Reynolds Counselling and Wellness

23/06/2026

“Be curious, not judgmental”

This is one of my favourite moments from Ted Lasso, and it’s such an important lesson - not just in therapy, but in life.

As counsellors, we don’t sit with people and judge them. We stay curious.

Curious about their experiences.
Curious about their feelings.
Curious about what has shaped them.
Curious about the meaning behind their behaviours, thoughts and struggles.

Because when we replace judgement with curiosity, something shifts. Instead of asking, “What’s wrong with me?” we begin to ask, “I wonder why I feel this way?”.

In counselling, it’s about creating a safe space to explore the questions. Perhaps this is something we could all practise a little more - with ourselves and with others.

19/06/2026

So many of us live as though life will wait.

We’ll book the holiday next year.
We’ll make time when work is quieter.
We’ll visit them next week.
We’ll wear the outfit when we feel more confident.
We’ll take the photo another day.

But life rarely slows down, and time has a way of moving faster than we expect.

Working in a hospice has taught me many things, but one of them is that very few people look back wishing they had worked more, worried more or waited longer. People wish they had taken the trip, made the call, spent the time, taken the photo or told someone they loved them.

Later isn’t something any of us are promised.

18/06/2026

In the UK, there are around 700,000 autistic people.

Autistic author, researcher and educator Alexis Quinn says: “Including families, autism impacts around 2.8 million people.

“Yet, many of us face stigma, victimisation and bullying. The consequences of this can be trauma, poor mental health and high rates of suicidality.

“To change this, let’s think about what real allyship looks like. In The Art of Loving, the philosopher Erich Fromm argued that love isn’t just a passive feeling we stumble into. It’s an active practice that takes effort, responsibility, respect and deep understanding.

“Allyship is exactly that – an active art of loving.

“I am not talking about feeling sorry for autistic people or wearing a blue (or any other colour) ribbon. I am talking about making a conscious commitment to embrace autistic people in ways they need, especially when they are distressed.”

It’s Autistic Pride Day today so we wanted to share just some of the ways to be an ally to autistic people. Read Alexis’ thoughts on how to achieve these in the Big Issue: https://orlo.uk/uF5c8

Alexis also supports Autism Central, an NHS-funded peer support service delivered by Anna Freud, for the families and support networks of autistic people.

18/06/2026

Therapy isn’t about being serious all the time. Sometimes growth sounds a lot like laughter🤍

16/06/2026

Men’s Mental Health Awareness Week has got me thinking about some of the conversations I’ve had with clients over the years. One thing I’ve noticed is that emotional struggles don’t always show up in the ways we expect them to.

Sometimes what is described is poor sleep, frustration, feeling disconnected or a sense that something isn’t quite right. It can take time before the deeper feelings underneath find words.

I’ve written a short blog reflecting on some of the patterns I’ve noticed in the counselling room, the connection between emotional wellbeing and the body, and why talking about mental health is often more complex than simply encouraging people to open up.

You can read the full blog here:

Many of the men I work with do not initially come to counselling describing themselves as struggling with their mental health. More often, they come because something in their life no longer feels manageable in the way it once did. In this blog, I reflect on some of the patterns I have noticed in th...

12/06/2026

Many people don’t come to counselling saying:
“I think I have anxiety”. They say:

💭 “I can’t switch off”
💭 “I’m exhausted”
💭 “I don’t feel like myself anymore”
💭 “I don’t know why, but I feel a constant dread”

Anxiety isn’t always panic attacks. Sometimes it can quietly become part of everyday life. You carry on going to work, looking after everyone else and doing what needs to be done, all while feeling like something just isn’t quite right.

I’ve written a new blog exploring some of the signs that anxiety may be taking up more space than you realise. Perhaps we’ve become so good at coping that we stop noticing we’re struggling.

You can read the full blog here:

Many people don't say, "I think I have anxiety". They say, "I just don't feel like myself anymore". Anxiety is not always panic attacks. Sometimes it shows up as overthinking, emotional overwhelm, exhaustion or feeling disconnected from yourself and the people around you. Explore the quieter signs o...

11/06/2026

Some people come to an energy healing session because they feel stressed or emotionally overwhelmed. Most people say “I don’t know how to switch off anymore”.

For 90 minutes, there is nowhere to be, nothing to achieve and nothing expected of you.

Many people tell me they leave feeling deeply relaxed, lighter or calmer than they have in a long time. Some sleep better that night. Others notice a significant shift over the following days.

Every experience is different, but sometimes giving yourself permission to slow down can be healing in itself.

If you’ve been feeling like you’re carrying too much, you don’t have to keep pushing through it.

Contact: [email protected] | 07459150349

08/06/2026

Some of the loneliest people I meet aren’t alone.

They have families.
Friends.
Colleagues.
People who love them.

But they’re also the one everyone turns to.

The one who listens.
The one who remembers.
The one who keeps going.
The one who says, “Don’t worry about me”.

Loneliness isn’t always the absence of people. Sometimes it’s the absence of a space where you feel safe enough to stop being the strong one.

So I wonder… who do you lean on?

07/06/2026

A client said something to me recently that really stayed with me. “I just want to escape for a few days”… I wonder how many of us have felt that.

Not because we want to leave our lives behind, but because we’re exhausted. Exhausted from carrying responsibilities, worrying about the future, overthinking conversations, looking after everyone else or simply trying to hold it all together.

Perhaps the urge to run away isn’t always about wanting a different life. Perhaps it’s a sign that something inside our current one needs our attention.

If this resonates with you, I wonder: What do you need right now?

04/06/2026

I’ve just published a new blog on my website: The Hidden Emotional Impact of Living with Chronic Pain

In this article, I explore some of the emotional realities of chronic pain, along with strategies that may help support wellbeing and resilience.

I’m also pleased to be starting a regular blog series, with new articles on mental health, wellbeing, relationships, grief, chronic pain and personal growth being added to my website each week.

Feel free to follow along and share with anyone who may find it helpful.

Warmly, Jess 🌿

Living with chronic pain impacts far more than the body. Explore the emotional impact of chronic pain, including grief, anxiety, loss of identity, fear and practical strategies for coping and moving forward.