A Smiling Day Counselling

23/12/2025

Many would say this has become a complicated season with triggers and overwhelm. My heart goes out to you if you feel this way.

Return to the original Christmas. The story is of the most humble beginning, inviting us to rest, trust and have hope.

We don't need to do more. Doing more does not give us peace and purpose.

Where do you find rest for your soul?
Where and who do you turn to that's bigger than yourself?

03/12/2025

If your anxiety and fear are getting louder in the holiday season, precisely the time you want to experience joy and peace, you are not alone.

Festive times we try to quiet down the negative emotions, or lock them away for good.

But they won't give up, because they have a purpose to serve. They need you to spend some non-judgemental quiet time with them, and listen to what they have to say.

Joy and sadness can exist at the same time. In fact, they are the two sides of the same coin in this broken world. If you shut down one, neither are you able to experience the other. But you can hold them both together, and cherish their richness that makes us feel alive.

11/11/2025

Our bodies are one of the greatest gifts we've been given in this life.

It's always telling us something: danger or safety, our emotions, our wellness, our triggers...

Learn and harness the signals. Work with them. They are our guides, pointing us towards a way.

They are one of our richest resources. We just need to learn to listen in.

30/10/2025

30/10/2025

Even when you feel alone, you never are. May you remember again and again, all the love, wisdom and connection you've received from others, from previous generations, through community, arts and stories. Carry them with you wherever you go.

19/01/2025

Sadness came to tea last night
as she’s often done before
but I didn’t let her in this time
I stopped her at the door

“I’m off to meet with friends”, I said
“your timing isn’t right
I can’t allow your atmosphere
it’s not the place tonight”

but sadness wouldn’t take the hint
her manners lack finesse
her pace was slow and heavy
yet she kept up nonetheless

and even when I took my place
amongst my laughing friends
she squeezed herself right in-between
her boldness never ends

and I was sure my friends would see
this spectre at the feast
and somehow think me lesser
for inviting such a beast

but no, their warmth was undeterred
as if nothing was new
I think perhaps they know by now
I sometimes come as two

and even sadness seemed to glow
a lighter shade of grey
to know that she’s accepted
seemed to lighten up her day

so let your sad accompany you
don’t think her hard to bear
no need to face her all alone
just pull an extra chair.

-- Donna Ashworth
"Sadness comes"

04/06/2024

The expressiveness is quite satisfying! It is healthy to be able to experience emotions! Exhaling. 😇

29/02/2024

Grief invites voluntary adaptation over involuntary change. The latter is inevitable, while the former is our choice and responsibility to learn. It's worth such inner work peeps, to live a broken, messy yet incredibly beautiful life.

12/11/2023

26/10/2023

Enormous challenges we are facing in an extremely challenging world. Do we just give up? Or do we take it all on our own? How do we find peace and motivation to do our part? How do we submit what are out of our control?

06/10/2023

For parents, partners and friends: our own growth and healing provides a safety net to those we care and love. Have you experienced safety within?