http://www.gemini-counselling.com/

Gemini Counselling, Aberdeen (2026)

28/04/2026

A Heartfelt Client Story 🌟

There is nothing more rewarding than seeing a client regain their confidence and independence. Taking that first step to reach out for support can be incredibly daunting, but it’s the most important move you can make for your wellbeing.

At Gemini Counselling, I aim to create a space where you feel completely at ease from the very first minute.

Whether you are navigating the complexities of OCD or simply feeling overwhelmed by your emotions, my goal is to provide practical techniques that make a genuine difference to your daily life.

"Claire is a lovely, welcoming and understanding therapist... my OCD is now under control and I feel comfortable and equipped to manage my thoughts and emotions independently."

If you’ve been struggling to manage on your own, please know that you don’t have to. I am here to help you find your way back to feeling like yourself again.

🔗 Find out more at: www.gemini-counselling.com

06/04/2026

Masking in Neurodivergence✨️

Masking is when someone hides or adjusts parts of themselves
to fit in socially.

This might include:
• copying how others speak or behave
• forcing eye contact
• rehearsing conversations
• hiding stimming or natural reactions
• trying to appear “calm” or “typical”
Masking can help in the short term —
but it often comes with a cost.

Over time, it can lead to:
• exhaustion
• anxiety
• feeling disconnected from yourself
• burnout
Understanding this is the first step toward having more choice in how you show up.

If this resonates with you, CBT with Gemini Counselling can help you explore this in a safe and supportive way.

Feel free to get in touch to find out more.

www.gemini-counselling.com

31/03/2026

Habits That Quietly Increase Anxiety
Anxiety isn’t always caused by one big thing.

Often, it’s maintained by small habits that feel helpful in the moment — but actually keep the cycle going.

Some common ones include:
• Reassurance seeking – asking others if everything is okay or if you’ve done something right
• Avoiding uncomfortable situations – which can make them feel even harder next time
• Overthinking and analysing – trying to work things out in your head repeatedly
• Googling symptoms or scenarios – searching for certainty or answers
• Trying to control every outcome – to prevent something going wrong
These habits usually reduce anxiety temporarily.

But over time, they can teach the brain that these situations are dangerous and need to be managed carefully.

This can keep anxiety feeling strong and persistent.

A helpful step is simply beginning to notice these patterns — not to judge yourself, but to understand what might be keeping the anxiety going.

👉 If anxiety is something you’ve been struggling with, CBT with Gemini Counselling can help you understand these patterns and develop more helpful ways of responding.

You’re welcome to get in touch to find out more.

www.gemini-counselling.com

25/03/2026

Things That Can Quietly Damage Self-Esteem

Small patterns can have a big impact over time.

🙌Slide 2
Constant Comparison
Comparing yourself to others can make it feel like you’re always falling short.What we often forget is that we’re comparing our full reality to someone else’s highlight reel.

🙌Slide 3
Harsh Self-Talk
The way you speak to yourself matters.If your inner voice is critical or unkind, it can gradually affect how you see yourself.
Ask yourself:Would I speak to someone I care about this way?

🙌Slide 4
Perfectionism
Perfectionism can create the feeling that nothing is ever quite good enough.Even when things go well, the focus shifts to what could have been better.Over time, this can make it hard to feel satisfied or confident.

🙌Slide 5
People Pleasing
Putting others first all the time can come at a cost. When your own needs are consistently pushed aside, it can lead to feeling overlooked or unimportant.

🙌Slide 6
A Gentle Reminder
These patterns are often learned over time. Which means they can also be understood and changed.
Self-esteem isn’t about being perfect —
it’s about learning to relate to yourself with more balance and compassion.

🙌Slide 7
If any of this resonates with you, you’re not alone.
Therapy can help you understand these patterns and begin to shift them.

🌿 Feel free to get in touch to learn more about how I can support you.

06/03/2026

Waiting List ✋️

Due to a high level of demand, I now have a waiting list for new therapy appointments.

I offer evidence-based Cognitive – Behavioural Therapy as well as Relationship Counselling for couples, family members, friends, and individuals. I aim to provide a calm, supportive space where people can work through difficulties and move toward meaningful, lasting change.
If you would like to work with me, you’re very welcome to get in touch and I can add you to the waiting list. I will contact you as soon as appointments become available.

Thank you for your patience and for the trust you place in my work.

Claire Miller
Gemini Counselling

23/02/2026

I’m delighted to announce that I am now a qualified relationship counsellor, having completed a Level 5 qualification recognised by COSRT (College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists).

Alongside my work as a BABCP-accredited Cognitive Behavioural Therapist, I now offer relationship counselling for couples, family members, friends, and individuals who are experiencing difficulties in their relationships or would like to strengthen communication, understanding, and connection.

Relationships can be one of the most meaningful parts of our lives, but when difficulties arise, it can help to have a calm, supportive space to explore what’s happening and move forward in a healthier way.

Appointments are available in person at my Aberdeen city centre office, or online via Zoom or telephone.

If you’d like to find out more, I offer a free introductory call.

Claire Miller
Gemini Counselling

Email: claire@geminicounselling.co.uk

Website: www.gemini-counselling.com

18/02/2026

Navigating Difficult Relationships: Learning to Respond, Not React

Difficult relationships — whether with a partner, friend, colleague, or family member — can leave you feeling anxious, unheard, or stuck in old patterns.

