting, meeting. You chose to protect the secret instead of the person you claimed to love. And what makes it worse is when the cheater pretends they’re the ones who are suffering... when the only reason they’re sorry is because they got caught.

They say "it just happened"... but love doesn’t just fall apart in one moment. It dies in a thousand little betrayals. And every time you told them you loved them while giving yourself to someone else... that was another dagger in their back. Another reason they’ll flinch when someone new says “I love you.” Another scar they’ll have to explain to someone who had nothing to do with the wound.

So if you’ve ever cheated on someone who was faithful to you... understand this: they didn’t just lose you. They lost their innocence. Their peace. Their sense of emotional safety. And no matter how many times you say sorry... you can’t undo the damage you did to their heart.
Because cheating doesn’t just end relationships... it ruins the parts of people they once offered without hesitation.