Ky Harkins Life Counselling Services

31/10/2025

As some of you may know, I have been beavering away setting up my new offices and to say I am excited is an understatement 💙.

So….to celebrate I’m offering some deals:

1. 6 FREE sessions with a trainee counsellor and then, if you want to continue, £20 a session

2. First session free with a qualified counsellor and then £50 a session thereafter.

We have offices in Nelson Street, central Southend or just off Prince Avenue, Southend.

Here’s some pics of the new rooms - not finished by any means but still lovely, I think anyway 💙.

Please PM for more info on sessions.

26/10/2025

A lot of my friends/family and I guess many of you, wonder what counselling is all about.

I know many people think it is a load of old rubbish if I’m honest but that’s OK because you don’t know what you don’t know!

Here are some lovely testimonials I have received that I think perfectly explain how counselling helps.

I love my job and reading these testimonials reminds me why I do what I do!

💙

23/10/2025

EXCITING NEWS!!

I’m very excited to announce we will be in our new offices from the 1st November.

One is in Nelson’s Street, Southend and the other is just off of Prince Avenue, Southend (near Tesco’s) and we can also do online sessions.

By way of celebrating our new offices, I am offering some special offers:

💙 6 sessions with a student Counsellor for £10 a session (after that the fee is £20)

Or,

💙 Unlimited sessions with a qualified Counsellor for £40 a session (normally £50)

Or,

💙 Unlimited sessions with a Couples Counsellor for £60 a session (normally £65 upwards).

Please contact us for details 💙

18/10/2025

Morning all,

I’m sorry I have been so quiet recently, I am moving to two new offices which is very exciting.

A little insight into my main new building in the conservation area in Southend.

The location is perfect; the seafront is walking distance (in fact we can see the sea from our balcony), right on top of the bowling green in the conservation area, stunning houses just up the road and lots of bars, restaurants, coffee shops at our finger tips 💙.

I will also be sharing the building with Victoria Counselling and Training Service, which is where it all began for me. I cannot put into words how much of an honour this is for me 💙.

In addition to this, I will have another office in a gym in Southend which offers a real community vibe with exercise, beauty treatments and physio on site too!

From working from my kitchen, to a cabin in the garden, renting one room, then two rooms and now five, all in the space of five years! Typical me, I don’t like to do anything by halves, a million miles an hour as ever 😂.

I can’t wait for the next new chapter, thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way and please come and visit me in my new posh space 💙.

26/09/2025

21/09/2025

Morning all,

Thought I better post as I haven’t done so in a while because I’m so blinking busy and I’m tired!

Life is crazy for a million reasons but I’m just the same as anyone else. Life catches up on you sometimes.

Anyone who has been to see me for counselling (or training) knows I’m very authentic. I am the first person to say life is a bit crappy right now but I’m also OK with it as I know it will pass.

I’m excited/nervous (actually very nervous 💩) to be going back into therapy myself this week but I have nothing to be nervous about.

I suppose the thing that is the scariest is being vulnerable with another person you don’t know. I know I will cry every week but I’m almost looking forward to allowing myself that release.

Therapy is so many things but for me it’s clarity. When my brain starts to get a bit jumbled, therapy will help me ‘unjumble’ it. (I don’t think that’s a word but who cares 😂).

So…. For those of you who see me currently or have done, know that I will be going through the same process. I will reveal my pain and I know my therapist will hold it for me and allow me the space to work through it.

I know in a few weeks/months I will start to feel less burdened, I will be thinking more clearly and life will start to be less confusing.

Anyway, not too sure about the point of this post other than to let you know I’m human and I know how brave every one of my clients are, past and present.

If anyone is thinking about counselling, don’t be scared, it’s such an enlightening process and is so ‘freeing’ too.

Happy Sunday all,

Lots of love,
A tired (and slightly hungover 😂) Me 🩷 ###

14/09/2025

I asked a couple of male clients to share their thoughts about counselling.

The reason I asked the men is because I still find men experience more shame in asking for help.

