Last week I talked about my decision to go to counselling and what that was like for me. This week I talk about what the sessions were actually like, some of the methods my counsellor used, what I found helpful and how I sometimes spent a session just crying. It's all part of the process. I wanted to talk about this as I think not knowing what a session is like might sometimes be a barrier for people who need help seeking that help. This episode is an attempt to let you know about what you can expect but I also say that this is my experience of therapy and yours might be very different.

If you have any questions about therapy please get un touch. If anything in this episode stirs anything up for you that you want to talk about, please get in touch. Or just get in touch anyway. I'd love to hear from you.

To get in touch:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram @safeandsupportedcoaching

Website: safeandsupported.co.uk

Production: Jay Herbert

Original music: Jay Herbert and Alex Ware

Series 3 is here! Lots of you have been listening to back episodes during the break and I hope you've been enjoying them.

The most popular episodes in Series 2 were Episode 19 - COA is a thing and Episode 31 - Listener's Questions. In this series I will be looking more at my experience of having an alcoholic parent and my healing journey.

I start this series with this episode about therapy. I talk about my experience of therapy - or counselling. I talk a lot about the therapy work I started in 2017 but I also talk about my earlier experiences of dipping my toe in, albeit without much commitment. Back then I thought perhaps therapy wasn't for me but now I know timing is everything.

What I didn't say in the recording, but meant to, is that change is possible without therapy or coaching as I know not everyone has access to that support. This podcast has helped people see things in a different light, there are many other great podcasts and SOOO many books and articles. If you are committed to the work but can't access in person help, get in touch and I can suggest some books (and they won't all be by Brené Brown!!)

If anything in this episode stirs anything up for you that you want to talk about, please get in touch. Or just get in touch anyway. I'd love to hear from you.

To get in touch:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram @safeandsupportedcoaching

Website: safeandsupported.co.uk

Production: Jay Herbert

Original music: Jay Herbert and Alex Ware

Series 2 is done and here is the last episode. I have loved putting this series together and will be back after a short break with series 3. Thank you to all of you have supported me.

I asked for questions from listeners and got three real corkers. Quality over quantity for sure. In this episode I talk about my response to these question:

Thank you to the lovely listeners who sent me these questions. There was so much I had to say on these subjects that this episode is a bit longer than usual! I had so much to say as I share my experiences and things I have learned along the way. I am still on this journey and am still learning too.

If anything in this episode stirs anything up for you that you want to talk about, please get in touch. Or just get in touch anyway. I'd love to hear from you.

To get in touch:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram @safeandsupportedcoaching

Website: safeandsupported.co.uk

Production: Jay Herbert

Original music: Jay Herbert and Alex Ware

In this episode I talk about one of my favourite subjects, self-care. I mean deep self-care, not grooming or appearance maintenance. 

When I started on my healing journey 4 years ago, I had no bloomin' idea what self-care was but having discovered the importance of it I talk about it a lot. It was fitting that I end this season with self-care and how practising self-care helps us look inside ourselves and discover the truth of what we actually need. Once we identify those needs we can set about meeting them which in turn makes us a more content human. What's not to like! 

If we aren't meeting our needs we aren't bringing our best selves into our daily lives and not only are we abandoning ourselves by doing that but we are less able to meet the needs of others which is the reason we give ourselves in the first place for abandoning ourselves. So come on folks, self-care all the way. I encourage you to think about the ways in which you abandon yourself and instead to write a list of things you can do to reconnect with your fabulous self. 

At the end I ask for your questions for me to answer in next week's episode which will be the last of season 2. I'd love to hear from you.

If anything in this episode stirs anything up for you that you want to talk about, please get in touch. Or just get in touch anyway. 

To get in touch:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram @safeandsupportedcoaching

Website: safeandsupported.co.uk

Production: Jay Herbert

Original music: Jay Herbert and Alex Ware

In this episode I talk about shame. Not a particularly happy subject but I felt it important to tackle it this week. At it's core, shame keeps us small and quiet and stops us showing up in the world as our true authentic selves. This leads to resentment and real unhappiness in later life. I share a real-life shame moment that happened the day I recorded the episode and how sharing it helped me feel much better. Empathy is the antidote to shame and I had empathy for myself just sharing it with you. The word I couldn't find as i was recording is "indulging"!

