You may look at your life and see that nothing is obviously wrong. Yet inside, something feels unsettled. As winter turns to spring, this sense of feeling stuck can become more noticeable. This article explores why life transitions often feel like an in between phase, and why uncertainty does not mean you are failing.

January is often when relationships quietly unravel after the intensity of Christmas. When routines return and emotional strain surfaces, many couples are left facing difficult truths about what no longer fits.

New Year’s Eve can feel tender when life has changed. While others celebrate new beginnings, you may be carrying grief, uncertainty or transition. This reflection explores why New Year does not always feel new, and how to move gently into January when the future feels uncertain.

Christmas often brings our deeper emotions to the surface, especially when life has changed. Whether you are living with loss, childlessness, separation, illness or retirement, this season can feel unexpectedly tender. This reflection explores the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future, and why this time of year can stir emotions we rarely talk about.

December can feel tender when you are navigating life transitions, loss or unexpected change. As the season slows and the world grows quieter, the emotions you have been carrying often rise closer to the surface. This blog explores why winter can feel so heavy inside, and how to support yourself with compassion.

A dandelion against a pink and blue sky, evoking reflection, hope and wistful grief. Introduction Longing is a quiet ache that can live beneath many forms of loss. It is the part of grief that imagines what might have been, that reaches for a future that never arrived, or a past that feels too far away to touch. Unlike sadness, which has shape and expression, longing can feel endless - a feeling without closure. It can visit you in quiet moments, in dreams, in the small pause

A rainbow arc representing the Rainbow Bridge and the love that endures beyond loss. Introduction Over the last few years, I’ve lost both of my cats. They were brother and sister, curious and gentle in their own ways, and both were sadly killed in separate road accidents. I had brought them home during a challenging chapter of my life, and they became my quiet companions through change and uncertainty. Losing them felt like losing part of my everyday rhythm. Even now, small t

Introduction I first came across the term liminal spaces a few years ago through a friend. At the time, I wasn’t quite sure what it meant, but it stayed with me. It was one of those phrases that felt both strange and familiar, as though I had been living it without having a name for it. When I later began reading more, I realised how much the concept resonated with the work I do in counselling - and how often people find themselves caught in the middle of these in-between pla

Introduction In my previous career in regulatory compliance, I became familiar with something called the regulatory sandbox. The regulator created this as a safe and controlled environment where businesses could test new ideas, products, and approaches without the usual risks of launching them straight into the real world. It was a place designed for experimentation - for trying things out, seeing what worked, and learning from what didn’t, all without the high stakes of imme

Introduction When life takes an unexpected turn, our first response is often to focus on what has been lost. It might be a job that ended, a relationship that changed, or a version of the future that no longer feels possible. These losses are real and deserve to be grieved. But something else often happens too. Something quieter. Beneath the pain, there can be a slow and subtle shift. An invitation, not always welcome at first, to start reassessing who we are and how we want

“Hope can be just as devastating as despair” It’s a line from a book I’m currently reading - Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney, which I’d happily recommend if you’re looking for a gripping read. But this particular sentence stopped me in my tracks. It’s not something we often hear, is it? That hope can hurt. That something usually seen as positive, even necessary, can carry its own kind of pain. But as I sat with those words, I felt a deep sense of knowing in my body, as if they

Introduction: Why Feeling Stuck Might Not Mean What You Think In my last blog, I wrote about how I’d been feeling stuck, navigating my own wintering. I had been hibernating, bear-like, through the winter. It sounds cosy, but the reality was different. Life still carried on. Responsibilities didn’t pause. The world expected me to keep up. But I also wrote about a sense of reawakening as spring approached. That sounds dramatic, doesn’t it? As if one day everything was frozen an

Why Winter Can Leave You Feeling Stuck It’s coming up to 100 days since my last blog was published. That number has been sitting with me, lingering in the back of my mind. I have felt the weight of it, the quiet pressure to write, to create, to produce. But my creative energy has been in hibernation, burrowed deep for the long, cold winter. And if I am being honest, it is not just my creativity that froze. I, too, have been wintering. Moving slowly, feeling the heaviness of t

Introduction We’re told Christmas is the “Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” It’s a season of joy, merriment, and goodwill—filled with loved ones coming together and celebrations under the mistletoe. The world seems to glow beneath the twinkle of festive lights. But is it really all magical and luminous? For some, Christmas is a bleak time of loneliness and sadness, leaving us feeling disconnected. The societal pressure to be happy, content, and together can feel overwhelming

Introduction Navigating life transitions - whether it's the end of a relationship, a career shift, or a journey of childlessness - can be profoundly challenging. These moments bring unique forms of grief that are often overlooked, yet they offer a powerful opportunity for transformation. Self-care, in this context, goes beyond pampering or simple relaxation. It becomes a vital practice to help you reconnect with your values, reimagine your identity, and build resilience. Toda

Introduction: The Challenge of Putting Yourself First In my last blog, I wrote about the importance of taking breaks as a counsellor, why I do it, and the benefits it has on my work with clients. But it got me thinking about how often I see clients struggle with putting their own needs first - or even putting them in the mix at all. Many people feel like taking time for themselves is a luxury they can’t afford. Have you ever felt guilty for taking a break? Self-care is import

Introduction: Nature as a Mirror for Life’s Journey When I was setting up my private practice, I spent a lot of time crafting the look and feel of my branding. It wasn’t just a creative exercise; I wanted something that carried deeper meaning. Eventually, I settled on the theme of Autumn, a season I’ve always viewed as a powerful metaphor for loss and change. It beautifully resonated not only with what I had witnessed in my clients’ journeys but also with my own life experien

This blog expands on an excerpt from my article, ‘Lost in Transition: Coping with Life’s Big Changes,’ originally published by Counselling Directory. You can find the full article here. Introduction In my previous blog, I explained the nature of life transitions and the association of grief, particularly disenfranchised grief – a significant loss that is not openly acknowledged, socially validated, or publicly mourned. In this blog, I explore coping strategies to help you mov

This blog expands on an excerpt from my article, ‘Lost in Transition: Coping with Life’s Big Changes,’ originally published by Counselling Directory. You can find the full article here . Introduction We’re constantly told that life is a rollercoaster full of ups and downs, twists and turns, suggesting a fast-paced and thrilling ride with constant motion. But what happens when the rollercoaster carriage grinds to a halt? When the track ahead diverts towards an unexpected d

Introduction to Loneliness Loneliness. It's a word that carries weight, conjuring images of solitude and isolation. But what exactly is loneliness, and how does it differ from simply being alone? At its core, loneliness is a profound sense of disconnection, a feeling of being emotionally or socially isolated, even when surrounded by others. It's important to distinguish loneliness from solitude; while solitude can be a choice and even a source of rejuvenation, loneliness is