Free Your Thoughts Therapy

05/11/2025

🌟 November is Men’s Health Awareness Month 🌟

This month, we shine a light on the importance of men’s health and wellbeing — whether it’s physical, mental or emotional.

Too often, men feel pressure to “tough it out” or stay silent when things get hard. But true strength isn’t about hiding pain — it’s about having the courage to speak up, reach out, and take care of yourself.

💬 Whether it’s talking about stress, relationships, anxiety, or just the ups and downs of everyday life, opening up can make a real difference.
🩺 Checking in with your doctor, getting regular health checks, and staying active are equally important for maintaining balance and wellbeing.
👬 And remember — connection matters. A chat with a mate, a walk, or time spent doing something you enjoy can all boost mental health.

Let’s break the stigma together and encourage men to look after their whole selves — mind, body, and heart.

If you or someone you know could use support, reaching out for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. You’re not alone. 💙

31/10/2025

I’m so happy to finally share this — my new counselling website is officially live! 🌟

Please take a moment to check it out here: www.freeyourthoughtstherapy.co.uk

Your feedback means so much — thank you for being part of this journey 💕

Explore compassionate counselling services to support your mental health journey.

31/10/2025

🎃 A Gentle Halloween Reminder 👻

Halloween can be a fun and festive time for many — filled with costumes, creativity, and community spirit. However, it’s important to remember that for some, this season can also bring up stress, anxiety, or difficult memories.

Scary imagery, loud noises, masks, or unexpected encounters can be triggering for individuals with past trauma, PTSD, or sensory sensitivities.

As we celebrate, let’s keep kindness and awareness at the heart of it all:
🕯️ Be mindful that not everyone enjoys surprises or scares.
💬 Check in with friends, family, and neighbors who may find this time challenging.
🎭 Choose costumes and decorations that are respectful and inclusive.
💜 Take care of yourself — it’s okay to skip events or set boundaries if you need to.

A little mindfulness goes a long way toward helping everyone feel safe and supported this Halloween.

If this time of year feels especially hard, remember — you’re not alone. Please contact me for support.

23/10/2025

🌱 Let’s Talk About Financial Abuse

Abuse isn’t always physical — sometimes, it’s financial. Financial abuse is a way of controlling someone by restricting their access to money, resources, or independence. It can happen in any kind of relationship — not just romantic ones.
It may occur between:
💔 Partners or spouses
🏠 Family members (such as parents, adult children, or siblings)
👥 Friends or caregivers
💼 Even in professional or care relationships where there’s a power imbalance

Financial abuse might look like:
💰 Taking or controlling someone’s money or bank cards
💳 Monitoring or restricting spending
🚫 Stopping someone from working or accessing their income
🧾 Hiding financial information or using someone’s money without consent

In counselling, we help people recognise these patterns, process the emotional impact, and rebuild confidence and independence. Healing involves both emotional and practical steps — and no one should have to go through it alone.

If this resonates with you or someone you care about, please reach out. Support is available, and recovery is possible. 💚

22/10/2025

💜 From a Counsellor’s Heart: Understanding a Survivor’s Journey

As a counsellor, I’ve had the honor of walking alongside survivors of domestic violence — people whose courage often shines even in the deepest pain. Many describe their healing journey as a mixture of emotions that can feel overwhelming and confusing.

A survivor may feel fear, even long after the abuse has ended — fear of being hurt again, of not being believed, or of starting over.
They may feel shame for something that was never their fault. Years of manipulation and control can make anyone doubt their worth.
They may feel guilt — for staying, for leaving, for what happened to their children, for what they “should have done differently.”
They may feel anger, sadness, or numbness — emotions that shift like waves, sometimes all in a single day.

But beneath the pain, there is also resilience. Healing may begin quietly — in small choices, in moments of safety, in the first breath of self-trust returning. Survivors are often far stronger than they realize.

To any survivor reading this: please know that your feelings are valid. You are not weak for struggling. You are not to blame for what happened. Healing doesn’t have a timeline — and you deserve compassion, safety, and peace as you move forward.

You are not alone. Healing is possible — and you are worthy of it. 💜

21/10/2025

‼️ Understanding Controlling Behaviour ‼️

Controlling behaviour is one of the most subtle yet damaging forms of abuse. It’s not always about physical violence — often, it begins with small actions that slowly take away a person’s independence, confidence, and sense of self.

