Autism counselling with Rachel Nelmes;Towards Change ltd

17/07/2026

Taking a little time to switch off and recharge. 🌿

I'll be on annual leave for a short while, taking the opportunity to rest, reset, and enjoy some quality time away from the day-to-day.

I believe that taking care of ourselves is just as important as taking care of our work. A little time to recharge helps us return with fresh energy, new ideas, and a renewed perspective.

I'll look forward to reconnecting when I'm back.
Until then, take care of yourselves too. 💚

14/07/2026

12/07/2026

✨ It's funny how the world works.

This week, I found myself smiling as I realised I'm now based across the hall from another counsellor... someone I completed two of my uni placements with and we even shared our first a counselling room together over 10 years ago!

Back then, we rented a room together with another therapist, all building our practices and taking those exciting (and sometimes nerve-wracking!) first steps into private practice.

Fast forward a decade, and here we are again working in the same building, just across the hall from each other.

It feels like a lovely reminder that life has a funny way of bringing people back together. So much has changed over the years, yet some connections have a way of coming full circle.

I'm incredibly grateful for the journey that's brought me here, for the people I've met along the way, and for the warm, welcoming community that surrounds my new office.

Sometimes it's nice to pause and appreciate just how far you've come... and the familiar faces that remind you where it all began. 💙

10/07/2026

📚 I popped into a bookshop the other day and found myself standing in front of three whole shelves dedicated to **autism, ADHD, and anxiety**.

It made me stop and smile.

Not because these experiences are becoming more common, but because conversations around them are becoming more visible. People are searching for answers, understanding, and ways to support themselves or someone they love.

These are the very things I talk about every day in the therapy room.

Behind every book is a person trying to make sense of their experiences. Someone wondering why life feels harder than it seems to for everyone else. Someone looking for hope, reassurance, or simply the feeling of being understood.

Books can be incredibly validating, but sometimes what we need most is a safe space to explore our own story with another person.

That's what counselling can offer.

A place where you don't have to have all the answers. A place where you can bring your questions, your struggles, your strengths, and your authentic self.

Seeing those shelves reminded me why I do what I do. Awareness is growing, and with it, the opportunity for more people to access understanding, acceptance, and the right support.

And that can only be a good thing. 💙

08/07/2026

Sometimes self-care isn't a spa day, a scented candle, or ticking another item off a wellness checklist.

Sometimes it's saying "no" without feeling guilty.

It's taking a break before you reach exhaustion.

It's asking for help when everything feels too much.

Be gentle with yourself today. You don't have to earn your rest.
You deserve care simply because you're human.

06/07/2026

04/07/2026

💙 A heartfelt thank you. 💙

I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who follows my page, shares my posts, recommends my services, or simply takes the time to engage with what I share. Every like, comment, share, and recommendation helps raise awareness of something that matters deeply to me.

Autistic people deserve mental health support that feels safe, understanding, and affirming. Too often, people tell me they've spent years feeling misunderstood or trying to fit into approaches that weren't designed with their experiences in mind.

My hope is to help change that by providing a space where autistic individuals can feel heard, accepted, and supported without having to mask who they are.

Whether you're here because you're autistic, you're supporting someone you love, or you're simply helping to spread awareness, thank you.

Together, we're helping more people discover that compassionate, autism-informed mental health support is available, and that no one has to face their struggles alone.

Your support means more than you know.

02/07/2026

✨ Have you had a chance to visit my website recently?

I've been adding some new pages to better support autistic individuals and their families, including a brand new page all about **Autistic Burnout**.

Autistic burnout is so much more than simply feeling tired. It can leave you feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, disconnected from yourself, and struggling with things that once felt manageable. It's something many autistic people experience, yet it's often misunderstood.

If you'd like to learn more about autistic burnout, what it can look like, and how counselling can help, I'd love for you to take a look.

Visit **[www.towardschange.co.uk](http://www.towardschange.co.uk)** and explore the new pages. I hope they offer reassurance, understanding, and the reminder that you don't have to navigate things alone.

As always, if you have any questions or you're wondering whether counselling might be right for you, please feel free to get in touch.

01/07/2026

**Looking for autism-specific counselling in Preston?**

Finding a therapist who truly understands autism can make a real difference.

Whether you are an autistic individual or you are a parent/carer of an autistic individual...

As an autistic counsellor with lived experience, I offer a safe, affirming space where you don't need to mask, explain, or justify who you are.

Whether you're navigating anxiety, burnout, relationships, a late diagnosis, or simply looking for support, counselling can help.

Autism-informed support, tailored to you, now available in my welcoming Preston office and online. 💚