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.
Meditation Techniques by Natalie Kirton
Many of us deal with Anxiety and overthinking, there is no set way to handle these thoughts, feelings, and the inherent behaviours we produce in response but many cultures, individuals, and schools of thought often look to meditation in addition to other techniques to...
Cost of Living: Effect on the Nation’s Mental Health
Written by our Keith Prance of Rehab and Recovery, Cost of Living: Effect on the Nation’s Mental Health blog details the mental health impact of the cost-of-living crisis. Read here
Have yourself a mindful little Christmas…
By K. Jezzard- Puyraud There are two sides to Christmas. There is the one that is full of warmth, fabulous presents and a roast with all the trimmings. Then there is the one with frosty in-laws, thoughtless gifts and someone locking themselves in the bathroom for a...
What is self-compassion?
By Debbie Vaile Self-compassion can be misconceived as being self-indulgent or self-pitying. However, compassion is defined as to ‘suffer with.’ We show empathy in our understanding of whatever difficulties others may be going through. Compassion is, by definition,...
London Marathon Blog By Anita E
The London Marathon 2022. It is difficult to explain what it feels like to run the London Marathon. It is a gift and a privilege rolled into one. The place this year was a deferred place from 2020 and while training back in January 2020 I suffered a terrible slipped...
Challenging the labels of neurodiversity – Different not less
Many of my neurodivergent clients arrive to their first session, weight down by anxiety, depression and low self-esteem, having experienced discrimination, bullying andthe feeling of never fitting in. They have been told they are lazy, stupid and uncaring. They are...
Mindfulness & Meditation for Mental Health By Emma Carey
How often do we look up from our busy lives and consciously live in the present, moment to moment? My own answer to that nine years ago was, rarely, if ever. I suffered from physical illnesses, anxiety, depression, and panic attacks. It was like being trapped in a...
Exploring Holistic Treatments: Reflexology
Blog by Helen Kitcher The most common thing that people say to me when I tell them that I have trained as a Reflexologist is, ‘Isn’t touching someone’s feet a bit gross?’ I always have the same answer: as a Reflexologist I do not see feet; I see a connection portal...
Asking For Help: The First Step
Getting help and support can often be the first step towards getting and staying well. It’s not always easy, especially when you are feeling low. It is important to remember that you are not alone and that you deserve support. Reasons that you might want to get help: ...
The importance of dream work in therapy by Alex Weir, Integrative Counsellor (MBACP)
For as long as I can remember I have always had very vivid dreams. Some nights as a child, I’d long for sleep so that I could return to a favourite dream, where I’d soar across the night sky like a bird, feeling a true sense of freedom and weightlessness. Other times...
Anxiety – What small changes in our lifestyle could help us to feel less anxious?
I would like to share some tips that might help you to reduce anxiety or in other words, some lifestyle changes that I and others have found helpful. Exercise: Any kind of movement you can find closer to your heart! Dancing (for example, ballet class for...
Addiction and Recovery
Addiction recovery is something that can be managed with specialist help and there are agencies in each Borough that can support someone. While Westmeria aren’t a specialist agency in this way, once the addiction is managed and someone is in recovery, talking therapy...
SELF CARE by Laura Minus
I asked myself what self- care means to me? Without long reflection, I came up with primary needs and necessity. It would not have been the same answer 20 years ago as I have learnt it after having some setbacks that required to put myself first. Now I feel that I am...
First Port of Call
When I was first asked to write about my job, I thought how exciting it was being able to let people know what my job entailed. As an admin manager no day is ever the same, from busy telephones ringing to running a college. The office buzzes with counsellors asking...
Grief at Christmas
Christmas is seemingly a happy time. A time when friends and family gather together and Christmas day is shared with our nearest and dearest. The lead up to Christmas brings competition for the best Christmas advertising campaign, Christmas songs ring out in the shops...
Oxytocin and Well-being
Westmeria Counsellor Sheena Rose, teaches an array of wellbeing practices including Mindfulness and Reiki. Here she explains Oxytocin and the simple exercises and actions we can take to increase our levels of Oxytocin and general wellbeing. Love, hugs and Kindness ...
World Mental Health Day
World Mental Health day is a wonderful point to consider our own unique mental health and for me, writing for this blog is part of good mental health; I love writing, I love processing my thoughts and I like to connect to others. This is the dilemma with mental...
Suicide Awareness
Have you ever had a thought of “I wish I couldn’t wake up? I can’t face it anymore!”. I had, but it was a temporary feeling of low mood with no intension to end my life. I consider myself the lucky one who was able to share my thoughts about difficulties of certain...
The Benefits of Swimming
By Ashley Ward For the past nine years I have been working as a swimming instructor – having a love of the water started from an early age – swimming in the sea, jumping the waves, donning a snorkel and mask to see what lies beneath the surface, floating aimlessly...
What is self-care and why is it important?
The term self-care is used a lot these days, but what does it really mean? The World Health Organisation 1998 definition is: “Self-Care is what people do for themselves to establish and maintain health, and to prevent and deal with illness. It is a broad concept...