Flourish Counselling

08/11/2025

In a world that feels that is full of scary news on tv and social media, it can be helpful to look for the good in between. There is so much to cause us to be anxious, but there is also a lot to keep us positive. Try to focus your mind on happy things today! Let’s look for the blossom 🌸

‘Blossom’ I will focus on today in my life;
Beautiful skies ⛅️
Autumn leaves 🍂
Kindness from others 🥰
My kids laughter 😆
My dogs in conditional adoration 🐶
Beauty of trees (I love them!) 🌳
My favourite songs 🎵 (and I’ll sing them too!)

What is the ‘blossom’ you will be mindful of today in your life?

03/11/2025

Ever wondered what psychotherapy/counselling actually is? Here’s an interesting article that shares about exactly that.
I’m a pluralistic counsellor, which means I am able to use a number of approaches and choose the right one for each client, depending on their needs. There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ the counselling world. That’s why a pluralistic approach is so beneficial - I can select the tools and modality that suits you best, from psychodynamic to CBT to personal-centred. I can use walk and talk therapy, sand tray therapy, Russian Dolls, talk therapy, to name a few. I can use worksheets and psychoeducation to help you understand why you might feel the way you do or act the way you act, if that what will work for you. I can help you set targets and goals, but ultimately, I put you in the driving seat to make decisions to make you feel in control of your life. I’m not a fixer. I don’t have a magic wand. But I can empower you to make changes for the better and, hopefully, you leave sessions feeling more positive, calmer and in control than you did when you arrived.
Oh, and did I say…I love my job! ❤️

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/nov/02/so-you-want-to-try-psychotherapy-but-what-does-it-actually-do?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other&fbclid=IwQ0xDSwN2BNhleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHr3wlrYIbvKBhY-VHfOsA24VbzQRrvfB-uAwdVztz1JIQYWhNz7YSacKHbAQ_aem_8pwya6VemvTrSHfrnsMC4g

From psychoanalysis to existential therapy, there’s a bewildering variety of approaches – with one thing in common

02/11/2025

If you need a little reframing of your thinking today, after the horrid attack on the train that’s been in the news, this might help:

Three weeks ago I travelled by train into London Kings Cross station with my daughter, on our way to visit my older daughter.

On the journey, we took it in turns to go to the toilet and, as a ‘fairly normal’ mother of teenage girls, I kept a close eye on my daughter, craning my neck around corners to make sure she was ok while she waited in the queue.

There was an older guy who seemed to be standing quite close behind her and my Mama Bear instinct was turned up to its highest setting.

When she returned to her seat I asked if everything was ok and she told me that this man had stopped another guy from jumping in front of her in the toilet queue and was actually standing up for her.

It reminded me of Donna Ashworth’s poem ‘Good’ and, in light of yesterday evening’s terrifying events on the same Newcastle to Kings Cross train route, I wanted to share her words here this morning.

Thinking of all the good people this morning - the helpers, the emergency services, the innocents - and also sending love to people who are suffering.

I’m switching off the news (as it’s a bit of a rabbit hole), getting outdoors and feeling grateful that I can do that, and remembering to focus on all the good people and good stuff unfolding all around me 🙏

🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼

GOOD

Most people are good. Most people kiss their pets goodbye and read ‘just one more’ bedtime story to their children. Most people visit their grandparents even when they have no time and stop by to check on quiet friends, after a day too long and draining. Most people return their shopping trolleys, despite being already late and let someone with only one item, jump to the front of a queue. Most people give money when money is scarce and most people worry about people they don’t even know, day in and day out. When the world seems bad, remember, most people are good.

~ by Donna Ashworth

02/11/2025

I read this and thought, yes! I need to share this!

Ever notice how quickly we try to escape uncomfortable feelings? We scroll, snack, tidy, plan, anything to avoid sitting in what feels uncomfortable or awkward. Yet our emotions are not out to get us, they are actually really helpful guides to what wants to be acknowledged.

This week, we’re learning to stay with those niggles and uncomfortable feelings, to build emotional steadiness by staying with what’s here, instead of running from it.

Let’s take a few minutes together.

Finding a comfortable position, softening the gaze or closing the eyes.

Begin by following the breath, taking a slow inhale and exhale.

Now, bring to mind an emotion you’ve been trying to avoid. Something mild, not overwhelming, maybe frustration, sadness, restlessness or boredom?

Notice where it sits in the body. Breathe into that space as if you’re saying, “I see you and you're welcome.”

With each inhale, quietly say to yourself: “I can be with this.”

With each exhale: “It’s safe to feel this.”

Stay with this for a few rounds of the breath, noticing how the body responds.

There is no need to fix, solve or rationalise the feeling. Just stay with it. You’re building inner steadiness, one breath at a time.

Our emotions pass more easily when we stop pushing them away.

When something uncomfortable arises this week, what would it feel like to stay with it for just one breath longer than usual?

N x

30/10/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BLpTssHuk/?mibextid=wwXIfr

28/10/2025

Watch this space! Exciting news to come!! 🎉

28/10/2025

Carl Rogers, the father of person-centred counselling, explains the importance of active listening - one of the main skills we learn as counsellors. I remember learning this in training and it transformed my practice. We were given two ears and one mouth for a reason! We can all build more positive relationships by listening - really listening - to each other so why not test the theory. Challenge yourself to really listen to others today - no interrupting, no distraction of your phone or device or tv, but real connection. See what happens…

28/10/2025

Evaluate your circle often. ✌️🫂❤️🌎

21/10/2025

For the next week, until Tuesday 28 October, Library is displaying the Lothians Speak Their Name suicide memorial quilt.
Lothians Speak Their Name is a project to create a quilt in memory of people who have died by suicide in Edinburgh and the Lothians. 49 people have made squares in memory of their loved ones, which hold the stories of their loves and lives.
As well as creating this memorial, the project has also brought people together as a community, where they have found support and friendship.
In 2023, 792 people died by suicide in Scotland. 590 of them were men. The hope is that by seeing the quilt, and the real individuals and their lives which it remembers, people would be inspired to start conversations about mental health and suicide. And, if they have struggled with their own mental health, they are encouraged to seek help and support.
The quilt has been touring the region from October 2024 and is about to start a Scotland wide tour to try and encourage other regions to develop similar projects.
The quilt was recently in Westminster with other Speak Their Name quilts from around Britain.
For Mental Health Support Services in Midlothian: https://ow.ly/AS6T50XfnQu
For Gorebridge Library opening times: https://ow.ly/rvLI50XfnQs

10/10/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CqHkUYxnq/?mibextid=wwXIfr