Latest Articles 

What The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse Taught Me About Self-Compassion. How a much-loved book inspired my latest reflections on counselling, emotional wellbeing and the importance of being kind to ourselves. Sometimes inspiration for a blog comes from somewhere unexpected. For me, my latest inspiration came from returning to The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy. It is a book I find deeply touching, not because it offers simple answers to life's d

Why Honesty in Therapy Matters (Even When It Feels Uncomfortable) There’s a quiet assumption many people carry into therapy: I should say the “right” things. Be insightful. Be cooperative. Show progress. But therapy isn’t a performance, it is about being real. And that means honesty, even when it’s awkward, messy, or hard to admit. The Temptation to Hold Back It’s surprisingly common to filter yourself in therapy. You might: Downplay how bad things feel Avoid topics that feel

Ever feel that people 'don't get you' when you are grieving and hear comments such as: Time is a healer They are in a better place At least they lived a long life At least you have other children Grief is often thought of as something that fades over time, but the Tonkin Model offers a different perspective. It suggests that grief does not necessarily get smaller, instead, your life grows around it. In the early stages of loss, grief can feel overwhelming, as though it fills