Rae Baxter Arts Counselling

20/08/2026

🤩 New website:
www.raebaxtertherapy.com

New email address:
[email protected]

A safe space to think, feel and be Book an appointment “Asking Rae for help was the best decision we made. They helped us to navigate some tough times and come through it stronger.” Services €60 per 50 minute session Adults Therapy for adultsFace to face or online Children Therapy for children...

20/08/2026

The Nature fix! 💚

When we hear birdsong it signals to our nervous system that we are safe. We can relax and shift into parasympathetic (rest and digest) mode. It's no surprise the research results above agree with this.

Did you known that even looking at images of nature provide 50% of the benefits?

If you don't have direct access to a green or blue space here are some little things you can do:

🌳 Choose a landscape for your phone wallpaper/ lock-screen/ laptop
🌴 Listen to nature tracks on Spotify
🌲 Watch documentaries set in the wilderness
🌳 Install some nature art (or paint your own)

If you CAN get outdoors then go for it! As proven in the study just 10 minutes has benefits.

📖 Recommended read: "The Nature Fix"
https://share.google/bumcE62iWFp98PdM0

12/08/2026

Just a little check in with yourself this mid-week morning.

🐾 Can you take a moment to ask yourself how you are faring?

🐾 Can you listen to and observe what arises within - words, physical sensations, emotions, images?

🐾 I wonder what you might NEED today based on what comes up? Perhaps a little more or a little less of something?

Even if we can't change the situation it still helps to acknowledge and validate our feelings. I imagine lots of our seasonal workers might relate to this example:

💭 I need a little less work and a little more forest time right now. Haute-saison is intense and even though it's temporary it can feel relentless when in the thick of it. Seasonal work is a real see-saw and it can become overwhelming or jarring when the see-saw tips.

If you'd like to think together about anything that's niggling you my door is always open: [email protected]
https://www.instagram.com/raeb_therapy?igsh=NTlxejkxZ2Z2NnM4

28/07/2026

Let's talk about our lens through which we experience the world 👓

I will use something that happened recently as an example.

Someone asked for a review of their service.
Even though it is a very busy time atm (being haute-saison in our lovely tourist resort) I took the time to provide specific, positive feedback and left them a great review.

That same evening they came back to me to ask "What would make it 5 star?"

Here’s what I heard - "your review isn't good enough".
Here’s how I felt - crappy.

Now I know that you can see that wasn't what was asked.
I know myself logically that they were not coming from a critical position and YET. And yet...

Our old attachment stuff shapes and colours the lens through which we experience the world.

We will still have times when even a small/ simple interaction triggers an old life script/ relational position within us.

As we travel along the therapy road we will find it easier to navigate these moments.

Today I can imagine in to the other person's perspective, talk about it with them and express what happened for me when asked that question.

Actively reaching out to the person that unintentionally poked a very old wound.

Could I have responded this way years ago? No.
Could I have created space from my narrative in order to imagine theirs? No.

Most likely it would have triggered a shame spiral/ prevented me from contacting them again.

Re-parenting with a counsellor helps to create counter-scripts to the ones so well trodden in your brain and body.

Therapy steadily sows the seeds of secure attachment. Of being safely held, validated and accepted exactly as you are.

THIS is where enormous amounts of healing can happen.

This is where create a clearer lens through which to see the world...It's like scraping off the old dirt that's warping your view.

If this resonates with you/ you feel ready to explore your 'lens' together, book in for an initial session:
[email protected]

21/07/2026

Depending on your background and how you grew up conflict can trigger many responses.

For some the reaction is people-pleasing, some have to be right, some withdraw completely, others get angry and blame...these strategies were developed to keep you safe and protected when you were young.

They worked - you are still here, but perhaps they aren't the most conducive to authentic intimacy and trust? 🤔

Perhaps they are creating obstacles in your life.

Learning healthier ways to approach and navigate inevitable conflict is such a great buffer and strengthener for all of your relationships - platonic, romantic, work, family...they can all benefit from reflection, exploration and learning to reframe what conflict looks like and how to repair it.

🖋 Two free exercises to try:

I invite you to take a moment to think about your own conflict cycles and responses without judgement.

1. Be curious and see if you can notice a pattern/ spiral/ story wrapped up in the word conflict - what surfaces in your body, your minds eye, emotional responses, thoughts, memories?

2. "Conflict is..." fill in the blank with as many words that arise. Try to let the words flow. There will be contradictions but don't edit, just express for now in all it's raw form.

You can bring the information gathered from these exercises to therapy to safely explore, unpack and process with the support of a trained professional.

Conflict is an inevitable part of the human experience, it makes sense to give it the time and space it deserves, to help you in your relationships with yourself and others.

Your past adaptions don't have to drive your future - if it's not helping you then perhaps it's time to put the old shield down and learn another way.

[email protected]

24/06/2026

* Vulnerable post *
I remember feeling something similar to this many, many years ago before I first went to see my own therapist.
I got cold feet and almost cancelled.
I felt so scared.
I was worried that they would say I was textbook classic predictable and also that there was nothing they could do to help me...all at the same time - talk about a dichotomy! 🙈

Let me clear up a few things, many years down the line incase you have similar concerns. With counselling it's actually about being supported whilst you help yourself.

You and your therapist are two imperfect human beings who meet on an equal footing.

They have lots of specialist training which enables them to support you as you offload, explore and navigate your inner world, life circumstances and relationships.

If you are considering going to counselling but notice resistance, dismissal, fears pop up that's very normal - it takes courage to step into the unknown.

What I can surely say is that my own therapy journey helped me so much that I became one myself 😊

🌳💰💯

[email protected]