Lucy O'Connell Counselling

07/04/2025

This is such a clear way of explaining how therapy works

01/04/2025

This is so true. Sometimes our expectations of what we can do are just too high. Celebrating the small changes and small moves forward is really important. You are still moving and that’s worth being proud of 😊

Moving forward no matter how slowly is still moving forward✨️ //

30/03/2025

🩷❤️🧡💛💚🩵💙💜

To all of the mothers in the Petals community, on what can be a difficult day… 🩷

Our specialist counsellors witness the strength of incredible mothers every day, and we are holding you in our hearts today and always.

However you feel today, whatever this day means to you, please know you are not alone. Petals is here to support you and help you find the strength you may not realise you have. 🌸

Take time for yourself today, and if you need connection, join our supportive online community by searching Petals Together on Facebook.

17/03/2025

If we say it's okay to not be okay we really need to back it up.

As a society, we're talking about mental health more – we raise awareness and do what we can to destigmatise it. But what use is that in a culture that doesn’t make room for rest? In a culture doesn’t make room for the messy, unpredictable and ‘unproductive’ side of being human? If we are not given the care we need when we’re not okay?

There is no shame in taking time off school, uni or work for your mental health. There is no shame in needing time just to rest or recover. No one should ever make you feel that way.

16/03/2025

This is something that can come up in counselling. By exploring boundaries, challenging conditions of worth and the values we take on from those around us, we can work on developing a clearer sense of who we are.

13/03/2025

Have you considered journaling? There are lots of mental health and well-being benefits from practicing this daily. By setting intentions at the start of day to reflecting and picking a gratitude at night, you will be challenging your perception of the day and reducing negativity bias.

28/12/2024

I like this page for today… I find the inbetween a bit of a struggle but letting go to the flow, resting and finding glimmers as though it is a job, helps.

It’s just a day ❤️
From Wild Hope 📕

20/12/2024

In case you need to talk to someone over Christmas and new year…

In case you need someone to talk to over the festive period.

16/12/2024

At this time of year it can be difficult to juggle everything. Try to give yourself opportunities to slow down 💚

13/12/2024

I have updated my profile details to reflect what I offer - please share, someone you know might benefit from working with a trained, registered counsellor 💜

https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/counsellors/lucy-oconnell?_gl=1*1efpqkv*_gcl_au*MTMyMzQ0MjMyMy4xNzMzMDcxMDQy*_ga*MTYzMDU5MzE5Ny4xNjc4MTg2Nzgx*_ga_BMWGCG64PD*MTczNDA5MDQzMS4zNTcuMS4xNzM0MDkwNDQwLjUxLjAuMA..

I am a warm and compassionate counsellor. Working together, we will navigate the challenges you are experiencing. With a special interest supporting those facing loss and grief in a wide range of contexts, health issues, pregnancy loss and trauma.

03/03/2024

An interesting article exploring what therapy is and what it isn’t …

From talking about s*x to making you lie down: top practitioners on what’s true and what’s not

01/03/2024

It can be incredibly difficult to accept the body you are in right now. But how many times have you looked back at pictures and wished you had embraced the person you were then? I know I have and I recognise there is still a lot of work to be done in accepting the me of now verses the me I think I ‘should’ be.

OR YOU COULD JUST LIVE

You are going to wish your body was more,
You are going to wish your body was less,
You are going to wish your body would change,
You are going to wish your body would not.

You are going to wish your body was many things,
between now,
and the day you leave this mortal coil.

And one day,
as is always the way,
you will look back,
and see,
that your body was always as it should be.
Doing its best
To be you,
for you.

And you are then going to wish that just once,
you had told your body,
‘I accept you, as you are, right now’.

And that maybe had you done this,
you would have spared yourself a lifetime,
of wishing for something you didn’t really ever need.

That what it was you should have been wishing for, in fact,
was the courage to accept,
the strength to embrace,
the wisdom to really see,
what you have.

You’re going to wish for many things,
when it comes to your body.

Or you could just wish for health.

And live your life,
flawed
and
beautiful.

Donna Ashworth

From ‘I wish I knew’
https://www.waterstones.com/win/i-wish-i-knew-prize-draw

Art by Helma Speksnijder