http://www.chapmancounselling.com/

Chapman Counselling, 15B High Street, Inverurie (2025)

07/11/2025

Give Laura a message if you might benefit from one of her groups. She has loads of expertise and will meet you with care, warmth and without judgement.

06/11/2025

Food can be such a complicated part of life. For some, it’s tied to comfort and connection; for others, it can bring stress, guilt, or fear. And sometimes at different times.

There’s so much noise in the media right now too, about food, weight loss, weight gain, injections, diets- it can feel never-ending and overwhelming.

If you’re finding your relationship with food difficult at the moment, whether that’s eating too much, not enough, or feeling caught somewhere in between, you’re not alone.

These struggles are rarely just about food. They can be about control, self-worth, or finding ways to cope with difficult feelings.

In counselling, there’s space to gently explore what’s happening for you, without judgement or pressure.
You deserve kindness, patience, and understanding (especially from yourself.❤️)

Edited to add: you can also get support around food and nutrition from the wonderful Laura Leslie Natural Health who is also based in 15B High Street.
We are here to support you.

02/11/2025

This week, I’ve been thinking a lot about boundaries.
With the rush of school routines starting up again, I’ve found myself trying to be all things to all people, and doing very little for myself.

I saw a reel earlier that said “therapists love to bang on about boundaries” 🤣 and it made me smile, because maybe we do!
Anyway- what does having boundaries even mean?

Boundaries aren’t about pushing people away, being bossy or building walls. They’re about understanding what helps you feel safe, respected, and at ease, and finding ways to communicate that. That’s sometimes the tricky bit!

Sometimes boundaries might sound like:
✨ “I can’t take that on right now.”
✨ “I’d love to help, but I need to rest first.”
✨ “I’m not sure that works for me.”
✨ “I need a bit of quiet today.”
They don’t have to sound firm or formal. They can be kind, honest ways of saying “this is what I need right now.”

Many of us struggle to put boundaries in place because we don’t want to let people down, or we want everyone to be happy, even if it means stretching ourselves too thin.

Sometimes we feel the weight of expectations that were placed on us, ones we probably didn’t ask for or don’t belong to us in the first place.

Setting boundaries doesn’t make you difficult or unkind.

So today, I’m giving myself a little time without expectations from others, just having a cup of tea with the poodles and my kindle for a wee mintie.

I have said no to a few things today because I realise I need to have a quiet reset before the week ahead. And that is OK. It really is.

Sometimes the kindest thing you can do, for yourself and others, is to be honest about what you can give.

(Picture of me and Ru- little Doug was here but has gone off to bark ferociously at folk who have the audacity to walk past the house🙄)

23/10/2025

Hello! 👋
I’m now on Instagram at 🍃
I’m not very good at Insta…yet! 😅 But once I figure it out, I’ll be sharing reflections, therapy related stuff, thoughts about life’s ups and downs (and probably pictures of my poodles!)
Come and say hi! I’d love to see you over there! 💚

21/10/2025

“Other people have it worse.”

This is a comment I have heard in the therapy room quite often.

Maybe you’ve said that to yourself before too.You’re finding something hard, but then you think of someone else’s pain and decide yours shouldn’t really count.
So, you keep going, tell yourself you should be fine, to “get on with it” and tuck your feelings away. Maybe you mask your true feelings to others and overthink every interaction. It is exhausting and can feel overwhelming. Perhaps just “stuffing it down” feels familiar.

However, our struggles don’t stop mattering just because someone else is struggling too. And those feelings don’t disappear-no matter how neatly we package them away, or how convincing our mask might be.

I sometimes mention to my clients (and my children too- usually met with eye rolling but I am hopeful they take it in🤣) that those feelings have got to go somewhere. Sometimes they might show up in an unexpected moment or a reaction that surprises you-because there’s only so much stuffing down we have capacity for.
Pain isn’t a competition, and what hurts for you, still hurts.

In my therapy room, there’s no need to compare or justify yourself. You don’t have to prove your pain is worth talking about.
It’s simply a space for you to bring what’s real, the things that feel too small to mention, or too heavy to hold alone. It’s your space. And what you bring matters.

You don’t have to wait until things feel unbearable to ask for support.
You’re allowed to reach out, just as you are, right now.

18/10/2025

Credit: Nicole Arzt

14/10/2025

When you lose someone you love, people often talk about “the first year” as if it’s a finish line, as if something magical happens once you pass that milestone.

But grief doesn’t follow a calendar. There isn’t a moment when the pain simply stops, or when you’re meant to “move on.”

