Gates Counselling

Gates Counselling I am a BACP Accredited Counsellor, I offer one to one counselling for adults in Brentwood Essex. Spe Counselling and Psychotherapy

What if being a strong leader doesn’t mean carrying everything yourself?Leadership can mean being the person everyone tu...
11/08/2026

What if being a strong leader doesn’t mean carrying everything yourself?

Leadership can mean being the person everyone turns to.

The one who keeps things moving.
The one who makes the difficult decisions.
The one who feels responsible for it all.

But responsibility can quietly become over-responsibility.

Sometimes leadership means pausing long enough to ask:

What is mine to hold — and what isn’t?

Having a confidential space to reflect can help you step back, think differently and lead with greater intention.

Because sustainable leadership means looking after the person doing the leading too.

If this resonates, I’d be happy to have a conversation about Professional Wellbeing Supervision.

🍃 Reflections from the WoodlandThis week’s walk invited me to reflect on… vitality.This weekend, the woods reminded me o...
04/08/2026

🍃 Reflections from the Woodland

This week’s walk invited me to reflect on… vitality.

This weekend, the woods reminded me of something important…

Vitality isn’t about doing more.

It’s about feeling more alive.

Burnout and anxiety can disconnect us from ourselves until we’re simply surviving.

But our nervous systems are also shaped by experiences of safety, connection and wonder.

The warmth of the sun on your face.
The sound of birdsong.
The scent of the woodland after rain.
The feeling of taking one slow, unhurried breath.

These moments may seem small, but they help us reconnect with ourselves.

Perhaps wellbeing isn’t only about reducing stress.

Perhaps it’s also about nurturing the moments that help us feel truly alive.

🍃 Where do you find your sense of vitality?

Until next time, may you find a moment to pause, breathe, and reconnect with what brings you vitality. 🍃

Lisa Mason-Gates
BACP Accredited Counsellor | IPNB Practitioner
Supporting people to reconnect with life, meaning and themselves since 2016.

Burnout doesn’t always arrive as a dramatic collapse.Sometimes it shows up as constant exhaustion, low motivation, irrit...
02/08/2026

Burnout doesn’t always arrive as a dramatic collapse.

Sometimes it shows up as constant exhaustion, low motivation, irritability, or losing joy in things you once loved.

Recovery isn’t about doing more. It’s about pausing, listening to yourself, and caring for your needs with intention.

✨ Recovering from burnout takes time. By recognising the signs, prioritising rest, reconnecting with joy, practising mindfulness, and seeking support, you can begin to rebuild your energy.

I’ve shared a new blog on the signs of burnout and gentle first steps towards recovery.

Read it via the link in my bio.

If this resonates with you, I’d love to hear from you 💬
What’s one small thing that helps you slow down or reset? Share in the comments, or save this post for when you need a reminder. You’re also welcome to share it with someone who might need it today 🌿

Who supports the person supporting everyone else?Leadership can be rewarding, but it can also be isolating.When you’re m...
01/08/2026

Who supports the person supporting everyone else?

Leadership can be rewarding, but it can also be isolating.

When you’re making decisions, carrying responsibility and looking after others, it’s easy to forget that your own wellbeing matters too.

Having a space to pause, reflect and think isn’t a luxury—it’s an investment in how you lead, how you relate to others and how you care for yourself.

Whether that space is in a quiet room or walking in nature, reflection can help us reconnect with what really matters.

📷 This photograph was taken on one of my own walks—a reminder that some of our clearest thinking happens when we give ourselves space to slow down.

If you’re curious about Professional Wellbeing Supervision and how it might support you, I’d be happy to have a conversation.

🌿 Because every leader deserves a place to pause, reflect and reconnect.

NatureBasedPractice Mindfulness BurnoutPrevention MentalWellbeing EssexCounsellor

Sometimes distraction isn’t a bad thing.When we’re overwhelmed, our minds naturally look for relief.But there’s a differ...
27/07/2026

Sometimes distraction isn’t a bad thing.