If anything in this episode stirs anything up for you that you want to talk about, please get in touch. Or just get in touch anyway. I'd love to hear from you.

To get in touch:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram @safeandsupportedcoaching

Website: safeandsupported.co.uk

Production: Jay Herbert

Original music: Jay Herbert and Alex Ware

In this episode I talk menopause. I am by no means an expert but as a peri-menopausal woman who has been experiencing symptoms for around 5 years now, I know I felt ill placed to deal with what was happening when it started and I want to help get information out so other women are better informed. I talk about the stages of peri-menopause, menopause and post-menopause, tracking your menstrual cycle and the common and not so common symptoms. I don't talk about HRT as I have no experience to share. 

I talk about my experience so far and how I am finding this stage of my life liberating, frustrating and a time of real change which I am embracing. I appreciate I am having an ok time of it now but if you are struggling, I get it and I see you. 

If anything in this episode stirs anything up for you that you want to talk about, please get in touch. Or just get in touch anyway. I'd love to hear from you.

To get in touch:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram @safeandsupportedcoaching

Website: safeandsupported.co.uk

Production: Jay Herbert

Original music: Jay Herbert and Alex Ware

In this episode I talk about my old nemesis, burnout. It's a long episode this week as I wanted to share the findings of my research. I talk about the differences between stress and burnout as I think the two are often confused. I share how to recognise the signs of burnout and tips on how to deal with it. 

Burnout paid me a visit again recently but now I recognise my signs I managed to rest before it really took hold. I hope this episode will help you avoid it or at least be more aware if it does strike. 

If anything in this episode stirs anything up for you that you want to talk about, please get in touch. Or just get in touch anyway. I'd love to hear from you.

To get in touch:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram @safeandsupportedcoaching

Website: safeandsupported.co.uk

Production: Jay Herbert

Original music: Jay Herbert and Alex Ware

In this episode I explore why some of the new habits I have started during the last 18 months have stuck and why some are proving to be harder to stick to. I sat down one day and journalled about it and realised that if I push myself too hard it doesn't stick. I need to give myself options and tell myself it's ok to do it or not do it. This is particularly true if it's something that I find difficult. Giving myself the choice frees me from the pressure that comes when I push myself too hard. 

I also talk about Saturn Return which in astrology is the time that Saturn returns to the position it was in at the time of your birth. It can have quite an impact during your late 20s and early 30s. 

If anything in this episode stirs anything up for you that you want to talk about, please get in touch. Or just get in touch anyway. I'd love to hear from you.

To get in touch:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram @safeandsupportedcoaching

Website: safeandsupported.co.uk

Production: Jay Herbert

Original music: Jay Herbert and Alex Ware

In this episode I talk about how a long overdue swim in the sea one weekend lead me to really think about freedom and what it means to me. Freedom from what other people think of me along with acceptance of where I am now and how far I've come from where I started in 2017. It was so much more than just a swim in the sea! I hope it will inspire you to consider what freedom means for you and better still takes steps towards that freedom.

If anything in this episode stirs anything up for you that you want to talk about, please get in touch. Or just get in touch anyway. I'd love to hear from you.

To get in touch:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram @safeandsupportedcoaching

Website: safeandsupported.co.uk

Production: Jay Herbert

Original music: Jay Herbert and Alex Ware

In this episode I tell you the story of how I met my husband and how it might never have happened if I hadn't found a way round my worry about what other people might think. Many of us have a powerful belief that what other people think of us matters and I explore where this comes from and how to start changing that belief.

If anything in this episode stirs anything up for you that you want to talk about, please get in touch. Or just get in touch anyway. I'd love to hear from you.

To get in touch:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram @safeandsupportedcoaching

Website: safeandsupported.co.uk

Production: Jay Herbert

Original music: Jay Herbert and Alex Ware