Lara Rust Counselling - The Compassionate Couch

20/04/2026

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒇 𝒂𝒏𝒙𝒊𝒆𝒕𝒚 𝒊𝒔𝒏’𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒎, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒂 𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒏𝒂𝒍?

We’re often taught to get rid of anxiety as quickly as possible.�But sometimes, it shows up when something really matters, a decision, a change, or a moment of uncertainty.

Not always as a warning to stop,�but as something asking you to pay attention.

When anxiety shows up for you, do you tend to push it away, or try to understand it?

If you’d like to understand anxiety in a different way, not as something to fight, but something to listen to, you can read more by clicking below:

Anxiety isn’t always a sign that something is wrong, it’s often a response to uncertainty, meaning, and what truly matters. This piece explores a more compassionate way to understand anxiety, not as something to eliminate, but as something to listen to.

20/03/2026

A stranger wrote a letter to someone they’ll never meet…

And it might be the reason that person stays.

This story really stayed with me.

It’s about loss, but also about what can come from it, something simple, human, and powerful.

Sometimes we don’t need advice.
We just need to be reminded that we matter.

I wrote a short piece about it below 💛

https://www.lararust.com/post/mental-health-connection-problem-reasons-to-stay

Awareness isn’t the problem. Connection is. This piece explores why most mental health content misses the mark, and how a simple idea built on human connection is quietly making a real difference.

06/03/2026

Why do we sometimes crave closeness but pull away at the same time?

Attachment and autonomy are often seen as opposing needs, but in reality, they’re constantly in dialogue.

Many of us don’t struggle with connection because we don’t want it, we struggle because we’re afraid of what closeness might cost: freedom, safety, identity, or emotional balance.

In my latest blog, I explore how our early relationships shape the way we connect as adults, and how the fear of being truly seen can quietly limit genuine connection.

If this resonates, I’d love to hear your thoughts: have you noticed this tension in your own relationships?

What if the fear of being seen isn’t about others, but about what might awaken within us? Exploring attachment, freedom, and authenticity in relationships.

14/02/2026

Some moments split life into before and after.

Fear can stop us in our tracks… or it can be the doorway to our biggest life.

I’ve learned this firsthand after a life-changing panic attack years ago. I share my story and what living beyond fear really looks like in my latest blog post:

An honest exploration of panic, resilience, and growth. Discover how living beyond fear can transform uncertainty into purpose and help you step into a fuller, braver life.

05/02/2026

Loneliness isn’t always about being alone.

Many people feel lonely in relationships, families, and busy lives, and then feel ashamed for feeling that way.

This month’s blog gently explores loneliness from an existential and mental health perspective: not as something wrong with you, but as something asking for attention and care.

You don’t need to rush to fix loneliness.
Sometimes, it needs to be heard first.

🔗 Blog link below

Loneliness isn’t always a sign of failure or lack. Sometimes it’s an invitation to listen more deeply to yourself. Beyond isolation, there is an existential loneliness that arises when we outgrow old identities or long for more honest connection. When met with curiosity rather than shame, loneli...

02/02/2026

Life can feel heavy sometimes. 🌿

When emotions pile up, boundaries feel blurry, or relationships feel harder than they should, it’s okay to pause and get support.

Therapy isn’t about fixing what’s “wrong”, it’s about understanding yourself better, learning new ways to cope, and creating space for change.

You don’t have to have it all figured out to start.
You just have to start.

Support is available when you’re ready. 🤍

📩 Reach out to book or to find out more - www.lararust.com

30/01/2026

A reminder for anyone who needs it today 🤍

28/01/2026

Healing isn’t about forgetting the wound.
It’s about understanding it deeply enough that it no longer controls you.

28/01/2026

Healing begins when you stop leaving yourself behind.

Choosing yourself is coming home. 🤍
How can you start taking care of yourself today?