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Self Development Leicester

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Self Development Leicester

Vicki Marston
Self Development

Therapist, Writer, Health & Wellness Facilitator, Lover of Life ❤️❤️ Sessions are in person and remotely via
Zoom & WhatsApp.

Vicki Marston - Self Development
An Integrated Personalised Approach to Healing

Trained as an Occupational Therapist in mental health, subsequently trained skilled and experienced in a number of healing modalities including:
counselling, talking therapies, nutritional advice, massage & bodywork, breath work,
flower essences, energy healing. Vicki worked within the NHS in inpatient psychiatry and community mental health for 15 years. In Higher Education for 5 years at Coventry University teaching Interpersonal Skills and
Health Education to Occupational Therapy and Social Work students. In Primary Care in Leicester for 7 years
co developing a psychological service for common mental health problems which was subsequently rolled out locally and nationally. “It became a flagship service, of which I am more than proud!!”
In independent practice for the last eighteen years with a sharp focus on disease and sickness prevention, mental health awareness and wellness promotion.

“prevention is always better than cure”

Offering one to one and small group sessions for anyone over the age of 16 including anxiety & depression, emotional eating, grief & loss, sleep & rest, understanding the stress response, relaxation & meditation, nutritional information and education, healthy weight attainment and the building and maintenance of nourishing relationships. Each session is personalised to meet specific
needs at the time of consultation. Vicki works with organisations to guide and assist
them in the development of a Wellness Culture leading to:

Optimal health & wellbeing
Increased motivation and productivity
Better staff retention
Increased presenteeism
Raised awareness of mental & emotional health
Increased Self Awareness
Effective interpersonal communication
Happier healthier joyful staff

23/11/2025

Soulful Sunday - Rebalance

At this time of year, perhaps more than any other, it’s important to step back and look at what is going on in your life.

As we approach the end and the darkest point of the year, it’s time to look within rather than without. What do you want to sow seeds of now, that will bud, flourish and bloom in the spring?

Time passes quickly and if you are constantly doing, rather than being; a month, a year and a decade fly past without being conscious and fully present in our lives.

We are living in unprecedented times of growth and transformation. Many systems are breaking down as we move towards a more loving and compassionate humanity. It may feel very rocky right now as things shift underfoot, so it’s of paramount importance to stay connected with nature, with what matters to you and to healthy loving relationships with yourself and with others.

We make hundreds of choices every day which can help or hinder on a microcosmic and a macro cosmic level. Realise the power that you hold, step boldly into it and work on your blocks to clear wounds of the past and move towards the light.

Choosing light
over darkness
is the way for us to heal.
And we are essentially
beings of light!!

With love - Vicki ❤️❤️

21/11/2025

Perception is Reality

According to Wikipedia, the spiritual meaning of The Magician as an object of occult study is interpreted as symbolic of power, potential and the unification of spiritual and physical worlds.

A magician is someone with magical powers, sitting in the audience at Curve Studio last evening for Ben Harts extraordinary show, I was spellbound. Some of the things he did on stage were jaw dropping and I loved the way he weaved ancient practices such as dreaming and scrying into the contemporary style of interplay with his audience.

There is much more we don’t understand than we do and inspite of scepticism around telepathy and levitation I was amazed at what I saw on stage last night with my own eyes.

Things are not always what they seem and there is no doubt we see things as we are, through our filters of experience and perception, rather than as they actually are.

So was this magic or magical?
Does Ben Hart have magical powers?
Did I see what I wanted to see?
What is the influence of the collective unconscious in a theatre audience?

Whatever the answer to any of these questions, it made me question what is real, what is true and what is illusion?

With love - Vicki ❤️❤️

19/11/2025

Let’s Normalise Therapy

I have been immersed in the world of mental health, therapy and wellness promotion for as long as I can remember, so it’s a tough call to differentiate what is knowledge and what is common sense?

Twice this week I have been gob smacked by the complete lack of empathy and compassion displayed by health professionals for something which is clearly emotional overwhelm and burnout. How is it possible that these people, of all people, fail to recognise and show empathy for something blatantly stress related?

It reminds me of the time I sat with my colleague Marie. We spent seven years Co developing a psychological service in primary care which was hugely successful and very well used. It took pressure off busy GP’s and gave specialist treatment, therapy, guidance and assistance to individuals and families when they needed it.

An estimated 7/10 GP consultations is emotionally or psychologically rooted. This is probably even higher as stress untreated and unmanaged is responsible for driving up inflamation and inflammation drives all degenerative disease.

Therapy increases self awareness. This means you notice things you didn’t before. It allows you to reframe everything and to act rather than react. It allows you to set boundaries and not take responsibility for things which are not yours.
It improves relationships, communication and decision making. It’s very good news, especially for the next generation. A healed parent can nurture their children’s mental health.

