From my Counselling years to your listening ears. Hello and welcome.

From my Counselling years to your listening ears. Hello and welcome.

By Heidi LesterHealth & FitnessMental Health
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From my Counselling years to your listening ears. Hello and welcome. episodes

  • How to Hear Yourself: The Art of Emotional Self-Awareness
    Struggle to understand your emotions or hear your inner voice? In this episode, Heidi, a Counsellor and psychotherapist, explores why emotional self-awareness can feel so difficult — and how to reconnect with yourself with clarity and compassion.
    Learn the signals your emotions send, how to recognise your internal cues, and simple daily practices to strengthen your emotional understanding.
    This episode is perfect for anyone navigating overwhelm, anxiety, self-doubt, or disconnect.
    Email Heidi - [email protected] or connect with Heidi -@heidilestercounsellor on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Facebook.
    12 min
  • How to develop your own internal counsellor
    Discover how to strengthen your “internal counsellor” — the compassionate, steady inner voice that helps you navigate emotions, decisions, and difficult moments. Heidi, counsellor and psychotherapist, guides you through practical, therapeutic steps to build emotional insight, soften self-criticism, and support yourself with more clarity and care.
    Perfect for anyone working on self-trust, healing, or personal growth.
    Email Heidi - [email protected] or connect with Heidi -@heidilestercounsellor on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Facebook.
    14 min
  • 5 Things You Need to Know Before Starting Counselling
    Thinking about starting counselling? Starting counselling can feel daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. In this gentle and informative episode, your host, counsellor and psychotherapist Heidi Lester shares five essential things you should know before you begin. From managing nerves to understanding the importance of trust, this episode helps you approach therapy with clarity and confidence.
    Email Heidi - [email protected] or connect with Heidi - @heidilestercounsellor on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Facebook.
    12 min
  • 5 Things You Need to Know Before Starting Counselling
    Thinking about starting counselling? Starting counselling can feel daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. In this gentle and informative episode, your host, counsellor and psychotherapist Heidi Lester, shares five essential things you should know before you begin. From managing nerves to understanding the importance of trust, this episode helps you approach therapy with clarity and confidence.
    Email Heidi - [email protected] or connect with Heidi - @heidilestercounsellor on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Facebook.
    12 min
  • Letting Go of Perfection: How to Embrace Being Enough
    Perfectionism promises control and security, but often leaves us feeling anxious, inadequate, and exhausted. In this gentle and therapeutic conversation, Heidi Lester guides you through understanding the deeper patterns behind perfectionism — from childhood experiences and critical environments to the quiet fears of not being enough.
    You’ll hear practical, reflective steps to begin letting go of unrealistic expectations, including how to:
    • Redefine what “enough” means in your daily life
    • Recognize and respond to your inner critic
    • Practice self-kindness instead of self-judgment
    • Value rest, effort, and progress equally
    • Allow yourself to be seen — imperfect, but real
    This episode is an invitation to slow down, soften your self-talk, and rebuild your sense of worth from within — one small, compassionate step at a time.
    13 min
  • The Ultimate Guide to Self-Improvement: Becoming More You
    In this episode of We Are All Fine (WAAF), counsellor and psychotherapist Heidi Lester shares a grounded, compassionate look at self-improvement — not as a way to fix what’s broken, but as a process of becoming more authentically you.
    Together, we explore common myths about personal growth, why perfection isn’t the goal, and how small, intentional actions build lasting change. You’ll learn gentle, practical ways to strengthen your self-trust, reconnect with your values, and celebrate your progress — one step at a time.
    If today’s episode resonated with you, please follow, rate, and share We Are All Fine (flawed, insecure, nervous and emotional) — it really helps the show grow.
    Socials: @heidilestercounsellor on Instagram, TikTok, Instagram & YouTube
    18 min
  • Empathy vs. Sympathy: How to Connect Without Losing Yourself
    Have you ever walked away from a conversation feeling completely emotionally exhausted — like you’ve taken on someone else’s pain?
    You may be practising sympathy instead of empathy.
    In this episode of We Are All Fine, your host, Heidi Lester, unpacks the difference between empathy and sympathy — and why understanding it can completely change how you connect with others. You’ll learn how to listen, care, and show up authentically without absorbing other people’s emotions or burning out.
