Counselling with Jen

26/11/2025

💜 Comforting Christmas Activities for Bereaved Children 💜 Creative, gentle activities can help children express their feelings and find moments of calm during the festive season. Some lovely ideas include:

💜 Writing a Christmas card or letter to someone they miss
💜 Making “feelings baubles” filled with notes or memories
💜 Baking a favourite festive treat together
💜 Having a cosy movie night with blankets and hot chocolate

These small moments can bring connection, comfort and even a few smiles along the way.

We’d love to hear from you – which activities help your family find peace or joy at Christmas? Share your ideas in the comments below to help inspire others.

For ways to remember loved ones and self-care tips for parents and carers, read our latest blog – link below.

https://www.mosaicfamilysupport.org/how-to-help-a-bereaved-child-through-christmas

20/11/2025

🎄Join us for a festive evening at The Nurture Sanctuary, as part of Redlands Yard's Late Night Christmas shopping event! 🎄

28th November, 5 pm - 8 pm ✨

✨ Mini Treatments

£5 for a 10 minute taster treatment

Facial Massage
Hand Massage
Foot Massage
Indian Head / Neck Massage

✨Sample our New Skincare Range

Try out our beautiful new product range, unique to Nurture. We have created a variety of natural & organic cosmetics products which will be available to sample and purchase.

✨Christmas Well-being Raffle

Vouchers, products and well-being gifts to be won in our biggest raffle to date. Tickets available to purchase on the night.

🍷🥧 Free mulled wine and mince pies from

(The best mince pies you will taste!)

🎶🔔 Christmas carols performed by Beaminster singers

We look forward to seeing you there!
🎄❄️✨🎅🎁

17/11/2025

If you have a couple of minutes spare please take a minute to nominate Mosaic. It’s such an incredible charity supporting children who have suffered a bereavement.
I feel privileged to be part of it ❤️

Please could you take a moment to nominate Mosaic in the Benefact Group Christmas Draw?

Each nomination gives us the chance to be selected at random to receive £1,000 – which would make a real difference to the work we do

If you are also able to share amongst friends and family, please do!

Nominate here and search Mosaic Supporting Bereaved Children: https://movementforgood.com/index.php?cn=1158138&ct=health&i=1762873140-51305.gif&utm_source=holiday+card&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=M4G2025card&utm_id=M4G2025card

Thank you, as always, for your continued support 😃

16/11/2025

A really interesting post on the Challenges of interoception during these colder months

Why your body feels ‘off’ in autumn and winter.

Interoception in autumn and winter can become so much more challenging — and many neurodivergent people feel this long before they have the words for it.

As the seasons shift, the body suddenly has to interpret a whole new set of signals.
Colder air. Less daylight. Heavier clothes. Different routines. More demands on energy and the interoceptive system — the part of the brain that helps us understand our internal signals — can get overwhelmed or confused.

This is when you or your child might find yourselves thinking:

“Am I hungry… or just cold?”

“Am I tired… or is it just darker earlier?”

“Do I need a drink… or a blanket?”

“Why does my body feel weird and I don’t know why?”

For those with interoception differences, this time of year can bring:

• Misjudging layers — constantly too hot or too cold.

• Internal restlessness that looks like irritability.

• Struggling to notice thirst or hunger until it’s extreme.

• Feeling “unsettled” or “not quite right” without a clear reason.

• Finding it harder to begin tasks because the body doesn’t feel regulated.

• Sudden tiredness that hits harder because of shorter days and sensory load.

And because most people don’t talk about interoception at all — let alone how seasons affect it — many end up blaming themselves:

For being “moody.”

For being “unmotivated.”

For “overreacting.”

For “not coping” with the cold or darkness like everyone else seems to.

But none of this is a character flaw; it’s a seasonal shift in sensory demand.

Autumn and winter require gentleness.
More warmth.
More pauses.
More checking in:
“Have I eaten?”
“Am I overwhelmed?”
“Do I need light?”
“Do I need stillness?”
“Do I need movement?”

Bodies talk — sometimes in whispers, sometimes by screaming at us to show us where uncomfortable — and at this time of year those signals can be harder to interpret.

If interoception feels muddled right now, that’s understandable because your body isn’t being difficult; it’s adjusting.

Offer warmth without questioning it.

Offer food before you’re starving.

Offer rest before you’re drained.

Offer light where you can.

A softer, slower rhythm is not just allowed — it’s often what the body needs most as winter settles in.

Hiw are you feeling at this time of year?

Have you noticed changes with your child or young person?

Emma
The Autistic SENCo
♾️

Photo: Hubbie and me on the back of our narrowboat in the pouring rain.