So why do we still believe you have to be broken to seek therapy? You don’t, it’s a myth, the best time to go into therapy is when you are contemplating change, a new beginning or struggling with a decision. It’s about personal growth, about taking responsibility for your own life and making things happen!!

I have a couple of spaces opening up in the new year for online and face to face work.
Please get in touch if you would like to book a discovery call.

With love - Vicki ❤️❤️

Art work: Laly Mille - Compassion

16/11/2025

Soulful Sunday - The Gift That Grows

I have been reflecting on the enormity of what we co created yesterday with our fundraising spectacular for Salt of the Earth.

When people come together for good they create a wave of energy. A ripple moves from one heart to another, from one family to another, then into the local community and into the wider world.

Good vibes are infectious, they make you feel lighter in the same way that low vibes can send your mood spiralling down. To keep those good vibes flowing we are promoting our Ethical Gift Cards as a way of raising awareness of the essential work of Salt of the Earth in Tamil Nadu, South India.

They are just £5 and work really well to slip into a birthday card, cracker present or secret Santa. They’re also the perfect gift for older children who may not realise just how fortunate they are to have a school to go to, and a doctor to visit when they are sick.

Choose between a Fruit Tree for a family, or a more Generic Card which funds clean water projects, rainwater collection tanks, mobile health clinics, tree planting and small business loans.

Contact me if you would like to order. Happy to post for those further away, or collect from the clinic in Oadby, Leicester.

Let’s keep the good vibes spreading - Vicki ❤️❤️

15/11/2025

Building Community Together

I have been a supporter of Salt of the Earth for more than two decades first meeting founder Murray Frankland at a CND garden party when our babes were actually babes!! A lot of water has flowed under the bridge since then and a lot of fundraising has been done to support the work of life changing, life saving NGOs on the ground in Tamil Nadu, South India. Seeing the work for myself in 2020 made me realise more consciously the gross inequalities in this world and the many things we in the west take for granted each day like clean drinking water and a free at the point of delivery education and health care system.

If you would like to know more about the incredible work of this Leicester based charity please get in touch or go to the website www.sote.org.uk.

Great stalls, great vibes, lovely customers and the best cake. Clarendon Park you did us proud, thank you each and every one of you for coming!!

For more pics see my instagram post at vicki_marston_ ❤️❤️

13/11/2025

Motion is Lotion

Said my yoga teacher Kim Woods in class today, which really made me smile!!

A staggering 37% of people in the UK never exercise. Moving your body daily is always necessary, but becomes more important the older you get. With increasingly sedentary lifestyles, working from home and more reliance on the car, rather than walking or cycling; a daily walk, stretch, or run needs to be prioritised for health, well-being and living longer well.

Babies, children and animals stretch. They also know how to relax when they sit or lie down, unlike many adults who carry muscular tension as a residue of emotional, mental and physical stress.

A daily stretch or work out, doing something you love, moves your fascia and ensures optimal mobility, strength and flexibility. Over time, without the lubrication which daily movement ensures, joint stiffness ensues, closely followed by a limited range of movement making daily living much more challenging, painful and even impossible.

Move your awesome body - Vicki ❤️❤️

11/11/2025

Armistice Day Reflection 🕊️

Both my parents were part of the war effort in the 1940’s, much of their young adult life consumed by conflict. As teenagers they took us to France to see endless rows of white cross marked graves stretched out in the warm summer sun, a memory which is indelibly etched on my adolescent mind. Mum and dad talked about the waste of life, of friends lost and of the terrible legacy of war for decades to come.

I have been distributing White Poppies for more than twenty years and have mixed responses to the wearing of them.

White Poppies were first made and distributed in the 1930’s by the widows, sisters, mothers and sweethearts of men who never returned. They were an acknowledgement of the horror of war and a commitment to work for peace lest we forget.

My observation is that many people seem to see war as inevitable and while this is so, it will continue. You have to create a shift in consciousness and work actively for peace if there is ever to be any change.

As weapons of death become more and more sophisticated so the potential for detachment from the reality of killing becomes ever greater.

Never Again is Now - Vicki ❤️❤️

08/11/2025

My Heart

Well cruising just wouldn’t be cruising without a few high seas (so I’m told) and on the journey back from Malaga, we were rockin and rollin the night and day away. When the waves finally subsided from 6 metres to around 3.5, it felt positively calm. Amazed I wasn’t sea sick. I followed the advice of more experienced sailors taking anti sickness tablets before I felt remotely queasy and stayed still in one place, as much as possible. I didn’t drink any alcohol, resting and napping whenever tired or feeling unstable, it worked!!

Coming out of the Bay of Biscay into calmer waters I managed one last dip on the gorgeous Lido deck. With warm sunshine kissing my face and the entire pool to myself, I am grateful for this incredible experience. A wealth of deeply enriching connections; meeting and talking with inspirational people each and everyday. The talent amongst the entertainments team and the guest artists is phenomenal and the wide variety of music and musical genres was a big part of the overall experience and enjoyed for me.