    Heidi also explores:
    • The psychology behind empathy and why it’s so powerful in relationships
    • How sympathy can unintentionally create distance or pity
    • The link between empathy fatigue and poor boundaries
    • Simple ways to protect your energy while still being present and compassionate
    • How empathy can strengthen — not drain — your relationships
    If you’re someone who feels deeply, takes on others’ emotions, or struggles to separate your feelings from theirs, this episode is for you.
    You’ll leave with practical tools to connect with compassion and still stay grounded in yourself.
    11 min
  • Looking Inward: Self-Reflection Tips for Personal Growth and Development
    Looking Inward: Self-Reflection Tips for Personal Growth and Development
    In this episode of We Are All Fine, I explore the transformative power of self-reflection — what it really means, why it matters, and how to make it a daily practice for genuine personal growth.
    Self-reflection isn’t about overthinking or self-criticism — it’s about curious awareness. It helps you pause, notice your inner world, and make intentional choices instead of reacting automatically.
    Join me as I share simple, compassionate ways to reflect that strengthen your emotional awareness, confidence, and self-trust — all key ingredients in your personal development journey.
    Your takeaways from episode 34:
    • Self-reflection is not self-criticism — it’s an act of self-awareness and growth.
    • Awareness is the first step toward meaningful change.
    • Kind curiosity works better than harsh self-analysis.
    • Consistent reflection strengthens your self-trust and emotional intelligence.
    • The goal isn’t to get it “right” — it’s to understand yourself more deeply.
    If this episode resonated with you, follow We Are All Fine wherever you listen to podcasts, leave a rating, or share it with someone who might need a moment to pause and look inward.
    Email Heidi: [email protected]
    Socials: Find Heidimentalhealththerapist on TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.
    13 min
  • Overcoming self doubt and second guessing
    In this episode of We Are All Fine (W.A.A.F — Flawed, Insecure, Nervous, and Emotional), counsellor and psychotherapist Heidi Lester explores the roots of self-doubt — that quiet inner voice that questions your worth, your instincts, and your decisions.
    You’ll learn:
    • Why self-doubt shows up and how it keeps you stuck in overthinking
    • How it often hides beneath perfectionism, people-pleasing, and comparison
    • The subtle ways self-doubt appears in the counselling room
    • Where it really comes from — including early experiences, anxiety, and misunderstood interactions
    • Practical ways to start rebuilding self-trust and growing confidence through small, meaningful steps
    If you’ve ever caught yourself replaying conversations, hesitating to speak up, or seeking reassurance before making a move — this episode will help you quiet that inner critic and begin to trust your own voice again.
    I’d love to hear your thoughts about today’s episode — what resonated, what you’re practicing, or what self-trust means to you.
    Email me at [email protected]
    Follow along on social media: TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook - @heidilestercounsellor
    If this episode resonated, please follow the show, leave a review, and share it with someone who might need this gentle reminder that they’re not alone in their self-doubt.
    14 min
  • The Art of Saying No Without Guilt - A Simple 3-Step Process to Say No Without Guilt
    Quick question: how many times have you said “yes” this week when deep down you wanted to say “no”?
    In this episode, join me, your host Heidi Lester WAAF I explore why that two-letter word — no — feels so heavy, and how you can start saying it with clarity, confidence, and kindness.
    Saying no doesn’t mean you’re rude or selfish. In fact, a well-placed no protects your energy, your time, and your relationships. Every yes you give is also a no to something else — so today, we’ll look at how to make your no’s guilt-free and grounded in self-respect.
    I’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode and what “saying no without guilt” looks like in your own life. You can connect with me on social media for more reflections and tools between episodes — just search for We Are All Fine.
    Or, if you’d like to reach out directly, you can always email me at [email protected]. I read every message and love hearing from listeners.
    And if this episode resonated with you, don’t forget to follow the show, leave a rating or review, and share it with someone who might need this reminder today.
    11 min

About From my Counselling years to your listening ears. Hello and welcome.

From the publisher's feed

WE ARE ALL FINE – Flawed. Insecure. Nervous. Emotional – and if you are looking to know how to accept yourself knowing you are actually normal in this uncertain world, and want validation for how…