Toad Counselling Ltd

29/10/2026

Ripley vs The New Digs 🐾

Important update.

My brother Rhys came to visit my new digs today.

Naturally, I gave him the full tour.

New rooms? Checked.
New sofa? Checked.
Biscuits? Still investigating.
Brother suitable for cuddling? Approved.

As you can see, Rhys made the mistake of sitting down.

Rookie error.

Within approximately three seconds I had occupied the entire sofa, acquired a toy, rolled onto my back and made it perfectly clear that he was no longer here to visit Tony.

He was here to entertain me.

I think he handled the responsibility rather well.

And actually, there is something quite nice about seeing familiar faces in a new place.

**Change can feel strange at first, but having people around us who feel safe and familiar can make a new environment feel a lot less daunting, and that sense of safety is important in therapy too.** 💚

Anyway.

New premises officially occupied.

Sofa officially mine.

Brother officially trapped.

🐾 Ripley
Head of Emotional Support
New Premises Supervisor
& Professional Brother Detainer

15/10/2026

🐸⚡ A BELATED BIRTHDAY MESSAGE FROM RIPLEY & BISHOP! 🐾🎉

Hello, humans. Ripley here.

Apparently, last week was Tony's birthday.

And apparently, we were supposed to make a post about it.

Unfortunately, I was extremely busy supervising biscuits, monitoring suspicious activity and maintaining the emotional stability of the entire establishment.

Bishop was busy eating something she shouldn't.

Again.

So we're a little late. But greatness cannot be rushed. Especially when one member of the team is still learning not to eat the furniture.

Anyway...

One of Tony's very own Toadlets created this magnificent masterpiece in honour of his birthday.

Introducing...

⚡🐸 TOAD, GOD OF COUNSELLING! 🐸⚡

Armed with a mighty hammer, a fabulous cape and the extraordinary ability to listen to people's problems without throwing said hammer at anyone.

Which, quite frankly, is impressive.

Bishop thinks the picture is amazing. Although she did ask why Tony gets a hammer AND an axe when she's not even allowed ONE shoe.

Personally, I think the muscles are a little exaggerated.

The bags under his eyes, however, are surprisingly accurate.

All jokes aside, Tony works incredibly hard, cares deeply about the people he supports, and has somehow managed to put up with the two of us.

One experienced therapy dog.

One trainee chaos goblin.

And absolutely no peace.

So, from both of us...

❤️ HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY, TONY! ❤️

We love you very much.

Even if you do insist on calling us away from things we're clearly enjoying.

Ripley 🐾
Head of Emotional Support, Biscuit Security & Senior Toadlet Supervisor

Bishop 🐾
Junior Chaos Coordinator, Apprentice Therapy Dog & Unauthorised Shoe Inspector. IYKYK.

🌐 www.toadcounselling.co.uk

23/09/2026

A new song around mental health struggles in identity

What are your thought’s?

Available on Spotify and various other platforms

https://open.spotify.com/track/2OhfRTV89mwKoBuW87kiRP?si=9agoph8xShO_ltf9uNoGyA&utm_source=copy-link

Lord Dragonator · Identity · Song · 2026

08/09/2026

IDENTITY
A new song composed by Lord Dragonator
RELEASED 21st SEPTEMBER 2026

A song about mental health, self-belief and what happens when you begin to lose sight of who you are.

Through despair, fear, worry, anxiety and depression, Identity explores that frightening place where confidence disappears, your sense of self becomes blurred, and you begin questioning the person you see in the mirror.

But underneath it all is the fight to hold on, and the search to rediscover you.

For anyone who’s ever wondered:
“Who am I?”

🎵 IDENTITY
Composed by Lord Dragonator
21.09.2026

Pre-save / find the release here:
https://ditto.fm/identity-lord-dragonator

Listen to Identity

29/08/2026

Ripley vs Personal Space: Brother Edition 🐾

Apparently my brother came to visit Tony today.

Lovely.

Very thoughtful.

But I’m not entirely sure he realised that visiting Tony also comes with the possibility of being immediately assigned a sleeping dog.

I climbed into his arms, got comfortable, and within minutes I was completely gone.

Fast asleep.

No dignity.
No personal space.
No intention of moving.

To be fair, if someone is warm, comfortable and willing to hold you like a baby, it would be rude not to take advantage.

Tony says I looked very content and safe.

I say I had simply found a premium human mattress and knew a good opportunity when I saw one.

And that feeling of being safe enough to finally let go, relax, and stop holding everything together for a while is exactly what therapy can offer too. 💚

Anyway, my brother’s visit has now officially been reclassified as Ripley cuddle duty.

🐾 Ripley
Head of Emotional Support & Unexpected Naps
Professional Human Furniture Tester

09/07/2026

🌿 Ripley and the Suspicious Patch of Grass — Part 1

Right.

We need to talk about the field.

I arrived today for what I believed was a simple outdoor wellbeing walk.

Fresh air.
Gentle movement.
Maybe a small sniff.

Nothing dramatic.

Unfortunately, within moments, I discovered something deeply concerning.

