Reflections Counselling Leeds & Howden

03/07/2022

There is no word for a bereaved parent which feels quite sad to me. Loss can be hidden and silent with no one - or not many people - being aware of what loss has been experienced. Parental bereavement takes many forms. All baby loss is valid no matter what form your parental bereavement may take.

⚠️ Trigger warning - bereavement content.

It’s National Bereaved Parents Day - a day to recognise those affected by the loss of a child.

There's no right or wrong way to feel when coping with loss. If you're struggling with grief or you need more support, there is help available.

More info: nhs.uk/mental-health/feelings-symptoms-behaviours/feelings-and-symptoms/grief-bereavement-loss

10/06/2022

I saw this beautiful poppy sitting proudly in this field this morning and it made me think:

A lot of people grow up being told to conform, they’re told to measure up to those around them, and that’s the only way to be acceptable.
But it’s simply not true.
Be you.
Be unashamedly your true self, the self that you were born to be.
Allow yourself to actualise into your full potential and others will see you value, even if you can’t always see it yourself.

03/08/2021

This is really worth a listen to for helping explain just how much of an impact caffeine has on our sleep. This is one of my absolute favourite podcasts.

16/07/2021

During the heat, it’s much harder to sleep for most of us, but these sleep hygiene tips might just help some people have a better chance of getting an improved nights sleep. Let me know if you try any and if they work!!

11/05/2021

** SOUND ON** If we stop, look and listen, we can so often find nature on our doorsteps. This little guy is on my neighbours roof every morning. Without fail. Singing for hours on end. If I wonder around distracted, or with headphones on. I’ll miss his beautiful song. But if I’m present and aware of my surroundings, I get to hear this incredible sound every single morning. And I think that’s amazing 😍

10/05/2021

It’s mental health awareness week and this year, the theme this year is nature. Spending time in nature is proven to help with wellbeing. Whether it’s a long walk in the great outdoors, or even sitting in a green space if you live in an urban area, connecting with nature in even a small way can have a big impact

13/04/2021

A new phase is dawning in all of our lives at the moment. For some people this is a period of excitement, for others it can mean uncertainty and anxiety.

If you’re feeling anxious about the changes in lockdown rules, there are some things you can do to help:

- Be kind to yourself and take things at a pace that feels right for you
- Acknowledge that anxiety is a perfectly normal response to an unusual situation
- Use breathing techniques to help reduce and control the anxiety
- Build self care into your daily routine - meditation and journaling can be easy places to start as they don’t take a lot of time but can be very effective in managing anxiety
- Remind yourself that all of the activities that are opening back up are most likely things that you’ve done before. If you’ve managed them before, there’s no reason you can’t manage them now
- Take things in small steps, rather than rushing head first into a situation that feels overwhelming. Break down the end goal in to smaller more manageable steps. This way you’re always heading to the end destination - slow and steady is still progress!

13/04/2021

Hello I'm Vicki, welcome to the new page of Reflections Counselling! I will be posting here to share posts which I think you might find useful along with selfcare tips. You can also find more information of the services I provide along with how to contact me.