Star Therapy

Star Therapy http://www.startherapy.org.uk
http://www.linkedin.com/in/starholistic This is my Star Therapy Wellbeing Blog.

Interesting information and insights connected to the world of counselling and psychotherapy. Clinical Reflexologist since 2001, Integrative Psychotherapist since 2017, my ongoing passion and learning is offering therapy to holistically heal the mind, body and soul.

Kintsugi is an ancient form of Japanese art used to carefully repair ceramics with a special gold-infused compound formi...
13/11/2025

Kintsugi is an ancient form of Japanese art used to carefully repair ceramics with a special gold-infused compound forming tiny gold lines which enhance it's beauty.

'Anthem' by Leonard Cohen has to do with human imperfection and the grace that flows from finding light in the darkness.

'How do we find healing in our brokenness? 
-We remember our closest ally - the calming presence of our breath.
-We bring awareness to our varying moods, seeking equanimity.
-We do our inner work, perhaps turning to a trusted friend or therapist.
-We seek community.
-We take refuge in the wise perspective of the law of impermanence.
-We realign with meaning in our lives.
- The gold in our lives is every healing step toward wholeness.'
- Olivia Ames Hoblitzelle - Aging with wisdom.

Kintsugi applies to psychotherapy as a metaphor for healing trauma, embracing imperfections and finding self-compassion. It reframes emotional wounds and 'cracks' not as defects to be hidden, but as integral parts of one's history that can be illuminated with strength and resilience, making the individual stronger and more beautiful. This approach emphasizes acknowledging, rather than concealing, past pain to facilitate growth and transformation 💚

Photo by stockcake.com - kintsugi art bowl.

The 'Butterfly Hug' is a self-soothing/regulation technique used to help manage anxiety. It involves the following steps...
16/03/2025

The 'Butterfly Hug' is a self-soothing/regulation technique used to help manage anxiety. It involves the following steps:

Wrap arms around yourself, with each hand placed on the opposite shoulder or arm.
Close eyes and stay focused.
Inhale and exhale slowly.
Tap your shoulders in a rhythm like a butterfly's wings in flight.

This technique, developed by Lucina Artigas, is a form of bilateral stimulation, which can help calm racing thoughts and promote emotional well-being. It can be used anytime, anywhere to reduce stress and promote a sense of calm. It helps activate the parasympathetic system, the calmer side of the nervous system.

Illustration reposted from Dahiana P. Grisales MCSW, LSW

Holding a safe non-judgemental space where we can feel comfortable and relaxed enough to explore and express any difficu...
19/02/2025

Holding a safe non-judgemental space where we can feel comfortable and relaxed enough to explore and express any difficult experiences, thoughts and feelings is the heart of therapy, providing the foundation for meaningful change, growth and healing 💚

Illustration reposted from

Life's waves don'’t go on and on, they peak then fall away - our challenge is to self-care while the wave passes. Therap...
08/02/2025

Life's waves don'’t go on and on, they peak then fall away - our challenge is to self-care while the wave passes. Therapy can encourage developing more helpful coping strategies whilst facing the waves.

Through practicing self-compassion and letting go of unrealistic expectations of perfection we can effectively make small and regular steps toward change.

'Embrace your emotions, soothe your soul, and let the tide of feelings flow. Therapy teaches us to ride the waves, not avoid them.' - Dr Julie

Art from@anxietypositive

We've made it through January, it's time for a fresh start and a new chapter in February 🔰Reposted from
31/01/2025

We've made it through January, it's time for a fresh start and a new chapter in February 🔰

Reposted from

For lots of people, Christmas is a time of joy. For others, it's a bit more complex than that. And for some people, they...
23/12/2024

For lots of people, Christmas is a time of joy. For others, it's a bit more complex than that. And for some people, they are masking a lot of stresses, sadness, trauma, loss, challenges, and pain.

What we see in people's behaviour is often far from the whole story. We might see someone smiling, but underneath, they are very worried about the credit card debt that has just had to grow to keep up with the Jones's. We might see excessive drinking to cope with challenging family dynamics. We might see avoiding family events because seeing others' new babies is a painful reminder of what they so desperately want. We might see people creating the perfect Christmas to try and deal with the pain of never feeling good enough. We might see anger, where there is grief.

