Towan Therapies

15/02/2026

Writing this not only as a trauma therapist, but as a single parent preparing imminently to face another education tribunal. Life caught up with me whilst I was having a procrastinating afternoon today when I stumbled upon my youngest daughter’s school uniform that had been put away in a cupboard 3.5yrs ago when she became unable to continue attending school.

From the outside and to people who haven’t experienced one, tribunals are often framed as “just a legal process.” For many families — especially those navigating it alone — the experience can be far more than that.

I’ve already been through a previous tribunal that was genuinely traumatising. The games the local authorities play, the threats, intimidation, lies, delays, gaslighting, failure of the Loval authorities in upkeeping their legal responsibilities, the colossal wasting of public money. It’s endless and quite unbelievable!!
Not simply stressful or upsetting, but the kind of experience that leaves a lasting imprint. Walking towards another one while carrying that history is incredibly heavy - taking your body towards a traumatic environment and experience.

Alongside this, my child has now been out of school for 3.5 years — a reality that brings its own mix of grief, worry, exhaustion, and constant advocacy.

What makes this process so hard isn’t just the paperwork or procedures. It’s the emotional toll of having your child’s needs debated. Of having to condense years of lived experience into “evidence.” Of revisiting some of the most painful parts of your child’s story and presenting them in a formal, adversarial setting. I do this all the time in my professional career for other families and am often called to ironically be an expert witness but the emotional toll of your own child’s experiences are a lot to carry.

Doing this as a single parent adds another layer that’s rarely acknowledged. There is no one to share the mental load, the decision fatigue, the sleepless nights, or the emotional strain. You carry it all — the preparation, the fear, the responsibility — while still trying to be a steady, safe presence for your child.

If you are a parent going through this — especially on your own — and you’re finding it overwhelming, your reactions are understandable. These processes are not emotionally neutral. They touch on our deepest protective instincts, our sense of safety, and our hopes for our children.

And for those who have never had to navigate this world: please remember that behind every case is a family, often stretched to its limits, trying to do the best they can in incredibly difficult circumstances.

To any other parents in this fight — you are not weak for finding this hard.

15/02/2026

Valentine’s Day can be beautiful, but for many couples the day after often brings unexpected tension, distance, or disappointment. This isn’t a relationship failure — it’s actually a very common psychological pattern.

Deep romantic love doesn’t just create connection. It also activates our attachment system — the same emotional wiring formed in early life. When a relationship becomes emotionally significant, old, unresolved experiences can resurface. Not because anything is “wrong,” but because intimacy naturally exposes vulnerable parts of us.

A close partner becomes more than a companion; they become a mirror. They can unknowingly touch places shaped by past hurt, abandonment, rejection, inconsistency, or unmet needs. This can show up as:

• Feeling unusually sensitive or reactive
• Conflict that seems disproportionate to the trigger
• Withdrawal, shutdown, or defensiveness
• A sense of “Why am I feeling this strongly?”

What’s happening is not simply disagreement — it’s often protective responses tied to earlier emotional learning. The nervous system interprets relational moments through the lens of past experiences.

Healthy relationships don’t avoid these activations. They create opportunities to understand them.

When couples learn to recognize these patterns, conflict becomes less about blame and more about curiosity:

“What is this reaction protecting?”
“What old story might be getting stirred up?”
“How can we respond with safety instead of fear?”

Love is powerful precisely because it reaches deep emotional layers. Growth in relationships frequently involves working through, not around, these moments.

If the day after Valentine’s Day feels heavier than expected, it may not be about the holiday at all. It may be your attachment system asking for awareness, reassurance, and repair — which are core ingredients of lasting intimacy.

Connection is not built by perfection. It’s built by understanding. These are common themes that we can explore during couples counselling sessions to gain greater understanding and support repair and growth.

14/02/2026

Valentine’s Day isn’t only about romantic love.

It’s also about the quiet, resilient love that kept you going —

The love you chose when things felt heavy, The friends who are always there; even when life is busy and time together is sometimes limited
The love you gave yourself when support was scarce.
The love that held you in difficult seasons
and showed you how to remain open without losing your strength.

If you’re sharing today with someone, may your connection feel genuine and secure.

If you’re on your own, remember: your life is not on pause — you are still growing and unfolding and are surrounded by love.

Some forms of love arrive through others.
Some through self love and healing.
Some through the boundaries that protect your peace.
Each one leaves its mark.

You do not need a Valentine to be deserving of deep, steady love. 💖🥰

08/02/2026

🐾 The Power of a Therapy Dog in Counselling 🐾

A calm, therapy dog can help clients feel safer, more relaxed, and more open to sharing. Their gentle, non-judgmental presence can reduce anxiety, support emotional regulation, and make counselling feel less intimidating—especially for clients with anxiety, children and trauma survivors.

