Abi Giles Therapy

30/03/2026

Today's pick from the affirmations cards 😆

26/03/2026

Underneath all the training, all the learning and all the academia, I am a human soul that touches another human soul. Both the simplicity and complexity of that is something I will never be able to fully explain, but what does come to me, is such a deep sense of priviliage.

I feel so genuinely honoured to be a therapist. To be trusted enough to witness and hold a person's inner world and experiences. To be a part of someone's journey while they discover who they are in real time. The revelations, the frustrations, that boundary being set for the very first time. That moment where self worth is firmly embodied or that deep grief that finally has room to be felt. The learning and the unlearning. The love and the heartbreak. I get to be there for it all.

I often get struck by the enormity of what that means, and I am reminded that underneath the privilage, the learning and the complexities, that I am just a human soul, that touches another human soul.

#

19/03/2026

Tonight's view from the therapy room 🌅
There is soo much that comes with the sun returning. Later evenings and lighter moods. I for one, am looking forward to more evenings on the beach 🧡 what's your favourite season?

04/03/2026

I'm very excited to be presenting at this year's UKATA conference 🖤

One of the best parts of the UKATA Conference is shaping the experience around what matters most to you.

In the countdown to the conference, we’ll be spotlighting the different workshops you can choose from - starting with the Friday afternoon sessions!

These workshops offer a thoughtful mix of themes, approaches and experience levels. There’s something here for many different interests, whether you’re drawn to deep clinical work, script and identity, inclusion and belonging, or research-informed practice.

A few workshops are already filling up, so if there’s one that’s calling to you, it’s worth booking sooner rather than later.

Take a swipe to explore your options and choose a workshop!

🔗 Book your workshops: https://www.trybooking.com/uk/events/97107/sessions/806913/sections/166195/tickets

03/03/2026

Did you know that Counselling and Psychotherapy is not a regulated or legally protected profession in the UK? This means that absolutely anybody can legally set up a practice and call themselves a Counsellor or Psychotherapist.

This can be extremely harmful to anybody that is seeking support. (This isn't to say those that don't hold the relevant qualifications can't be excellent at what they do.) But in some cases it can be extremely harmful. It's always best to check.

Ask for your therapist's credentials. Literally any qualified or in training therapist will not have a problem with this, in fact it will be encouraged. To ethically practice, your therapist will be a member of a governing body, this means there is a code of ethics to follow to ensure that you are both protected from harm.

Please do your research on where you are about to invest your time, money and vulnerability.

01/03/2026

It's self-injury awareness day today 🧡

SH is one of the most non-discriminatory, non- judgemental, unique to the engager behaviours there is. This is why every single person is different. Everybody's reason will be different. Everybody's process and healing will be different. This is why it is soo important to get to know. Don't be afraid to talk about it.

This is a survival behaviour that has been used when absolutely nothing else did. Regardless of the why. It has helped at some point.

A few pointers to remember if you know or love someone who uses SH.

DO NOT be angry or show dissappintment or upset. This one is tough, especially if you love this person, but honestly, they've already heard and felt the shame of everything you want to say x10 more from their own voices. It doesn't help.

DO NOT take implements away. This is a scary one, I know. But a more, potentially dangerous way will be found if you take away what is safe to them.

DO NOT ask continuous questions. Unfortunately SH carries and unbelievable amount of shame. Questioning them will enhance this.

DO NOT ask them to stop. Again, a tricky one. As humans we want to protect those close to us and sometimes our own fear can intervene when we're so desperate to stop someone we love hurting themselves. Don't. It won't work. If they could just stop. They would.

DO NOT rush them. I know it can feel hard to sit in the uncomfortable place you're in right now and the last thing you want to do is take no action. But they've likely been dealing with alone for a long time. It's new to you. Not them. Even if the behaviour is new. The thoughts won't be.

DO give them space. Let them know you're there and ready when they are.

DO offer reassurance. Let them know you love them and that just because you now know, that it doesn't change a thing.

DO offer support when it comes to safe harming. Hygiene and knowing when to seek medical assistance is key.

DO take care of yourself in this. SH is incredibly scary. If your fear transfers there is a chance they will feel responsible and will only lead to secrecy and shame. It's ok to let them know you're hurting, just take care of you too.

🧡🧡🧡

13/02/2026

Happy Friday everyone 🥰 How are we all doing?

I have a question for you, to both fellow therapists and those working with a therapist, or anybody really. How do we feel about seeing our therapists online?

As a therapist, is it necessary to have an online presence? Do you feel pressure to show yourself online through posting videos of yourself?

As a client, would it help or put you off seeing your therapist online? I don't mean seeing your therapist posting their weekend adventures letting loose after a bottle of vino 😆 but more the therapy page videos they post?

Are they comforting? Does it help to get a sense of someone visually before reaching out to them to work together?

I'm sitting with this and finding myself torn between needing to be seen in order to get certain work out there/ network etc and feeling absolute cringe at the thought of it.

What are we thinking? ❤️

08/02/2026

Person A - Secure. Able to identify needs and ask for them to be met.
'Do you fancy a cuppa?' (Genuinely fancies a cuppa)

Person B - Hyperindependent. Unable to identify needs and certainly cannot ask for them to be met.
'Do you fancy a cuppa?' (Please help, I'm drowning and I cannot see a way out. If you don't come for a cuppa, I'll assume I'm a burden for even asking, that you cannot possibly meet my need anyway and that I have to continue doing this all by myself, reinforcing my script that nobody sees me no matter how much I scream for help (ask for a cuppa) also, couldn't give less of a s**t about the cuppa.)

And that is on survival 😉

08/02/2026

Started my walk feeling gutted I didn't bring my headphones. (I'm in the middle of a Yalom Audio book and wanted to carry on 🤦‍♀️😅) anyway....listen to what I would've missed! 😮🥹

02/02/2026

For any parents/ guardians with teens.

I love this piece. It was published by YoungMinds a few years ago. Having already raised 2 teenagers, and will be in the near future going through this stage again with another 2, I found this very comforting and reassuring.

If you're a parent/ guardian going through it right now, hang in there. They really do come back.

And if you're a young person going through it right now. Hang in there, it will all make sense soon.

You're not broken ❤️

01/02/2026

27/01/2026

This is Bill. Bill helps with fidgety hands, nervous minds, disregulated nervous systems and stimming. Sometimes he helps just by being on the table next to you, knowing he's there. Bill's kind of a big deal. We love Bill.