The meaning behind a simple action — A couple of weeks ago, I had a conversation on social media about the effects of our therapist making us a cup of tea or coffee. I appreciate it can be difficult to understand why a person who is empathetic towards us, perhaps know us better than anyone else, contains…

And how you can tell if the therapy journey is working — Finding the right therapist can take you on a confusing journey, with various ideas of what is right and what is not. Research tells us that it isn’t the type or length of therapy that is at the center of success, but the relationship between you and your therapist. …

The ideas that cause us to misunderstand therapy — I’d love for therapy to be available to everyone who needs or wants it, but it isn’t just finances that can stand in the way, making the therapeutic journey unavailable. …

Reasons for the calm invironment in therapy — It is surprising how easily we can be affected by our surroundings, the same is true in therapy. Where we sit in relation to our therapist, the chairs and the room itself, even the environment external to the room can affect how we experience therapy. …

The support that forms the cornerstone of therapy — Therapists study and train for years to be able to work safely with their clients. Even as fully fletched therapists, they still benefit from having a trained supervisor, who is also a therapist, to talk with about their cases and clients. All registered UK therapists have to have regular supervision…

The smell of the past — I like nice smells. The aroma of newly baked bread that teases the tastebuds and brings images of me as a four-year-old pressing my nose against the local baker’s window. Or the fragrance of freshly mown grass on a summer’s day that takes me back to my grandmother’s garden. …

An interview with BBC Gardeners’ World — Gardening has played a major role in my life, especially after meeting my husband. What we created in our garden was a place to escape to, away from the world. …

Challenging expectations and preconceptions — Talking with friends and family about my upcoming trip to Kenya, brings remarks such as “Uh, it’s going to be hot there”, even the stewardess on our Qatar flight asks excitedly, “Are you going to see the migrating wildebeest?”. The image of a sunny and warm, if not hot, Africa…

Combining mindfulness with our experience of pollinators can evoke a well of positive emotions and bring lightness to our everyday lives. — The link between pollinators and wellbeing might not be obvious: how could these small beings possibly have a contributing factor to the feeling of human contentment, wellness or indeed happiness? …