Heartscape Counselling - Heartscape Blog

A week is sometimes all we get

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 03:36:08 GMT

I recently lost my dog to prostate cancer a week after diagnosis.

Seven days was it. All the time left between hearing words I never expected and learning how to say goodbye. One week earlier, life felt ordinary — walks, gentle playtimes, familiar routines, quiet companionship woven gently into each day. Then suddenly, time changed. I found myself noticing everything. The way he looked at me. The rhythm of his breathing. The simple comfort of him being there. There was no slow preparation. Mercifully gentle vet visits, difficult decisions, and the growing awareness that love sometimes means choosing kindness over holding on. Part of me wanting for more time — for a pause long enough for my heart to understand what was happening and yet the equal desire not to allow him to suffer. And yet the days simply kept moving in an uncertain unpredictable adventure of emotion.

When goodbye came, it felt both certain and impossible at the same time.

A week didn't really feel like enough time to prepare, perhaps there is never enough time to prepare. But it was enough time to realise how deeply love had already taken root. How much the last 9.5 years had meant.

And I didn’t yet know that the hardest part was still ahead — coming home to the silence. A pervasive deep invader that was an unwelcome guest that took my breath away with its depth.

f you’re in the early days of loss, everything can feel overwhelming and hard to take in. You don’t have to make sense of it all right now. If and when you feel ready, you don’t have to walk this part alone.

Rewriting the Story You Live By

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 10:24:30 GMT

Have you ever felt stuck in a story about your life that weighs you down — a story that says “I’m not enough,” “I’ll always feel this way,” or “Nothing ever changes”? Maybe it’s a story that’s been playing quietly in the background for years, or one that’s taken centre stage during a tough season.

What if you paused and asked:

What story am I living by?
Where did it come from?
Who handed it to me — and have I agreed with it without realising?
Is this the only story possible?
What parts of my story have I overlooked, or forgotten?
What story would I tell if I gave myself permission to hope?

Sometimes, the stories we carry are only part of the truth. And sometimes, asking the right questions opens the door to a better, kinder, more honest version of the story — one that makes space for growth, healing, and change.

Counselling can be a safe place to explore these questions and rediscover the stories that bring strength, meaning, and hope.

How would you choose a Counsellor?

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 10:01:03 GMT

“Curiouser and curiouser!” Cried Alice (she was so much surprised,
that for the moment she quite forgot how to speak good English).”

― Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland / Through the Looking-Glass

Alice, I think, was onto a good thing.

When the world is feeling upside down and doesn't make sense, curiousity helps us to identify what we need.

Have you ever thought about what you would look for in a Counsellor? It's something that has occupied my attention of late. Obviously, we all want to find the right person for us - but what does that look like?

Let's explore a couple of thoughts hey?

Thought number 1: can you identify what type of counselling you are looking for?

There's a bunch of good people out there waiting for the chance to help. We help best when you can define what kind of help you are looking for. Are you looking for help with a relationship, or your own wellbeing? The type of issue you would like to explore will help you to identify what type of counselling will be most helpful. Are you the kind of person that wants to explore emotions and feelings, or do you prefer to focus on a way forward - solutions are important.

Thought number 2: What qualifications would my ideal Counsellor need to hold?

It is a good idea to check that the Counsellor you are considering is appropriately qualified and holds professional membership with an association. A Counsellor with a Masters qualification will have a different skillset to a Counsellor with a diploma. Make sure you include your faith in this consideration - Counsellors can be ordained clergy or trained religious professionals who integrate spiritual and psychological insights into their counselling practice.

More later!

Author

A Counsellor and curious explorer of life