The highlight, of course, was getting to see our youngest perform in all three on board venues. Thank you Meg 🫶🏽

Homeward bound
with a full
and grateful heart.

One proud mama - Vicki ❤️❤️

06/11/2025

Living Life

Life is full of opportunities and no one ever knows where saying yes or saying no will lead. How often do you say no to invitations and experiences because it feels too much, out of your comfort zone, or because you are afraid of failing? In life, one of my go to mottos is “seize the day.” An endeavour to make the most of things which come my way, whilst at the same time looking after my health and well-being. This is not always easy to navigate!!

Aboard this ship you could wear yourself out completely. There is an action packed programme every day where you could be running from one thing to the next whether it’s a lecture, a show, games on the deck, or a craft session. Fear of missing out, FOMO, is a real pressure which many people succumb to whether they know it or not. Checking in daily with your energy levels, your sleep quality and how busy you are generally, is a good way to help you decide when to say yes and no, to what, to whom and when.

Stress impacts everyone and can be caused by many things which superficially appear to be enjoyable. It takes a high degree of self awareness to keep stress levels in the optimal place to promote health, wellbeing and wellness.

Go with awareness - Vicki ❤️❤️

05/11/2025

Peace

As we approach Remembrance Sunday I am contemplating Peace, what it means and how to actively promote Peace in our everyday lives?

Externally the world is on fire and any reference, discussion raised, or opinion expressed has the potential to increase understanding, or lead to further conflict. It’s a fine line we walk between not talking about things that matter and actively working together for unity and peace. In my experience, one of the best ways to do this is to regularly check in with your intention and also your ego. If you are clear about why you are doing things with love in your heart and at the forefront of your mind, there will be no harm.

I would like to see us moving away from a mindset of the inevitability of war, to actively promoting peace. This takes awareness and a willingness to release old beliefs, patterns, attitudes and perceptions. We must be willing to do things differently if anything is to change. Whilst we continue to beat the drums of war, the old adage Never Again becomes a tick box exercise which dishonours all those who gave their lives in previous and current conflicts.

Smiling
is one
of the most
basic forms
of peace work.

Go with awareness - Vicki ❤️❤️

03/11/2025

The Power of Words

Words have power to harm and heal. They can affirm what we already believe, challenge our perception and attitudes in a way that may feel uncomfortable, or change our minds and view on anything.

Yesterday I observed two examples of confirmation bias. People hearing and seeing something that fitted their own internal narrative, then concluding what was their truth, rather than the truth.

Chinese whispers is a game we loved to play as kids. You know the one where you whisper a message in the next persons ear, then send on only what you hear. By the end of the circle the message changes and we laughed out loud at the ridiculousness of the result. Herein lies a heart felt warning to question what you hear and challenge your internal narrative. Words repeated out of context, with our confirmation bias and conscious or unconscious spin, can be hurtful, dangerous and cause untold damage intentional or not.

Spreading words in this way is called gossip, which at first glance may appear innocuous. However we know rumours tend to stick and “no smoke without fire” is deeply ingrained in our psyche making it much more difficult to change opinion, even when the facts revealed are entirely different from the rumours, fake news and misinformation.

So next time you hear something take care who you speak to, what you repeat, who you tell and what you do with the information. The ripple effect of kindness is no more powerful than the ripple effect of envy, greed and jealousy. They all have a tendency to spread… like wildfire!!

Go with awareness - Vicki ❤️❤️

01/11/2025

Loving Life

Every day I feel like I’m a kid in a sweet shop where everything looks so good I just don’t know what to choose!!

What an opportunity, what a privilege and what a dream come true to be sailing aboard this beautiful ship and watching our youngest perform.

It’s taken me back to my days as a holiday rep working in the south of France but a lot more up market. That said, hospitality and the skills this requires are the same whether it’s a campsite or a five star hotel. To be of service and not be subservient requires self assurance and self knowledge. Listening to a Q&A with the captain; who is the funniest and most unassuming person you could wish to meet, reminded me that whatever you do and however much money you earn, or have to spend, makes you no better than anyone else.

Captain Simon was mopping the decks at the charity pool volleyball competition and happy to reveal not only his favourite karaoke song, but also that he has been known to throw a passenger off his ship for gross misconduct, not literally of course.

My dad used to say: you come into this world with nothing and you leave with nothing, there are no pockets in shrouds. He oozed wisdom that man. How I miss his wise counsel and his wry humour.

With love from Valletta - Vicki ❤️❤️

Address

North Street Oadby
Leicester
LE25AH

Opening Hours

Wednesday	10:30am - 7pm
Thursday	1pm - 6:30pm
Friday	11am - 7pm
Saturday	9am - 10:30am

Website

http://www.vickimarston.co.uk/

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