We may never know what's underneath someone's behaviour, but we can remain curious in our heads. That doesn't mean we have to accept our own boundaries being violated. But perhaps it could lead to forgiveness and a calmer time all round.

Reposted from .clinical.psychologist

Though often seen as a time of joy and celebration, for those who are grieving and experiencing loss the Christmas holid...
04/12/2024

Though often seen as a time of joy and celebration, for those who are grieving and experiencing loss the Christmas holiday season can be an incredibly challenging and painful time. Your feelings of grief are valid, and there are ways to navigate this difficult journey with compassion and understanding.

Grief fluctuates with time and never fully disappears though somehow we learn to adapt to its presence. Grief is like glitter, it gets into the crevices of your mind and just about the time you believe you have cleaned it all up, you catch a glimpse of light that reveals a feeling that remains. Therapy provides a safe and supportive space in which painful feelings of loss can be expressed and witnessed 💛

Photo by Azim Islam.

This is a popular concept that I often use in therapy sessions. The capacity cup developed from a group run for people w...
27/11/2024

This is a popular concept that I often use in therapy sessions. The capacity cup developed from a group run for people with Brain injury to help manage stress and proactively manage capacity before it overflows, it’s grounded in psychological theory.

The cup represents our emotional capacity and we all have limited capacity. The capacity cup is designed to help proactively (and reactively) manage stress by understanding the signs our cup is getting full and at risk of overflowing, recognising the demands using up our capacity and managing our demands and capacity when we need to.

If your cup is getting full you can manage demands by reducing some if you can, asking for help or saying no.

We can increase our capacity by looking after our basic needs (sleep/ eat/ hydrate), speaking things through, identifying what’s filling our cup, focusing on those in your control, problem solving those you can and doing things to help you relax.

Stress has such a a significant impact on our wellbeing and health that it’s really important to notice how full your cup is and take proactive action to manage this when it’s all becoming a bit too much and at risk of spilling over 💛

Reposted from

Rest, my friends. Tomorrow is another day to do some good, have some fun, tell people you love them, help out a neighbou...
18/11/2024

Rest, my friends. Tomorrow is another day to do some good, have some fun, tell people you love them, help out a neighbour, eat some good food, sing off-key in the shower, and then settle in with a good book and a hot cup of coffee and relax. It’s gonna be great.💞 L.R.Knost.

Reposted from

🌍 World Mental Health Day | 10 October 2024Today, let’s focus on the connections that nurture our mental well-being. Fro...
10/10/2024

🌍 World Mental Health Day | 10 October 2024

Today, let’s focus on the connections that nurture our mental well-being. From time with loved ones to building a sense of community and even reconnecting with ourselves, these bonds play a crucial role in supporting mental health.

Meaningful connections can strengthen our resilience and happiness:

❤️ Loved ones – Shared moments and conversations with family and friends bring comfort and joy.

🤝 Community – Engaging with others in our community creates purpose and belonging.

🧘 Self-connection – Taking time to reflect, rest, and recharge is essential for balanced mental health.

👩‍⚕️ Therapy - Many studies show how important connection is in the therapeutic relationship.

This World Mental Health Day, let’s celebrate the power of connection. Remember, it all starts with reaching out. 💚

Reposted from

A reminder for your Friday 🤍✨Reposted from
04/10/2024

A reminder for your Friday 🤍✨

Reposted from

Today is and the theme for 2024-2026 is "Changing the Narrative on Su***de" with the call to action 'Start the Convers...
10/09/2024

Today is and the theme for 2024-2026 is "Changing the Narrative on Su***de" with the call to action 'Start the Conversation.' This theme aims to raise awareness about the importance of reducing stigma and encouraging open conversations to prevent suicides.

Having an open discussion in therapy around overwhelming emotions may feel extremely difficult to begin with, but evidence has shown initiating a non-judgemental dialogue is significant in getting the support needed. Silence only breeds stigma whilst being heard in a safe, supportive, non judgemental space can provide a much needed sense of relief for those in distress. You do not have to struggle with difficult feelings alone.

For immediate help with suicidal thoughts:

In an emergency, call: 999

NHS (England) call: 111

Samaritans: 116 123

Campaign against living miserably for men (5pm to midnight): 0800585858

Art reposted from

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Star Therapy

Clinical Reflexologist since 2002, Integrative Psychotherapist since 2017, my ongoing passion and learning is offering therapy to holistically heal the mind, body and soul.