Welcome to the Westmeria Counselling blog, where our counsellors and expert contributors share valuable insights about the challenges that matter most, from managing anxiety to coping with loss.
Each month, we publish thoughtful articles designed to offer guidance and practical tools for emotional well-being. Whether you’re currently in counselling or looking for ways to support your mental health, we hope you find these blogs helpful and reassuring.
Westmeria Counselling Services Hosts First Mental Health Summit, Turning Insight & Learning into Impact
One-day CPD conference in Bromley features leading clinical experts examining trauma, perinatal anxiety, addiction, single-session therapy, and survivor-led care. Westmeria Counselling Services will host its inaugural Mental Health Summit on Saturday, 10th October...
Knitting Through Grief
Finding Peace in the Rhythm of My Needles By Kelly C In 2024, my life changed in ways that I could never have imagined. My younger brother died suddenly at just 48, and only eight weeks after his funeral, I lost my dad. Losing two of the most important men in my life...
A Check-In as Summer Winds Down
August has a funny way of sneaking up on you. The evenings are still light, the holidays might not be over yet, but there's usually a small shift somewhere in the back of your mind — school runs starting again, routines returning, that sense of "back to normal"...
Our First Half of the Year: What 200 Referrals Tell Us
We've just sat down and gone through our numbers for the first half of the year — and while every statistic represents real people taking a real step, one figure stood out to us more than the rest. The headline number Between January and June, 200 new people reached...
What Lies Within
Modern life can leave us feeling emotionally, physically and mentally overwhelmed. Through necessity, we learn to skilfully juggle our careers and family life whilst struggling to find a balance between the two. By and large, this was me, some twenty-five years ago,...
Breaking down the barriers for men around counselling – Oli’s story
At Westmeria Counselling Services, we know that reaching out for support can be one of the hardest steps a person takes. For many men, long-standing attitudes around masculinity, vulnerability and mental health can make that step feel even more difficult. In this...
Welcoming Phil Greenaway as Our Second Men’s Mental Health Ambassador
We're delighted to announce our second Ambassador, Phil Greenaway, building on the momentum of January's announcement of our founding Ambassador, Francis Duku. The appointment continues our drive to support men's mental health. Our team supports up to 500 clients each...
The Urge to Fix: What Illness Taught Me About Validation
I met a friend for coffee recently. As we chatted about our lives and families, my friend shared some parenting frustrations. Eager to help, I suggested various techniques and strategies to help manage her unruly primary school children’s behaviour. We then shared a...
Finding my way to the counselling room – Richard’s story
An honest and deeply personal reflection on masculinity, mental health, and counselling, exploring why so many men struggle silently and what finally helps them seek support.
Understanding Loneliness: When Withdrawing Feels Easier
Loneliness isn’t always about being physically alone. For many people, it develops more quietly, often alongside low mood, stress, or depression. During Loneliness Awareness Week (15–21 June), the conversation often focuses on reaching out or staying connected. While...
Joining forces with Bromley Food Bank
At Westmeria Counselling, we know that life's challenges rarely arrive one at a time. Financial hardship is often accompanied by stress, anxiety, grief, ill health, relationship difficulties, or the emotional impact of unexpected life events. That's why we're...
Which Path to Take? By Julia W.
One of my passions is architecture. I also love walking, which I use intentionally as a form of self-care and improving my mental health. The impressive footpath network across the UK is not only one of our greatest resources and attractions, it is also largely free...
Men and Counselling: Why Don’t More Men Reach Out?
Despite growing awareness around mental health, men remain significantly less likely to access counselling and psychological support. Research consistently shows that men are more likely to delay seeking help, often only reaching out when difficulties have reached a...
Steve Giles – a Counsellor’s Story
Sometimes the most powerful thing a person can do is ask for help and then, one day, offer it to someone else. Steve knows that journey better than most. After years of living with undiagnosed depression, navigating the breakdown of a marriage, the loss of a close...
What is CBT and how can it help?
You might not see the pattern right away. You get a thought, like "I can't handle this" or "I'm going to mess it up." That thought makes you feel something, like stress, anxiety, or sadness. After that, you start acting differently without even realising it. You might...
One Year On: How Our Bromley Site Is Changing Lives
A year ago, we took a leap of faith. We opened the doors to our new Bromley site with a simple but powerful belief: that more people in our community deserved access to quality counselling support. Twelve months later, we can say with real confidence that it was the...
Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week: Together in a Changing World
A Story Many Mothers Share When Sarah became a mother, everything around her changed—but no one really spoke about how deeply it could affect her. She had prepared for the practical side of motherhood: the sleepless nights, the feeding schedules, the constant demands....
Preventing Burn Out
As a counsellor, I have quickly discovered my role isn’t confined just to the counselling room or contained into ‘my working hours’. It follows me into my training days, my supervision sessions, and into my everyday life. I imagine this is the same for many different...
Small daily habits that protect your mental wellbeing
Stress has become a common part of modern life. Work pressures, financial concerns, family responsibilities and constant digital connectivity can leave many people feeling overwhelmed. During Stress Awareness Month, it’s a good opportunity to reflect on how we manage...
The Quiet Stuff Men Don’t Talk About (But Should)
The Quiet Stuff Men Don’t Talk About (But Should) I’ve been thinking lately about how men deal with their mental health. It’s not the easiest thing to talk about. Most of us grew up hearing things like ‘man up’ or ‘you’ll be okay,’ and that sort of message stays with...