A patch of grass.

Now, I know what you’re thinking.

“Ripley, it’s a field. There is grass everywhere.”

Correct.

But this was not normal grass.

This was suspicious grass.

It had vibes.

I approached carefully, wearing my official investigation harness, and immediately began a full assessment.

My findings were as follows:

✔ The grass smelled unusual
✔ The grass refused to explain itself
✔ The grass was looking at me funny
✔ The humans failed to take this seriously
✔ I was forced to manage the entire situation alone

At one point, I sat down directly in front of the suspicious area and smiled for evidence.

This is called professionalism.

Tony said, “Ripley, it’s just grass.”

Interesting.

That is exactly what suspicious grass would want them to think.

So now I have opened an investigation.

Current suspects include:

❌ The grass
❌ A bird
❌ The wind
❌ Whatever happened over there before I arrived
❌ Possibly Steve from accounts

I do not know who Steve is.

But he feels involved.

The case remains open.

Sometimes in life, we sense something is not quite right, even if we cannot fully explain it yet. Counselling can offer a safe space to explore those feelings, understand what they may be trying to tell us, and work through them at our own pace.

🐾 Ripley
Head of Emotional Support & Field Investigations

🌐 www.toadcounselling.co.uk

Toad Counselling, because you are the one that matters.

05/07/2026

🐸 Well… this has somehow become a newsletter.

We’re not entirely sure who approved it.

Tony says it was a team decision.
Ripley says it was her idea.
The rest of us were probably distracted by biscuits.

Anyway, the very first edition of The Toad Times is now attached below.

Inside, you’ll find Toad updates, a gentle mental health reminder, our Friends of Toad feature, a deeply questionable joke, and news of Ripley’s upcoming corner, which she is already treating like a major media opportunity.

Have a read and let us know what you think.

Please be kind.

It’s our first one.

🐾 The Toad Counselling Team
and Ripley,
Head of Morale, Tennis Ball Affairs and Unauthorised Editorial Decisions

04/07/2026

🎾 Ripley vs Regret. Part 6: The Negotiations

Good evening.

I am pleased to announce that my recovery is progressing well.

I have left the sofa.
I am upright.
And I have acquired my tennis ball.

Please note that “acquired” is not the same as “willing to hand over.”

The humans keep saying:

“Drop it.”

I keep responding with this face.

Apparently, holding a tennis ball in someone’s lap while refusing to release it does not count as playing fetch.

I disagree.

This is a negotiation.

My current terms are:

✔ You throw the ball
✔ I chase the ball
✔ I bring the ball back
✔ You admire the ball
✔ I keep the ball forever

It is a perfectly reasonable arrangement.

They have now offered to swap it for a biscuit.

Honestly, it is insulting that they think I can be bought so easily.

Although…

What kind of biscuit?

Sometimes we hold on tightly because letting go does not feel safe yet. Therapy gives you the time, space and support to loosen your grip when you are ready.

🐾 Ripley
Head of Emotional Support & Difficult Negotiations

🌐 www.toadcounselling.co.uk

Toad Counselling, because you are the one that matters.

28/05/2026

😐 Ripley vs Regret. Part 4: The Recovery Era

Morning.

I have decided that today I am unavailable.

Not poorly.
Not dramatic.
Just… emotionally buffering.

After yesterday’s events, I have taken myself to a secure recovery location between the cushions, where I can safely process my choices and stare into the middle distance like a dog with a complicated past.

You may notice my tongue is slightly out.

That is not a symptom.
That is my thinking face.

I am currently reflecting on:

✔ The outdoors
✔ The carrot
✔ The incident
✔ Why humans say “leave it” after I have already committed
✔ Whether regret counts as personal growth

For the record, I regret nothing.

Except possibly one thing.

But we’re not naming it.

I have also been told that “actions have consequences.”

Rude.

Anyway, I shall be taking no questions at this time.

Unless the question is:
“Ripley, would you like a biscuit?”

In which case, yes. Obviously.

🐾 Ripley
Head of Emotional Support & Dramatic Recovery

🌐 www.toadcounselling.co.uk

Toad Counselling, because you are the one that matters.

21/05/2026

🥕 Ripley vs Regret (Part 3)

Right.

We’ve left the field.
We’ve had the “incident.”
We’re not talking about it.

I am now in recovery mode.

They have given me this carrot…
which I assume is some kind of emotional support vegetable.

Do I want it?
No.
Am I holding it anyway like it’s part of my healing journey?
Yes.

I would just like to say:
The outdoors was fun.
The vibes were incredible.
I became one with nature.

But nature…
was not one with me.

So we’re taking a short break from:
❌ Eating random things
❌ Trusting the floor snacks
❌ Questionable life decisions

And focusing on:
✔ Sitting on the road like a sensible professional
✔ Holding my emotional support carrot
✔ Reflecting

Back to work soon. Slightly wiser. Marginally more cautious. Still iconic.

🐾 Ripley
Head of Emotional Support & Poor Decisions

🌐 www.toadcounselling.co.uk

Toad Counselling, because you are the one that matters.