You might find yourself oscillating- moving between moments of deep sadness and times when life feels a little more familiar again. This is a natural and healthy part of grieving. Some days you might feel steady, and then, without warning, a memory, a date, or even a song can bring a wave that takes your breath away. That doesn’t mean you’re going backwards. It means you’re human.

At times, it can feel like you are going up the hill and never quite reaching the summit to enjoy the view.

There’s no “right” way to grieve, and no expiry date for your feelings. You deserve space to honour your loss at your own pace - not on society’s schedule.

If you’re navigating grief and need a safe, compassionate space to talk, I’m here to walk alongside you. 💛

12/10/2025

As a parent of teens myself, I know the holidays can be a bit of a mixed bag. I’m on a break from my school job at the moment (which means no Sunday school scaries!), but I’m still seeing clients, doing plenty of driving around (teen taxi service!), juggling plans, studying and trying to find those little pockets of calm in between.

For many children and young people, the change in routine can bring up all sorts of emotions. Sometimes those feelings show up in obvious ways; other times it’s a quieter shift- a bit more clinginess, big emotions, or seeming withdrawn. It’s so common.

And let’s be honest, the holidays can be a bit of a juggling act for parents too. Between the taxi runs, shifting routines, and keeping everyone (mostly) happy, it can feel like we’re spinning a fair few plates ourselves! Those competing demands on top of the expectations we can put on ourselves as parents to make sure the holidays meet everyone’s expectations can make it a stressful time. (Honestly I feel like we are winning if we have managed the basics of ‘everyone’s fed, nobody’s dead’ some days!)

Having a safe, neutral space to talk things through can really help young people make sense of what’s going on and feel understood in their own way.

If this sounds familiar, you’re always welcome to get in touch for a friendly chat about how I work with children and young people. 🧡

Pic: a wee view from my run last weekend- one foot in front of the other!

08/10/2025

The Traitors is back!
Anyone else watching?

As the secrets and strategies unfold, it’s hard not to reflect on the masks we wear in real life too 👀

Most of us aren’t plotting in a castle (usually!), but many of us still wear “masks” (or “cloaks”) in everyday life. For example, we might present different versions of ourselves every day - at work, with friends, even at home. Sometimes it’s to protect ourselves, sometimes to fit in… and sometimes we don’t even realise we’re doing it.

We can end up fooling ourselves too by ignoring our feelings, downplaying our needs, or sticking to roles that don’t feel true anymore.

How freeing would it be to ditch the cloak and be your true self?

Therapy can be a space to gently peel back those layers and get back in touch with who you really are. No games. No masks or cloaks. Just you.

02/10/2025

So, my morning has gone completely to pot already and it’s not even 8am. 😬
It’s mornings like these that can make you feel as though the rest of the day is a write-off.
Some mornings are tougher than others. You might wake up and think, “I can’t face this day, this job, this situation.”
You don’t have to carry it all on your own. Support is out there, and small steps forward can make a big difference.
Counselling offers a safe, supportive space to share what’s on your mind and discover new ways to cope and move forward with confidence. 💙
(For now, I’m going to have a strong coffee and remind myself that brighter mornings are ahead. Here’s a bonny picture from the other day to prove it! 🌸)

27/09/2025

Blimey, it’s hard going being an Aberdeen fan right now. 🫣 As a Dons supporter, I know what it’s like to go through a tough spell when results don’t go our way and it feels like nothing is working.😔😬

More seriously though, life can feel just like that too. We all face times when we’re struggling to find our rhythm and wondering how to get back on track.
In football, teams often “go back to basics,” regroup at half-time, and lean on the support around them to keep going.

Counselling can offer that same kind of space, a chance to pause, reflect, and find new ways forward.
Just like every team has its ups and downs, so do we.

And just like no club has to face challenges alone, neither do you. I’m here to be your supporter, especially through the more challenging times!⚽️

If life feels heavy just now, know that support is here when you need it.
(Here’s a few pics reminding us of winning times- those days will come again!)

26/09/2025

Sometimes we don’t stop long enough to notice the steps we’ve already taken, the strength we’ve already found, and the progress we’ve quietly made.
Instead of always looking at what’s next, it can be grounding to pause and to acknowledge how far you’ve already travelled.
You don’t have to do more or be more to be worthy of that recognition.
Where you are now matters. 💛

Chapman Counselling

07/11/2025

06/11/2025

02/11/2025

23/10/2025

21/10/2025

18/10/2025

14/10/2025

12/10/2025

08/10/2025

02/10/2025

27/09/2025

26/09/2025

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