Diane Jones Counselling

05/04/2026

One of our strong childhood rituals was celebrating Easter, in all its forms… religious reasons, family gatherings, chocolate, and hot cross buns. Although I don’t hold those feelings as strongly now, there is still a warmth and meaning about this time of year for me.

Today on Easter Sunday, it felt nice to have an easier start and whilst enjoying this start to the day, it struck me just how different we all are, and actually how okay that is.

In my counselling room, I often hear people compare themselves to others…
🦋 “Everyone else seems to have it together”
🦋 “They’re doing so much better than me.”
🦋 “I should be like them.”
But the truth is, there is no one way to ‘do’ life. Some people are up early, full of energy, ticking off their lists…
Others need rest, quiet, and a gentler pace.
Neither is right. Neither is wrong.

This Easter weekend, you may need to hear this invitation to..…
✨To meet yourself where you are
✨To honour your own rhythm
✨To let go of the “shoulds” and lean into what feels right for you.
We don’t need to fix differences but maybe to understand, accept, and even celebrate

Wishing you a peaceful Easter, whatever it looks like for you 🤍🦋

04/04/2026

Bank holiday weekends often feel a little softer here in my little corner of the world…. a chance to pause, notice and reflect.

I know I have always been quite in tune with the energy given off by others, but for a long time I felt I had no control over it.
Over time, I’ve learnt that I can play a role. I can become more aware of the people around me, how I feel in their presence, what I give, and what I receive.
If I’m honest, there have been times I’ve had to gently step back, shift boundaries, and choose differently. Not from a place of blame, but from a place of self-respect and growth.

As a counsellor, I see how much our wellbeing is often shaped by the relationships we keep.
It’s not about having perfect relationships…
For me, it’s about feeling seen, heard, and respected for who you are and what you need.

Today might be a gentle moment to ask yourself:
🦋 Who in my life makes me feel safe to be me?
🦋 Where do I feel I have to shrink or overgive?
🦋 What do I need more of in my connections?

No judgement, just awareness.
And if something is shifting for you right now, you’re not alone. Sometimes change begins with simply noticing.

Take care of your energy today 🦋

31/03/2026

Recording myself and putting videos out there is still a real stretch for me.
There is a part of me, my inner child, that still gets loud…
telling me not to do it, worrying that someone might criticise me and I will feel crushed.
And if I’m honest, that feeling doesn’t just disappear.

But I keep gently moving through it
because what I’m sharing feels important.
And it might help someone out there feel a little less alone.

So this is me, showing up anyway and this video is about something small, but meaningful…
how I make space for tears in the counselling room 🦋

I have recognised there is something I don’t ever do in the counselling room.So I thought I’d share as it might help you the next time a friend, colleague, o...

29/03/2026

Sundays allways feel a little different for me…
As you know, I absolutely love the work I do. Sitting with people, holding space, walking alongside them through some of life’s most difficult moments is a privilege I never take for granted.
But my Sundays are always about something else. Even if busy, Sundays for me seem slower and gentler. Today I’ve managed a 5 mile walk, surrounded by nature, which gave me space to breathe and recharge. I’ve replanted some vegetable seeds because the courgettes have flown up with this sunshine (there is something very grounding about getting my hands in the soil 🌱), and now I’m about to enjoy a good old roast dinner.

As a counsellor, I often talk about the importance of balance and Sundays are my reminder to live that too. To pause
To reset
To nurture myself in the same way I encourage others to.

However you are spending your Sunday, I hope you find a moment for yourself today 🤍🦋

28/03/2026

Saturday morning, I’m playing with my phone and interested to know your thoughts on AI/ChatGPT?
I’ve been having a little explore and, if I’m honest, I’m a bit blown away by this lovely image; was created from just a normal photo of me and I have to say, it made me smile 😊

I know there’s quite a bit of hesitation around AI in the counselling world, and I completely understand that. New things can feel unsettling, especially in a profession that’s built on human connection.
But it also got me reflecting…

How often do we resist something new at first, simply because it feels unfamiliar?
I can so clearly remember saying, “I am never having one of those mobile phones… carrying it around and being tracked everywhere I go!” 😂🙊
And now… well, that statement didn’t quite last!

Sometimes growth asks us to stay curious rather than certain.
For me, nothing will ever replace real human connection, empathy, and presence but I do think there’s space to explore, learn, and stay open without losing what truly matters.

I’d genuinely love to hear your thoughts….
are you curious, cautious, excited or actually a bit of everything 🦋

26/03/2026

This is my favourite view each morning at this time of the year 🌸
There’s something about these soft pink magnolia blossoms against the clear blue sky that encourages me to pause, breathe, and just be for a moment before the day begins.

