Flourish Counselling

02/01/2026

I returned to my family home and favourite place in the world this Christmas. I had a lovely time, but when I am ‘back home’ I often notice how family roles and thoughts from my childhood often fall into place naturally - and sometimes unhelpfully! I thought this article on how Christmas with all the family, lovely as it can be for many people, can trigger old attachment patterns and family roles, was a really interesting read. It can be very helpful to explore and discover your attachment style, as it can explain a lot about how you react in certain situations and in relationships. Once you understand your attachment style, you understand yourself more, and can build strategies of support where needed in your thinking and relationships. If you feel you would like to explore your own attachment and how it impacts your life, get in touch.

Psychotherapist Gavin McKee explores how Christmas can trigger old attachment patterns and family roles. Learn why it happens and how to respond with compassion. 💭 http://ow.ly/vLeu106s2zE

01/01/2026

Here lies the future ahead, take a look
A new year as fresh as a never-read book

Familiar characters, those you’ve not met
Pages and pages you haven’t turned yet

Chapters safeguarding hellos and goodbyes
Cliff-hangers, plot twists, the lows and the highs

A world that is waiting, adventure that’s pending
A tale full of life from beginning to ending

But here is a secret; you’re holding the pen
So write in your interest again and again

See, you can decide what your story’s about
Write certain things in and write other things out

And though there’ll be plot twists and painful goodbyes,
Chapters and pages that might make you cry

You’ll ride out the lows maybe soar from the cliff
Just remember your story is meant to be lived

Yes, a never-read book is just like a new year
Take a look - just ahead...

‘cause the future lies here

*****

In preparation for tomorrow...

Becky Hemsley 2023
Lovely artwork by Elodie Who
This poem is from Letters from Life: https://amzn.to/4j86YA2

30/12/2025

💭Thinking about counselling but not quite ready to start yet? 🤔 Sometimes we know we want support — we just need a little space to take that first step:

🕊️New Year Offer 🕊️
20% off counselling sessions for clients who book now and begin in February. Sale price will not be subject to change for the entire duration of your sessions. How long for? For however long you feel you need.

💛 No pressure
💛 A calm, supportive space
💛 Your time, at your pace

£48 per session (usually £60)
Sessions in my cosy counselling room in Summerhall, Edinburgh.
Feel free to get in touch. Happy to chat to give you more info and answer any questions.

January can be a time of reflection. February can be a time for support.

Let’s make a go of 2026! 🌳❤️🙌

29/12/2025

26/12/2025

Feeling overwhelmed this Christmas and New Year holiday? Remember, taking a break is not a luxury, it's a necessity! Set aside time to rest and recharge - you deserve it!

23/12/2025

For many, the festive season brings joy. For others, it can bring pressure, sadness, or overwhelm.

If this season isn’t feeling wonderful for you, that’s OK and it is also OK to reach out for support if you need this. 💙

23/12/2025

Really interesting article about open water swimming with research to show how beneficial it is for women who are going through menopause. I love the water, always have, and I do enjoy a dip - but only in April to September. Might have to try a winter dip! Photo is of my mum (77) me (45) and my son in the waters of Loch Rannoch a couple of summers ago. It’s lovely to swim outdoors and even more special when surrounded by the beauty of nature, especially in Scotland!

https://theconversation.com/how-open-water-swimming-can-transform-midlife-wellbeing-new-research-271589

08/12/2025

Exciting news: I have two sessions which will be available for new clients in the New Year. These are both on Monday mornings, 10.15 and 11.30. My counselling room is located at Summerhall, Edinburgh, next to The Meadows, and just off South Clerk Street - handy for bus routes. Feel free to dig around on my page to find out more about me and get a picture of how I work. Please get in touch if you are interested and I can give you more information. I’ve included a photo of my cosy, relaxing counselling space, just because I love it!

01/12/2025

Another super article - this time about supporting young people and, importantly, being aware of the impact the exam season has on the family as a whole. Some great advice for parents.

Counsellor Afrodite Erdelyi explores how to help your child manage exam stress with practical tools and mindful tips for parents to stay calm and supportive through GCSE season. 💬 http://ow.ly/xpiz106qpG3

01/12/2025

The dark mornings and dark evenings, going to work in the dark and coming home in the dark! SAD (seasonal affective disorder) is REAL and affects many of us. Feel free to get in touch if you need.

As the days get darker, many people notice their mood dipping too. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is more than “winter blues” – it’s a real type of depression. If this time of year feels heavier for you, you’re not alone. 💙

Here are 8 symptoms to be mindful and if things are feeling a little too much, remember it is OK to reach out for help.

https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/topics/seasonal-affective-disorder.html

01/12/2025

This is a great piece offering advice to help to calm the nervous system when facing the horrid feelings of anxiety that so many of us are so familiar with! I use a lot of these techniques and share this psycho education with both children and adults that I work with. Anxiety is so common and it’s hard to beat - there is no simple fix but we can build a toolbox of strategies which we can work with to reduce its effects. As time goes on and with effort and practice, we can become experts at managing it. 💪🏿❤️

Counsellor Zaenia Rogers explores practical ways to calm your fight-or-flight response and regulate your nervous system through breathwork, grounding, and therapy. 👇 http://ow.ly/kN3v106qsZa