A partner who exhibits controlling behaviour may:

• Constantly check where you are or who you’re with

• Isolate you from friends, family, or support systems

• Criticise or belittle you to make you doubt yourself

• Use guilt, fear, or intimidation to influence your decisions

• Wanting to know where you are at all times or checking your phone and social media

• Making decisions for you — what you wear, who you see, or how you spend your time

• Becoming angry or withdrawn if you disagree or say no

• Monitoring your finances, limiting your access to money, or questioning every purchase

• Using guilt or emotional manipulation to get their way (“If you loved me, you would…”)

• Dismissing your feelings or making you question your memory (“You’re overreacting,” or “That never happened”)

• Creating rules or “boundaries” that only serve to control your behaviour

What makes controlling behaviour especially painful is that you might not realise it’s happening. It can be disguised as love, care, or protection — “I just worry about you,” or “I’m only trying to help.” Over time, you may start to doubt yourself, feel guilty for wanting space, or believe you can’t make decisions without your partner’s approval.

During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we encourage everyone to learn the signs of controlling behaviour — in themselves, in their relationships, and in those around them. Awareness is the first step toward change and safety.

If you or someone you know feels controlled, afraid, or unsure in a relationship, please reach out. You are not alone. Help and healing are possible. 💜

17/10/2025

As a counsellor, I often meet people who don’t realize they’ve been living with emotional abuse.
It doesn’t always look like shouting or threats — sometimes it’s subtle: constant criticism, gaslighting, withholding affection, or making you feel like you’re “too sensitive.”

Emotional abuse slowly erodes your sense of self. It makes you doubt your worth and question your reality.
If this resonates with you, please know — it’s not your fault, and you’re not alone.
Healing begins the moment you recognize what’s happening and reach out for support. 💛

16/10/2025

Domestic Violence and Counselling 💔💬

Domestic violence isn’t just about physical harm — it’s about control, fear, and emotional pain that can leave deep scars long after the wounds heal. So many people suffer in silence, thinking it’s their fault or that things will get better if they just try harder. But it’s never your fault, and you don’t have to face it alone.

Counselling can be a powerful step toward healing. It’s a safe space to talk, to cry, to be heard — without judgment. It helps you rebuild your confidence, understand your worth, and find the strength to move forward. Sometimes, just having someone listen can make all the difference.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please reach out for help. There are people who care, who will listen, and who want to see you safe and free. 💜

You are not alone. You deserve peace, love, and respect. Always.

15/10/2025

💜 No one deserves to live in fear.

Domestic abuse isn’t just physical — it can be emotional, financial, sexual, or psychological. It happens behind closed doors, across every background, age, and gender.

If you’re experiencing abuse — or worried about someone who is — you’re not alone, and help is available 24/7.

📞 National Domestic Abuse Helpline (England): 0808 2000 247
📞 Scotland: 0800 027 1234
📞 Wales: 0808 80 10 800
📞 Northern Ireland: 0808 802 1414

If you’re in immediate danger, call 999.
If you can’t speak, press 55 when prompted — the Silent Solution.

💬 Reach out. Speak up. Support saves lives.

14/10/2025

Self-Worth and Counselling

Rejection can make us question our worth.
When someone turns away, or when life doesn’t go as we hoped, it can leave us wondering if we’re somehow not enough.

Counselling gives us space to explore those feelings — to understand where that doubt comes from and to gently begin healing it.

Through reflection and support, we can learn that rejection doesn’t define us.
Our worth isn’t something we have to earn or prove.

It’s been there all along — steady, quiet, and waiting to be seen. 🤍

13/10/2025

my name is Leigh and I’m a qualified integrative counsellor who offers 1:1 sessions online or over the phone. I understand how overwhelming it can be to make the decision to have counselling. I offer a safe, confidential space so that together, we can explore your problems and feelings and work through them together.
I specialise in Addiction and have experience in grief and loss, mental health and stress. I use many different modalities of counselling to ensure each session is tailored to the clients needs. I am DBS checked and fully insured.

If you need someone to listen to you in an empathetic way. please feel free to contact me through messenger, email- freeyourthoughtstherapy@gmail.com or ring/text/whatsapp me on 07359 187502

It’s ok not to be ok, please don’t suffer in silence. Get in touch today 😊

08/10/2025

🌿 Affordable Online & Telephone Counselling 🌿

I know how important it is to have someone to talk to — especially when life feels overwhelming. I offer online and telephone counselling to make support more accessible, flexible, and affordable for anyone who needs it.

Because I don’t have the extra costs of hiring a counselling room, I’m able to keep my fees low without compromising on care or quality. You can connect with me from the comfort of your own home, at a time that suits you on a Wednesday evening.

If you’ve been thinking about counselling but weren’t sure where to start, please feel free to get in touch. I’d be happy to have a friendly chat and answer any questions you might have.

💬 Message me here for more details or to book a session.

You don’t have to face things alone — support is just a conversation away. 🌱