In counselling, we often talk about how important it is to create small spaces of calm in our lives. It really doesn’t have to be grand changes but just tiny moments where we allow ourselves to slow down and reconnect.

I have always been so drawn to nature as it has a beautiful way of reminding us that growing doesn’t rush.
Change happens quietly.
And even after the harshest seasons/challenges something new can bloom.

If your mornings feel busy or heavy right now, I wonder…
What’s one small thing you could pause and notice today?

24/03/2026

What does it mean to truly walk alongside someone on their journey?

This week, a client I’ve been working with for over a year gave me a beautiful gift. Not because our work has ended… but simply to mark the journey we’ve shared so far.
It honestly stopped me in my tracks, because moments like this aren’t about the gift itself… they are about something much deeper for me.

They remind me of the quiet, powerful privilege it is to sit with someone in their vulnerability and to witness their pain, their growth, their courage… but also to hold a space where they feel safe enough to be truly seen.

It is often suggested that counsellors “fix” people but actually…..
We walk beside them.
We listen.
We gently explore.
And we trust in their capacity to find their own way.
I feel deeply grateful for every client who allows me into their world 🙏 It is truly a privilege that I will never take for granted 🤍 🦋

16/03/2026

Continuing to grow as a counsellor is something that feels deeply important to me 🤍
So this month Ive completed further training in “Trauma and the Body.”
As counsellors, I feel we never really stop learning……
Every course, every book, every piece of training deepens my understanding of the human experience and helps me support clients in more meaningful ways.

In my personal experience and client work, I know that trauma doesn’t only live in our thoughts and memories but it can also lives in the body. Learning more about how this shows up, and how we can gently work with it, feels incredibly valuable.

If you are on your own healing journey, please know that growth doesn’t have to be rushed. It unfolds step by step, layer by layer, often in ways we don’t expect.
A huge thank you to everyone who trusts me to walk alongside them in their journey……It is a privilege I never take for granted 🙏🦋

14/03/2026

I’m finally starting to feel lighter again… healthier… and even singing along to my fav songs in the car.

How about you?

I can now own that over the years I’ve noticed something about myself, and many of my counselling clients share this too…..
January and February can feel like heavier months.
The shorter days, the darker mornings… everything can feel just that little bit harder.

What I’ve also become more aware of is how I used to speak to myself during those times.
I used to push myself through it, almost bullying myself to “pull it together.”
But actually, that was exhausting.

Now I try to speak to myself with much more compassion. I gently encourage myself to keep moving forward, but I also allow myself to rest when I need to.

And then I notice that small things…
The snowdrops appear, the daffodils and
a little more sunshine.
And somehow those small signs of spring begin to lift something inside me, and I find I’m slowly on my way back to that easier, lighter feeling.

If winter feels heavy for you too, you’re certainly not alone. Be gentle with yourself. 🌼

12/03/2026

This definitely used to be me and Ive noticed it showing up in my counselling room…..
A need to be constantly working or being busy and alongside is a guilt that creeps in the moment we slow down, sit still, or take time for ourselves.
Those thoughts that rest is laziness.
Or stopping for a moment means we’re failing somehow.

I recognise (and can slip back into)I used to live…..
Always doing
Always pushing
Always feeling like there was “more” I SHOULD be doing.

It wasn’t always easy and I can fall back at times but what I changed was an understanding that I am allowed to work hard at times AND also recognise myself & my needs.
I can show up for others without abandoning me.

Taking time out at my favourite little Secret Spa reminded me that rest isn’t a reward but it’s a responsibility…..
To our nervous system
To our health
To the parts of us that carry everyone else
So if guilt shows up when you take time out, maybe that’s not a sign to stop resting but a sign that you need it most ✨

Have you noticed what comes up for you when you slow down or want to take time out for yourself 🦋

09/03/2026

I have noticed that many clients feel a nervousness about their first counselling session; what to expect, what they should bring to talk about.
I felt this pressure when I first went to counselling and let’s face it, we are meeting a complete stranger to talk about things we often keep to ourselves.
I believe there is no right or wrong thing to bring to counselling, you don’t need to prepare perfectly, have the “right” words, or arrive with everything figured out.

Counselling is a space where you can simply show up as you are….. whether that’s with questions, confusion, emotions, or even uncertainty.

If you’re feeling anxious about starting counselling, or wondering whether you’re “doing it right”, know that you are welcome exactly as you are 🦋