LifeBack Counselling

31/01/2018

Instead of making New Year's resolutions, my wish for you and for myself this year is to make some glorious, beautiful mistakes 🙌🏽

Because it is when we make mistakes that we learn, grow and LIVE. So don’t feel the pressure to be perfect or struggle under fear this year, but embrace your mistakes and all the learnings and life lessons they bring… have a beautiful 2018 everyone! ✨

17/12/2017

It's one week until Christmas! 🎅🎄🎁 ...for many of us this will mean the rush of purchasing and wrapping presents, making travel plans and preparing for Christmas festivities, events and meal plans. All great things! But potentially overwhelming 😓
It can be helpful to take a moment to consider the gift of gratitude this Christmas/holiday period. As we take the time to be grateful for the experiences we have, the sights we see, the precious moments we have with friends/family, it allows us to be more present in these snippets of time. To truly appreciate them. The rush doesn't need to take over....
Wishing you a very peaceful Christmas and joy-filled, restful holidays! ✌️😄❤️

23/11/2017

As we embark on shopping madness, busy malls and all the chaos that comes with Christmas time, it’s important to stop and reflect on what really matters to YOU. Do you love the Christmas rush and buying lots of presents for people? Or if you’re honest with yourself, do you find it kinda draining? 😣

⭐️ A big trend at the moment is the minimalist movement… pondering on this, how could you be intentional about giving meaningful presents that don’t end up as clutter and junk in someone’s home? Try buying experiences for people - movie vouchers, a voucher to help someone with renovations or a dinner out at a nice restaurant, or if you’re crafty - make something or if baking is more your thing, get in the kitchen and make Christmas themed treats for the ones you love. Whatever you do, be encouraged to avoid the pressure and be true to you and what you love about Christmas this year ❤️ 💛 💚

31/10/2017

Sometimes it feels like our whole lives are on display for pretty harsh judgement, especially in this world of social media! But when you stop and take the spotlight off yourself, relax and unwind, confident in your true self, that’s where you find contentment 😌

👉 Here's a practical way to practice this idea... instead of hosting a dinner party where you feel the pressure to perform - try a “Crappy Dinner Party” instead: http://www.thekitchn.com/5-rules-for-hosting-a-crappy-dinner-party-235815

21/09/2017

I don’t know about you, but winter in my house has been rough! We are undergoing major renovations to our home, whilst trying to function as a family in all the chaos plus we’ve had a heavy dose of sickness thrown in the mix just for fun...

But as winter can seem bleak, unpromising and difficult on a multitude of fronts, spring on the other hand holds promise of fun, opportunity and new hope.

My internal spring happens when I get the 'I love you Mum’ cards, after I've been agonising over the limited time and energy I’ve had to give. Spring is perspective, knowing that this hard season is coming to an end soon with the bonus of enjoying the fruits of our labour, it's the knowledge that this hard work has grown me in ways I otherwise would not have.

Here's to your spring! Celebrate the learnings through the tough winter months and enjoy the rewards at the end of it all!

28/08/2017

In our busy lives and in this crazy world, it's easy to feel like we don't "measure up". We can feel like our efforts always come short and can sense other peoples disappointment all too keenly. Take a break from this draining inner dialogue...

Let the words in this image sit with you today. You are enough and you're doing your best. You ARE worthy. 💜

27/08/2017

Thank you all for your support through liking and visiting my FB page and website. I LOVE what I do, the amazing people I am privileged to work with, and witnessing the beauty so evident in lives. When things are tough, sometimes we just need a little help to see it.

Counselling services to get your life back - whether anxiety, depression, grief, loss of identity or any number of issues are holding you back.

24/08/2017

So important for people to understand what the signs of a healthy vs unhealthy relationship are AND that there is help out there. 👍

09/08/2017

"Ladies 🙋 you don't want to miss this competition!
Trish is an amazing massage therapist, and I can highly recommend her tailored methods to attend to your needs, whether it’s rejuvenation, relaxation or healing - this is a great way to be kind to ourselves and enjoy some well deserved time out! 💆💖
Follow the entry details in this post and good luck to everyone who enters 🙌
Remember: almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes. Including you."

✨WIN ✨
👉 Enter to win an amazing 1-hour massage, including a half hour wellness consultation with the talented Trish Bartlett of Wellbeing Massage.
To celebrate the launch of our client LifeBack Counselling's new website and social media set up, we are joining forces to give away this awesome prize...
👉 Simply like this post, follow both ChatterBox and LifeBack Counselling on Facebook, and tell us who you know that would also love a relaxing massage (based on Auckland's North Shore).
Competition closes 31.8.17 and is in no way associated with Facebook. This massage voucher is for women over the age of 18 and expires 31.1.18.

08/08/2017

Last week I attended a seminar on Grief with guest speaker John Winslade - a narrative therapist, lecturer and academic that has greatly influenced my counselling practice.
My best takeaway 🛒:
Live life REMEMBERING the life, relationship, and interactions with the passed person rather than 'letting go' in order to live in the here and now.
A personal example: When I consider a dear friend who recently died, I am aware of the gifts his life gave me and continues to give....Embracing others wholeheartedly, without holding back and, Having a full , 'hold your belly' laugh 🤣 when the opportunity presents. I don't need to maintain a cool, "in control" demeanour. His life teaches me these things.
Thanks Derek💝

31/07/2017

For all the parents out there feeling like they're not cutting it, Marshall Rosenberg is a guru on communication and I love this from his book 'Raising Children Compassionately' 👇

"Hell is having children and thinking there's such a thing as a good parent. If every time we're less than perfect, we're going to blame ourselves and attack ourselves, our children are not going to benefit from that. So the goal I would suggest is not to be perfect parents, it's to become progressively smarter parents - by learning from each time that we're not able to give our children the quality of understanding that they need..."

This stood out to me as it turns our perceived "failure" as a parent into an opportunity for deeper relationship with our children. I am constantly surprised by how gracious my girls are with a simple apology and then a cuddle and talk through the situation once I've calmed down.

Here's to being a smarter and 'kinder to myself' parent! 🤗