It’s easy to get caught in the same cycle of reacting, people-pleasing, or withdrawing just to keep the peace.
CBT can help you notice what’s happening underneath: the thoughts and beliefs that fuel guilt, fear, or frustration.

ACT and compassion-focused approaches build on that by helping you:

- Set healthy boundaries without shame
- Respond from your values rather than from fear
- Understand the difference between care and over-responsibility
- Find calm even when others don’t change
Sometimes growth isn’t about changing the other person — it’s about finding a steadier way to stay true to yourself.

If you’re feeling stuck in a relationship that drains or confuses you, therapy can help you make sense of your reactions and find new ways to relate with clarity and calm.

✨ Learn more or get in touch:
🌐 www.geminicounselling.co.uk
📧 claire@geminicounselling.co.uk

11/02/2026

“Courage is not never falling, but rising each time we fall.”

Your journey doesn’t need to look neat or linear to be meaningful. Progress in mental health is rarely a straight line — there will be days when things feel harder again, and that doesn’t mean you’ve failed or gone backwards.

Every time you pause, reflect, and begin again, you are building resilience in a very real and lasting way. Every return matters.

If you’re finding things difficult right now and would like support, you don’t have to do it alone.

You’re welcome to get in touch to explore how therapy with Gemini Counselling can help:

www.gemini-counselling.com
Claire@gemini-counselling.com

02/02/2026

There is nothing more rewarding than knowing our clients feel heard, respected, and supported. 💙

At Gemini Counselling, we believe therapy should be a collaborative journey. Seeing a client leave a session not just with a sense of comfort, but with practical strategies and resources tailored to their unique needs, is exactly why we do what we do.

A huge thank you to this client for sharing her experience! Whether you are looking for a space to process your thoughts or seeking tools to navigate life’s challenges, Claire is here to welcome you with empathy and warmth.

✨ Ready to start your own journey? We offer a free initial 20-minute chat (via telephone or Zoom) to discuss how we can help.

📍 Location: Aberdeen City Centre (In-person), Online (Zoom), or Telephone. 💻 Book/Contact: Visit www.gemini-counselling.com to send a message and get started.

30/01/2026

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for Fears and Compulsions
How CBT and ERP Work Together to Help You Break Free from Fear
CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) helps us understand the cycle of anxiety — how our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours interact.

When fear takes hold, the brain urges us to avoid or use safety behaviours — things that bring quick relief, like checking, washing, googling, or seeking reassurance.

That relief feels good in the moment, but it teaches the brain:
“This danger is real — avoidance keeps me safe.”

That’s where ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention), a key CBT technique, comes in.

It helps you gently face the fears or situations you’ve been avoiding, without engaging in the usual safety behaviours.

Through repeated, supported practice, your brain learns something powerful:
“I can handle this — and the anxiety passes on its own.”
ERP is never about forcing yourself into distress.

It’s a structured, compassionate process that helps you rebuild trust in your ability to cope — so fear no longer makes your world small.

If anxiety, OCD, or phobias have been holding you back, CBT with ERP can help you understand what keeps the cycle going — and give you the tools to break free, one step at a time.

Learn more or get in touch:
🌐 www.geminicounselling.co.uk
📧 claire@geminicounselling.co.uk

22/01/2026

One of my favourite books — and one that has genuinely helped me overcome some of my own fears in life — is Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers.

Anxiety has a way of convincing us that we must wait until fear disappears before we act…
but in reality, fear often fades because we begin to act.

This doesn’t mean ignoring how hard something feels.

It means gently learning that you can carry fear with you — and still take small, meaningful steps toward the life you want.

In therapy, we don’t aim to eliminate fear entirely.

We work on building trust in your ability to cope with it, so fear no longer gets to decide what you can and can’t do.

If anxiety has been holding you back, support can make a real difference — and you don’t have to face it alone.

You’re welcome to get in touch to explore how therapy with Gemini Counselling can help:

www.gemini-counselling.com
Claire@gemini-counselling.com

15/01/2026

Understanding Social Anxiety and How CBT Can Help

Social anxiety isn’t shyness — it’s the fear of being judged or rejected for simply being yourself.

Social anxiety can make even small interactions feel overwhelming — a meeting at work, a phone call, or speaking up in class.

It’s not just nerves; it’s the mind’s alarm system becoming overactive, warning you of rejection or embarrassment that rarely comes.

Behind that fear is usually a deep wish to be accepted — and a harsh inner critic that’s convinced you won’t be.

CBT helps by gently challenging those beliefs, quieting the inner critic, and building confidence through gradual, supported exposure.

You don’t need to become “fearless” in social situations — just free enough to be yourself.

If social anxiety is holding you back, CBT at Gemini Counselling to help you build confidence, connection, and calm.

🌐 www.geminicounselling.co.uk
📧 claire@geminicounselling.co.uk

Gemini Counselling

28/04/2026

06/04/2026

31/03/2026

25/03/2026

06/03/2026

23/02/2026

18/02/2026

11/02/2026

02/02/2026

30/01/2026

22/01/2026

15/01/2026

Address

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share

Category