New View Well-Being

28/02/2026

Not all counsellors are created equal – and choosing the right one matters more than you think.

The right counsellor will not only have the right qualifications, but will also create a space where you feel safe, heard, and genuinely supported. Therapy should feel collaborative, ethical, and grounded in respect – not rushed, pressured, or one-sided.

If you are considering counselling, save this checklist and use it as a guide. You deserve support that feels safe, empowering, and aligned with your needs. 💓

25/02/2026

Kindness in our schools - It’s probably the most important ‘subject’ of our times!
1. Kindness is a powerful force for good in the world. In current times, we need as much of it as possible within our communities. We need to promote it more as we experience more poverty, homelessness, and people fleeing from war.

2. There are many different ways to be kind, and even small acts of kindness can have a huge impact. From holding a door open to volunteering to be a Samaritan, each way of kindness has a trickle effect on other people.

3. Kindness cannot be taught to children by lecturing them about how unkind they are. They have to witness it. It can be learned and practised. Everyone can become kinder with practice.

4. Kindness is contagious. When we see other people being kind, we tend to mimic their behaviour or become inspired to help others without realising it.

5. Kindness acts as a reward in itself. It is linked to better relationships, positive mental health outcomes, and a greater sense of purpose and meaning.

6. Kindness is not a weakness. It is a strength. For instance, it takes strength and courage to be kind when faced with adversity.

7. Kindness is not always easy, especially when we are angry or disillusioned, but small steps rekindle its powerful effects.

8. A precursor to kindness is empathy, and imagining ourselves in the shoes of others is a good starting point. This empathy is the gateway.

9. Often, children need opportunities to experience its positive effects. Visiting old people’s homes, sick neighbours, or helping other children with special needs allows them to put their own worries into better context.

10. Kindness is magnetic. Your favourite teacher was a kind teacher. Being assured that your daughter or son would fall in love with a naturally kind-hearted person would be a great consolation in the minefield of relationships.

Needless to say, parents have the primary role in the promotion of kindness, and schools can only do so much. School is only another avenue where it can be learned and facilitated. By prioritising kindness, we would reduce stress levels and foster a degree of positivity that we all need at the moment.
(C) Shane Martin

24/02/2026

19/02/2026

Oh, this is worth thinking about 💔

10/02/2026

Hi everyone,
This week marks Children’s Mental Health week - an important time out to focus on what we can do to nurture and improve children and young people’s mental health. This year’s theme is “this is my place”, so as well as some useful guidance from the Counselling Directory below, here are also my 3 tips to support children and young people find their place in a busy and ever-changing world.

1. It’s not easy being a young person in today’s society, and it’s important to take time to check in on the big emotions that they may feel. Focus in on the “how are you’s?” to check in what they are really feeling, trying to put a name on an emotion can help make sense of what they are experiencing and may help them manage their feelings a bit better.

2. Focus on the positives – a negative bias can be so common, so let’s focus on the positives, the strengths, the accomplishments. Encourage a sense of pride for the achievements, no matter how small they can be, as they can make a massive difference to wellbeing and make everything feel a little lighter.

3. Support children and young people to have their space where they can feel safe, happy and supported, wherever that may be. Notice how it feels to be in this space and where they feel the calmness and joy in their body. It’s a good opportunity to take some time out in the busyness of life.

Finally, an exciting announcement! Keep an eye out for upcoming small group workshops for young people, an opportunity to develop positive tools and strategies to promote their wellbeing. All workshops will take place in our counselling room in Ballygawley, they will last 1 hour max and will focus on themes such as coping with stress, promoting positive self-acceptance, mindset and resilience. Workshops are aimed at young people aged 11-18 with space for max 4 participants per workshop. Further information will follow, but please get in touch if you would like to hear more.
As always, you will find me on the counselling directory, please reach out if you would like to get in touch.
Brenda

https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/counsellors/brenda-mc-elroy

01/02/2026

Share or send to your group chat...💌

08/01/2026

Share with others as a reminder that it is OK to reach out for support.

💙

04/01/2026

New Year and new beginnings for New View Well-being.
Make 2026 the year where you prioritise your well-being and self-care. Get in touch if you would like to find out more about how counselling may help you. Hope 2026 is a great year for you!

When life feels off-centre, a counsellor can help you slow down, reflect, and rediscover a sense of balance that feels right for you. 🌱

18/12/2025

Hi everyone,
As the long-awaited Christmas break draws closer, I want to show my immense gratitude for all the support I have received this year. 2025 has been a big year for New View Well-being, and I’m proud of the space I’ve created in my counselling room in Ballygawley. I’m thankful for all the clients that have attended appointments, all the schools I have worked with and all the amazing connections I have made. I feel truly blessed to do this job! Thank you also for all the likes, shares and comments, it helps spread the word and keeps me busy 🫶.

Keep an eye out for new opportunities in 2026, including small group workshops for young people promoting positive well-being, exploring self-acceptance, coping with stress etc, as well as extra availability for appointments.

But for now, Happy Christmas. I know this can be a time of sadness for many, and the loss of loved ones can hurt deeply at this time of year. I hope you manage a good break and feel some love and joy in this festive season, but if you're in distress, help is always available through Lifeline, see details in post ❤️.

Brenda.

If you are in distress or crisis, or you know someone who is, you can talk to one of Lifeline’s qualified counsellors for free, 24/7 over the Christmas period.

📲 Call Lifeline on 0808 808 8000.

Learn more at www.LifelineHelpline.info

13/12/2025

19/11/2025

There is a lot about our lives that we have no control over. You wouldn’t want to be thinking about it for too long. Tragedy and sadness can arrive in a flash and cause havoc and heartbreak. Even just hearing about sad events can unsettle us. We can feel insecure and afraid. All of a sudden, the reality of our mortality can slap us in the face.

We are human, and empathy should flow. This is natural. Feeling for others protects communities and encourages traits like love and understanding. Our innate capacity to be compassionate needs expression. We should help others when we can. This is goodness and is good for us.

When we are external to a tragedy, we often feel powerless. But we can remind ourselves that every day is a golden day. We can live it as the gift that it is. We can work harder at worrying less about things that don’t matter as much as we think. We can cultivate a sense of gratitude for the little things we often take for granted. And if we have faith, we can pray for those in pain and hurting. Studies into resilience show that prayer provides great comfort to those who pray.

The life we live is imperfect, but there is nothing more perfect than love. It is needed more than ever before.