14/10/2025

🌿 Face-to-Face Counselling Space Available at The Nurture Sanctuary, Broadwindsor 🌿

I currently have a space available for face-to-face counselling at The Nurture Sanctuary in Broadwindsor — a calm, nurturing space surrounded by nature.

I offer counselling for adults and children, supporting emotional wellbeing, confidence, and self-understanding in a gentle and compassionate way.

💚 For children and young people, counselling can be a safe place to:
🎨 express feelings through play, art or talking
💬 explore worries and build resilience
🌈 feel understood, supported, and more confident

🌿 For adults, it’s a space to pause, reflect, and find support with whatever life is bringing — whether that’s stress, anxiety, loss, or big life changes.

I’m passionate about creating a warm, non-judgemental space where both children and adults can feel heard and supported at their own pace.

If this sounds like something that could help you or your child, please do get in touch — I’d love to hear from you.

📍 The Nurture Sanctuary, Broadwindsor

🌱 A calm and caring space for all ages to grow and heal

11/10/2025

🌿 Taking Care of Your Mental Health — One Step at a Time 🌿

Life has a way of throwing challenges our way — some big, some small, and some that quietly build up over time. Whether you’re navigating stress, loss, burnout, or simply feeling “not quite yourself,” please know this: you don’t have to go through it alone.

Counselling isn’t just for times of crisis. It’s a space to explore your thoughts, understand your emotions, and reconnect with yourself.
It’s about slowing down, noticing what you need, and finding gentle ways to care for your mental and emotional well-being.

💚 A few reminders I often share with clients:
• You are not alone — we all experience struggles and low moments.
• Asking for help isn’t a weakness; it’s an act of courage.
• Healing is rarely a straight line — it’s okay to have ups and downs.
• Small acts — talking, journaling, pausing, noticing — can make a real difference over time.

You deserve support, peace, and the chance to feel grounded again.
If you’re thinking about counselling but aren’t sure where to start, I’d love to offer a safe, welcoming space to begin.

✨ Let’s take the first step together.
📩 Message me or visit my website www.psychotherapywithjen.co.uk to book a session.

A private counselling practice offering online sessions worldwide, or face to face sessions in West Dorset. www.psychotherapywithjen.co.uk

11/10/2025

Here is the programme for all the FREE wellbeing and community events available today at 3 venues around Bridport.

Open to all. No need to book. Just turn up for a warm welcome!

10/10/2025

01/10/2025

Anger is a natural part of grief for many children and how adults respond can make all the difference.

Here are some ways to support them:
💜Stay calm and patient – your response sets the tone
💜Validate their feelings – let them know it’s okay to be angry
💜Offer safe outlets – art, play, writing or physical activity
💜 Set gentle boundaries – safety matters, even during outbursts
💜Encourage conversation – ask open-ended questions to help them express themselves

At Mosaic, we provide one-to-one support, family guidance and group sessions, helping children and adults navigate grief together in a safe, understanding space.

Find out more about why grief can lead to anger and the signs of anger in grieving children in our latest blog – https://mosaicfamilysupport.org/blog

18/09/2025

10/09/2025

Today might feel heavy for some, as it’s - a day to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and remind people that no one has to face difficult feelings alone. Some young people and parents worry that talking about su***de could make things worse. Research shows the opposite - opening up can actually help keep people safe. Talking about difficult feelings doesn’t plant harmful ideas; it creates space for understanding and support.

💡 Thoughts like “I’ll always feel this way” or “I’m a burden” can feel very real — but they aren’t facts. With the right support, things can change.
💚 The more we talk, the less scary and isolating these feelings become.

If you’re worried about yourself or someone you care about:
👉 Start the conversation - you don’t need to have all the answers
👉 Remember, no one has to go through it alone
👉 Reaching out for support early is a sign of strength

📞 If you need urgent help, you’re not alone:
• Call 999 if someone’s life is in danger
• Call Samaritans on 116 123 for 24/7 support

07/09/2025

It’s completely normal for children (and parents!) to feel nervous at the start of a new school year. Change can bring excitement, but also worries about the unknown.

Here are a few simple tips that can help ease the transition:
✔️ Talk it through – Encourage your child to share their feelings and reassure them that it’s okay to feel nervous.
✔️ Focus on positives – Talk about the things they’re looking forward to, like seeing friends or trying new activities.
✔️ Practice coping tools – Breathing exercises, grounding techniques, or a calming object in their bag can help.
✔️ Model calm confidence – Children often take their lead from adults, so showing reassurance can go a long way.

If you or your child are finding back-to-school anxiety overwhelming, counselling can provide extra support and coping strategies. 💙

📩 Feel free to reach out if you’d like to chat about how I can help.