Rachel Foster Counselling

24/11/2025

14/11/2025

Has anyone else been watching Sara Cox complete 135 miles (yes, five marathons in five days) for Children in Need? Over £6 million raised and so many inspiring moments.

What really struck me was her reflection on the energy she felt from supporters, especially the eye contact with women in their 50s. She called it an “energy exchange.”

And then she said something that stopped me in my tracks:

“I am not a woman of a certain age, I am a woman who is certain. It's a very different thing!”

A beautiful reminder of how powerful it is to stand firmly in who we are.

📷 lucyclaireillustration

08/09/2025

I love this post by KJ Counselling. Being vulnerable and reaching out for support can be extremely nerve wracking but also incredibly helpful especially when you are finally heard and accepted by another.

It can feel really hard to ask for help, especially if you’re used to “powering through” 💜. Maybe you weren’t encouraged to share your feelings growing up, so reaching out feels unfamiliar or uncomfortable.

When we put on a brave face 😁, it’s almost impossible for others to know what’s really going on. Friends and family can’t always guess......sometimes we need to give them the chance to support us. If someone reaches in, and you feel able, let them know how you’re really doing.

It’s okay to not be okay. It’s okay to be strong and independent and to lean on others too. You don’t always have to be the one offering support—your wellbeing matters just as much 🤗.

If talking face-to-face feels too much, a text, call, or letter can be a gentler way to start 📱📧📮. You might try:

“Today hasn’t been a good day. Can I tell you about it?”

“I’m struggling at the moment—would you like to meet for a cuppa?”

What helps you reach out when you need support? 😊

10/07/2025

This post by Samantha Cooke Counselling perfectly sums up the function and benefit of therapy. As Maya Angelou said “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside of you.”

This photo makes me smile. Clara snoozing on the floor trying to stay cool, and on the TV behind her, the Tour de France. And yes… that is someone in the crowd wearing an inflatable cow costume.

I would never have imagined myself watching the Tour de France on my lunch break. Or Formula 1 for that matter. But a while ago, I watched the Netflix documentaries that followed both sports. And that changed everything.

Because suddenly, I wasn’t just watching cyclists or cars on a track. I was watching stories. I got to know some of the names. Learned about their struggles, rivalries, passions and pressures. I became invested, not just in the outcome, but in the people.

That’s the power of story.

It reminded me so much of counselling. Clients come into the room and share their stories. Sometimes for the very first time. I listen and hold space. But together, we gently begin to explore what those stories mean. We unpick, reflect and honour the path that’s been walked.

And then we begin to wonder… What now? What might come next?

Counselling doesn’t rewrite the past. But it can offer a space to see it differently. To notice the patterns, the pain, the resilience. To recognise the turning points. And to feel into the possibility of a new chapter.

Our stories matter. Being able to tell them, shape them, and live them with more intention can be quietly transformative.

And sometimes, it all starts with simply being heard.

10/07/2025

Hi everyone,

I’m taking a break from 5pm today and will return to work on Monday July 21st.

I'll also be taking an extended break from social media posting over the Summer.

Take care and see you all soon!

07/07/2025

It's Monday again! Is it just me that feels they come around far too quickly?!

Here's a grounding activity that may help you settle into your week

It's based on the five senses and focuses your mind on the present, creating a sense of calm.

➡️ Look around you and name 5 things you can see.

➡️ Then find 4 things you can touch or feel. Your clothes, is it hot or cold where you are? Pick something up to hold.

➡️ Listen out for 3 things you can hear. Such as the sound of traffic, trees rustling, clock ticking.

➡️ Name two things you can smell, could be your morning coffee, freshly cut grass, or food smells.

➡️ Lastly 1 thing you can taste. This could be toothpaste, what you just ate for lunch. And so on.

03/07/2025

I find this a helpful question to ask yourself when negative thoughts become overwhelming.

We often believe our automatic negative thoughts to be facts, but this isn't the case. They are just opinions.

Ask yourself where is the evidence that makes my thought a fact?

30/06/2025

It’s ok to not be ok….

Let’s end the stigma, together.

Reach out for support if you need it.

📷:

24/06/2025

Be proud of every step of your journey, you worked hard to get there.

23/06/2025

This is a great post from KJ Counselling. Try putting your anxiety in the back seat today and see what happens. Have a good day everyone 😊

For anyone who needs to hear it 🫶 Anxiety is often like a false alarm system. It's designed to protect you, but sometimes it goes off when there’s no real danger🙄 It can make everyday situations feel threatening, even when they aren’t🥹

One helpful approach is to ask yourself, What would the non-anxious version of me do right now? and then gently move in that direction. Acting in line with your values, rather than your fears, helps retrain your brain to recognize that you're safe🤗 The more you do what you were going to do anyway, even while feeling anxious, the more your confidence grows—and the quieter that false alarm becomes.

What will you just do today anyway?

Take care, Katrina 💜

📷 Karen Salmansohn
yourtodieforlife.com

19/06/2025

Letting go of the pain of loss, not the person.

15/06/2025

How was everyone’s weekend?

I think this image is a welcome reminder that we need to take things in life one step at a time ⏰

If we put pressure on ourselves to achieve everything immediately we can end up lowering our confidence and self esteem, and possibly even burn out 😥

So keep an eye on those expectations and be realistic about what you can achieve in a day 🗓

Feel free to share this post with anyone who may find it helpful 🙏

📷 : Liz and Mollie