Val Leveson - counselling and therapy

09/11/2025

Parents struggling with life challenges may lack the time and energy to respond to their child's feelings. This effectively trains the child to hide their feelings and themselves.

09/11/2025

The doorway to existential authenticity.

09/11/2025

Some young people feel emotions intensely — but struggle to recognise, label, or explain what those feelings are. When I first came across it in a young person I was supporting it was baffling - until through research I found alexithymia - and the young person went on to obtain a diagnosis.

This can look like “I don’t know”, shutting down, going quiet, or becoming overwhelmed very quickly.

This isn’t a lack of feelings.
It’s a difference in how the brain processes and understands internal emotional signals.

If you’re supporting a child or teen who finds it hard to express what’s going on inside, the Managing Big Feelings Toolkit can help with visual emotion check-ins, co-regulation strategies, and gentle language prompts. Link in comments below ⬇️ or via Linktree Shop in Bio.

08/11/2025

This is what gaslighting looks like.

It’s not always shouting, threats, or bruises. Sometimes it’s the slow erosion of your confidence, the way they twist your truth until you start to doubt it yourself.

Recognizing it is the first step toward freedom. Believing yourself is the second. ꩜♥︎ Ella

08/11/2025

08/11/2025

The not knowing can feel pretty horrible sometimes and sometimes when I’m anxious about something I remind myself, one step at a time. One foot in front of the other. And before you know it, you’re where you need to be. 💛

08/11/2025

The differences being rejected may actually be strengths.

08/11/2025

Healthy grieving requires accepting and feeling, but also managing your emotions. People who grew up in an emotionally neglectful family may especially struggle with those skills.

08/11/2025

DBT for Sleep.