Sadly, many men still have this opinion that they should be able to deal with things on their own without help.

This saddens me as who says men ‘should’ be able to deal with things on their own? What a load of ‘codswallop’ (as my Nan would say)!

No-one should suffer alone, no matter what age, gender, s*xuality, culture, religion etc, everyone needs a little help sometimes 💙.

Thank you to my two lovely clients for allowing me to help. I love my job and wouldn’t change it for anything 💙.

06/09/2025

I recently received this message from a client I worked with over a year ago. It’s days like these, I know there is a reason why I do this job! 💙

This beautiful, strong, resilient client is now also training to be a counsellor which fills my heart with pride, she will be amazing!! 🩷

‘Hey Ky! How are you?! I have been meaning to text you but it’s felt like a whirlwind recently!!

George was sentenced to 3 years and he had an additional 10 months added for breaching his suspended sentence so I feel like his previous victim has had some justice too!

Once again, thank you for everything. You really helped me to get through such a dark period ❤️’.

(Posted with Clients permission).

The victim of assaults in Harlow at the hands of a 31-year-old man has thanked our officers

01/09/2025

Kids back to school/college this week! For some this is a relief, for some this brings stress and sadness.

September is always a really busy month for me as people always need to talk.

Although my books are virtually full, I have some amazing Counsellors in my team if you are looking for a little help.

Please PM or WhatsApp for more info 💙.

31/08/2025

🌿✨ We are so excited to welcome a new member, Sam to our team! ✨🌿

Sam brings a wealth of experience as an eclectic therapist, drawing on a range of therapeutic approaches to support clients in a way that is truly flexible and tailored to individual needs.

💛 Her core training is in Person-Centred Counselling, inspired by Carl Rogers’ approach of empathy, authenticity and unconditional positive regard, creating a safe and collaborative space for growth.

🌱 Sam is also qualified in Spiritual Counselling, supporting those who wish to explore questions of meaning, faith, and personal values, helping clients connect with their mind, body, and spirit.

💙Alongside this, Sam is a qualified NLP coach, offering practical tools to reframe limiting beliefs, unlock inner resources, and build strategies for lasting change.

By combining these modalities, Sam bring a compassionate, holistic, and empowering approach to therapy, meeting each client where they are and helping them move forward with clarity and confidence.

Please contact us if you would like to chat to Sam some more 💙.

28/08/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19sQ4vyCTB/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Do you have a hidden or secondary phone because you are fearful of someone?

At 3:00pm on Sunday 7 September, mobile phones may emit a loud sound, vibrate, or read out an emergency alert—even if they are set to silent.

If you are affected by domestic abuse and have a hidden mobile phone from your abuser, you may not wish the sound of the alert to draw attention to your phone.

📢 You can turn off your phone before this time or adjust your phone settings to opt out.

👉 Full instructions telling you how to opt out are available at https://www.gov.uk/alerts/opting-out.

If domestic abuse is happening to you, it's important to tell someone and remember you are not alone.

COMPASS is the domestic abuse helpline for Ess*x, and you can call them on 0330 333 7 444 or visit ess*xcompass.org.uk.

❤️ We are here for you if you need to talk to someone in confidence.

*x

27/08/2025

Red flags in relationships aren’t always easy to spot…

Have you ever experienced :

🚩 Financial control or overspending that leaves you struggling
🚩 Intimidation – shouting, sulking, silent treatment, fear-based control
🚩 Manipulation – denial, minimising, excuses (drink, drugs, stress), guilt-tripping
🚩 Control over what you do, wear, say, or who you see
🚩 No real choices – and criticised for making your own
🚩 Attacks on your parenting, threats involving children
🚩 Destruction of your property or belongings
🚩 Harm to your pets
🚩 Pressure to have s*x or do things you’re uncomfortable with
🚩 Pressure to use drugs or alcohol
🚩 A complete lack of empathy or care for your feelings

These are not normal relationship problems, they are signs of control and abuse.

If any of this feels familiar, please don’t ignore it. You are not alone, and support is out there 💙.