Therapy dogs can also:
✨ Strengthen the therapeutic connection
✨ Support mindfulness and grounding
✨ Encourage emotional expression
✨ Increase engagement and comfort in sessions

Therapy dogs can be a beautiful addition to the counselling space—supporting healing, connection, and wellbeing. I love watching my two at work and the difference they make🐶💬

We are looking forward to later this year being able to offer equine therapy sessions 🐴 🐎

08/02/2026

07/02/2026

Love this explanation of a regulated nervous system 🥰

26/01/2026

As a therapist, I often remind people that self-love and self-care are not luxuries—especially when you are entering a traumatic season or environment. They are protective factors. Since my return to work after Christmas break I have been headed into my daughters second education tribunal with an imminent date looming…..

When you know you’re heading into something emotionally heavy, your nervous system is already preparing for impact; especially if you have previous experience and related trauma. This is not weakness; it is biology. During these times, being kind to yourself is not avoidance or selfishness—it is regulation, resilience, and survival.

Self-love may look quieter than we expect. It might be:
• Lowering expectations
• Resting without guilt
• Setting firmer boundaries
• Allowing emotions without judgment
• Asking for support sooner, not later
•Finding little pockets of joy and happiness
•Buying the flowers or favourite foods
•Spending time with loved ones or in places that regulate us

Self-care is not about fixing what’s coming. It’s about anchoring yourself so the experience does not consume your sense of self. You are allowed to slow down. You are allowed to protect your energy. You are allowed to respond with compassion instead of criticism.

If you are walking into a traumatic space, remember this:
You do not need to be stronger.
You need to be gentler.

Kindness toward yourself now is what helps you endure—and eventually heal—what comes next.

21/01/2026

Feeling very thankful for having this on my doorstep as one of my daily regulation activities 🐶 🌊

20/01/2026

When people hear the word unsafe, they often think of physical danger. But your nervous system has a much broader definition.

It’s not just looking for threats. It’s looking for loss of safety. And safety, to your nervous system, is about predictability, connection, and control.

These signals often show up before you’re aware you’re triggered.

If you can notice which of these feels most activating for you, you can begin to understand your reactions without blaming yourself.

Your nervous system is responding to learned patterns from old events.

When you begin to recognize what unsafe means to your system, you will be able to create space to respond instead of react.

And that awareness is where regulation and healing begin.

18/01/2026

Hi I’m Ross Jackson-Hicks, a passionate advocate for male mental health, a firm believer in early intervention, and someone deeply committed to supporting teenage boys before life takes them too far off course.

I am very happy and excited to announce the launch of SOON TO BE MEN. A newly developed project aimed at supporting teenage boys.

A six week mentorship program which is aimed towards reshaping our young men for a brighter future through mentorship, skill development and leadership.

Soon to be men will offer the young men of Cornwall an opportunity to become the person they deserve to be.

A safe space for them to connect , develop, share and grow.

This six week program will be specifically for teenage boys aged 13-16 who👇🏻

* Need extra support or encouragement
* Might be struggling socially, emotionally, or academically
* Lack confidence and resilience
* Finding life challenging and have lost their sense of belonging.

I will be working alongside parents, teachers and school staff to ensure the right boys can access this program as early intervention is key.

Over the six weeks we aim to 👇🏻

* Help boys improve their self-esteem and social skills.
* Support their mental health and wellbeing.
* Encourage better behaviour and school performance.
* Give them access to positive male role models.

If you would like to know more about how soon to be men can support your school then please get in touch.

Let’s make change happen, together 🤝

https://soontobemen.com/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio

11/01/2026

Weekend Wintering

If you’ve made it through the first full week back to routine -
work, school, emails, timetables, responsibilities -
I just want to say this:

That was a lot.

Transitions are not small things for the nervous system.
Moving from rest to structure, from quiet to demand, from home rhythms to social rhythms - it all requires energy, regulation, and internal adjustment.

For autistic and neurodivergent nervous systems especially, this kind of shift can feel like going from winter straight into early spring with no gentle thaw.

So if you’re tired.
If you’re foggy.
If your body feels heavy, wired, flat, or frayed.

That makes sense.

This is Somatic Wintering too -
noticing the cost of transition and offering yourself a little more care than usual.

Maybe that looks like:
🔹an earlier night
🔹softer food
🔹fewer conversations
🔹more warmth
🔹quieter evenings
🔹permission to do less this weekend

You don’t need to “bounce back”.
You don’t need to catch up.

You just need to arrive - in your own body, at your own pace.

And if you’re reading this while holding a nervous system that’s still finding its feet after the break, you’re not alone.💜

🪷 Karuna Therapeutic Services — somatic, neuroaffirming therapy for late-identified autistic adults