When we’re overwhelmed, our minds naturally look for relief.

But there’s a difference between the distractions that help us escape and the ones that help us return.

Scrolling social media can pull us further away from ourselves.

A walk in the woods can do the opposite.

The rhythm of your footsteps. The sound of birdsong. The movement of the trees.

Nature gently holds our attention while quietly reconnecting us with ourselves.

Maybe what you need today isn’t another distraction.

Maybe it’s something that helps you come home to yourself. 🍃

AnxietySupport MindfulLiving NatureHeals Counselling SelfCompassion EssexCounsellor Brentwood

New on the blog ✨If anxiety has been feeling overwhelming, I’ve shared some gentle thoughts on how mindfulness can help....
26/07/2026

New on the blog ✨
If anxiety has been feeling overwhelming, I’ve shared some gentle thoughts on how mindfulness can help.
Tap the link in my bio to read more. 💚

Who supports the people carrying the weight of running a business?Running a business can be incredibly rewarding.It can ...
25/07/2026

Who supports the people carrying the weight of running a business?

Running a business can be incredibly rewarding.

It can also be exhausting.

Behind every decision, every difficult conversation and every responsibility is a person—often carrying far more than anyone else sees.

As a counsellor and clinical supervisor, I’ve been reflecting on the need for dedicated wellbeing support for business owners, CEOs and senior leaders.

Not coaching.

Not mentoring.

A confidential space to pause, reflect, process and take care of your own wellbeing, so you can continue to lead with clarity, resilience and compassion.

Over the coming weeks I’ll be sharing more about leadership wellbeing and why I believe the people supporting everyone else deserve support too.

✨ If this resonates with you, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

When we’re burnt out, our nervous system can become overwhelmed. We might feel exhausted, disconnected, irritable, or li...
30/06/2026

When we’re burnt out, our nervous system can become overwhelmed. We might feel exhausted, disconnected, irritable, or like we’re constantly running on empty.

One of the things I often encourage clients to consider is the healing potential of spending time in nature.

Nature doesn’t expect anything from us. It doesn’t ask us to keep going, meet deadlines, or have everything figured out. Instead, it offers something many of us struggle to give ourselves—space to pause.

Whether it’s walking through woodland, sitting beside the sea, listening to birdsong, or feeling your feet on the grass, these simple moments can help calm the nervous system, reduce stress, and gently reconnect us with ourselves.

Burnout recovery isn’t about becoming the person you were before. It’s about creating a life where you don’t have to keep surviving at the expense of your wellbeing.

If you’re feeling emotionally exhausted, overwhelmed, or wondering whether what you’re experiencing is burnout, you don’t have to navigate it alone.

🌿 I’m a BACP Accredited Counsellor and I offer a warm, compassionate space where we can explore what’s been happening, understand what’s keeping you stuck, and help you begin to recover at a pace that feels right for you.

If this resonates with you, I’d love to hear from you. Feel free to send me a DM or get in touch via the link in my bio. NatureTherapy NatureHeals BACP EmotionalWellbeing SelfCompassion StressRecovery CounsellorUK

💚 What does your favourite place in nature give you that everyday life doesn’t?

I’m very pleased to say that I am now a qualified clinical supervisor. I very much look forward to developing this role ...
19/04/2026

I’m very pleased to say that I am now a qualified clinical supervisor. I very much look forward to developing this role more over the coming years. Hard work, commitment and self belief pay off. A reminder that things happen in increments, not all at once! Patience and discipline are very underrated but essential for change to occur.

19/04/2026

It’s a beautiful time of year to go outside and immerse yourself in the wonders of nature. The colours and the scent of woodland bluebells. 💚

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Brentwood

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Monday 9am - 6pm
Tuesday 9am - 6pm
Wednesday 9am - 8pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 6pm
Saturday 10am - 12pm

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+447813589669

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