Seeking counselling? Here's what to look for!

Ceri Pritchard • 5 January 2024

Sometimes, we all need a little extra support on our journey towards mental and emotional well-being. If you're considering counseling, here are a few key things to keep in mind:

1.Empathy and Understanding: Look for a counsellor who genuinely listens and shows empathy towards your concerns. Feeling heard and understood is crucial for building a strong therapeutic relationship.


2.Qualifications and Expertise: Ensure that your counsellor is licensed and has the necessary qualifications in their field. Their expertise will help guide you through your challenges and provide effective strategies for growth.


3. Compatibility: It's essential to find a counsellor with whom you feel comfortable and connected. Trust your instincts and seek someone who aligns with your values and communication style.


4. Confidentiality: Trust and confidentiality are the pillars of counselling. Make sure your counsellor respects your privacy and maintains strict confidentiality to create a safe space for you to share openly.


5. Goal-Oriented Approach: A good counsellor will work with you to establish clear goals and help you develop a plan to achieve them. Look for someone who focuses on your progress and supports you in reaching your desired outcomes.


Remember, seeking counseling is a courageous step towards self-improvement and personal growth. By finding the right counselor, you can embark on a transformative journey towards a happier and healthier you! 

What Actually Happens in a First Counselling Session?

by Ceri Pritchard • 17 September 2026
Making the decision to contact a counsellor can feel like a big step and then another thought can quickly appear: “What on earth am I going to say?” If you've never experienced counselling before, it's completely understandable that the first session might feel unfamiliar. You don't need to arrive prepared You don't need to have your story organised. You don't need to know exactly why you feel the way you do and you certainly don't need to arrive with a list of things to talk about. Our first session is an opportunity for us to begin getting to know one another. We can talk about what has brought you to counselling, what you might like support with and what you hope counselling could offer you. But we go at your pace. Counselling isn't an interview I'm not sitting opposite you with a checklist waiting for the correct answers. Counselling is a relationship. Particularly in the beginning, it's about creating a space where you can gradually feel safe enough to explore what's happening for you. There may be things you're ready to talk about straight away and other things that take much longer. That's okay. Silence is okay too. Perhaps the most important question A first session isn't only about whether I think I can support you. It's also your opportunity to begin asking: “Does this feel like someone I could talk to?” The relationship you have with your counsellor matters. You are allowed to ask questions, take your time and notice how the experience feels. You don't have to tell your whole story in the first hour. Sometimes the first step is simply turning up and that's enough for us to begin.

When Rest Feels Unproductive

by Ceri Pritchard • 17 September 2026
New Title

There’s No Right Way to Journal: Finding a Way to Express Yourself

by Ceri Pritchard • 17 September 2026
When we hear the word journaling, we often imagine sitting down with a notebook and writing pages and pages about our day. But journaling doesn't have to look like that. One of the things I love about journaling is the freedom it can give us to express ourselves in whatever way feels right for us. There are no marks, no spelling tests and no expectation that what you create has to make sense to anybody else. Your journal belongs to you. Finding your way F or some people, traditional or free journaling works beautifully. You simply begin writing and allow whatever is in your mind to come onto the page. For others, staring at a blank page can feel overwhelming. That's where different forms of journaling can help. You might enjoy creative journaling, using colour, drawings, doodles, photographs or words cut from magazines. A gratitude journal can involve simply noticing a few things you appreciated that day, including the very small things. Guided journaling gives you a question or prompt to respond to, while an emotion journal can help you notice and explore what you're feeling. You might even write a letter that you never intend to send, have a written dialogue with a part of yourself, write to your future self, or simply create lists. There really isn't a correct way. A space without judgement Sometimes writing or creating something on paper allows us to express thoughts and feelings that are difficult to say aloud. You don't have to analyse them or immediately understand them. Sometimes it is enough just to give them somewhere to go. Try givin g yourself five or ten minutes with a notebook and see what happens. Write, draw, scribble, make a list or simply finish the sentence: “Right now, I notice…” And remember, nobody is grading your journal. It doesn't need to be beautiful. It just needs to be yours. I have also created a free Types of Journaling resource with some different approaches and ideas to help you get started.