Abbey
A 35-year-old teacher begins counselling to recover from burnout
Abbey sought counselling after experiencing severe burnout, which began two years ago due to the pressures of her demanding job and a lack of work-life balance. The stress had taken a toll on her emotionally and physically—she felt exhausted, detached, and unable to enjoy her teaching, which she once loved. Socially, Abbey began withdrawing from her friends and family, and occupationally, she was at risk of taking extended leave.
Abbey's goal for counselling was to regain her energy, reconnect with her passion for teaching, and establish healthier boundaries to protect her well-being. She also wanted to rediscover joy in her personal life and learn tools to prevent burnout in the future.
During counselling, Abbey discovered three key insights:
- The importance of nervous system regulation: Abbey learned how stress had dysregulated her nervous system and practiced tools like breathwork and grounding exercises to bring her body back to a state of calm.
- The impact of boundaries: Abbey realised that saying “yes” to everything at work had contributed to her burnout. She practiced setting clear boundaries, such as limiting her work hours and delegating responsibilities.
- The value of self-care: Abbey embraced the concept that rest and activities that nourished her spirit weren’t luxuries but necessities. She started journaling, prioritising movement, and carving out time for hobbies she loved.
Over the course of her sessions, Abbey’s energy gradually returned. She felt more in control of her workload and began reconnecting with the joy of teaching. Emotionally, she experienced a sense of balance and resilience.
When Abbey completed counselling, she was excited about implementing her new self-care routine and setting boundaries at work. She looked forward to her weekends again, filled with rest and connection with her loved ones. Abbey left therapy with confidence in her ability to maintain a healthier, more fulfilling life.
Angela
A 39-Year-Old Corporate Manager and Mother Learns to Prioritise Herself
Angela, a 39-year-old corporate manager and mother of two young children, entered counselling seeking help for burnout. Balancing the demands of a high-pressure job with the responsibilities of motherhood had left Angela feeling depleted, anxious, and stuck in a cycle of constant busyness. She hoped therapy would help her find a way to restore her energy, strengthen her emotional resilience, and learn how to make herself a priority without guilt.
For years, Angela had been putting everyone else's needs above her own. The stress began to affect her physical health, with frequent headaches, insomnia, and a nagging sense of exhaustion that no amount of rest could shake. She struggled to be present for her children and felt disconnected from the joy she once found in her work and family life. Angela’s goal for counselling was to learn how to care for herself so she could thrive both at home and in the workplace.
During therapy, Angela experienced three significant realisations:
- Self-care is essential, not selfish: Angela reframed her belief that prioritising herself was neglecting others. She recognised that by taking care of her own well-being, she could show up as a better mother, partner, and leader.
- Small changes make a big difference: Angela learned to integrate micro-practices into her daily life, such as 10 minutes of mindful breathing before starting her day and setting boundaries to protect her evenings for family time.
- The power of saying no: Therapy helped Angela develop the confidence to say no to additional work commitments and delegate tasks at home and in the office, creating more space for rest and rejuvenation.
Over time, Angela’s progress was profound. She began carving out "me time" each week to engage in activities she loved, like yoga and reading, which helped her reconnect with herself. By creating a morning routine that included mindfulness and reflection, she started her days with clarity and calmness. Angela also noticed improvements in her relationships as she became more present and engaged with her children and spouse.
When counselling ended, Angela was in a far better place emotionally, physically, and mentally. She had implemented sustainable practices that kept her balanced and was optimistic about her ability to handle future challenges. With newfound energy and confidence, Angela felt empowered to live a life that honoured her needs and values, both at work and at home.
Sarah
A 36-Year-Old Teacher Breaks Free from Overwhelm and Trauma
Sarah, a 36-year-old teacher, entered counselling to address anxiety, overwhelm, and the lingering trauma from a domestic violence (DV) relationship. The weight of her past had begun to affect her ability to focus on work, maintain meaningful relationships, and feel safe in her own life. Sarah sought therapy to heal from the trauma, rebuild her sense of self, and break free from the patterns that had kept her stuck.
The trauma from Sarah’s past DV relationship had left her with heightened anxiety, trouble trusting others, and a persistent sense of fear. As she began therapy, she also uncovered how her family of origin dynamics had influenced her relationships and coping mechanisms. Sarah’s goal was to process and release the pain of her past while cultivating healthier patterns and a sense of inner peace.
Throughout her counselling journey, Sarah made three profound discoveries:
- Understanding her trauma responses: Sarah learned how her body was still holding the effects of trauma, often leaving her in a heightened state of fight or flight. Therapy helped her understand these responses and use grounding techniques to feel safer in her body.
- Connecting family patterns to her relationships: Sarah explored how her family dynamics growing up had shaped her expectations in relationships, leading her to prioritize others’ needs at her own expense. She began to untangle these patterns and set healthier boundaries.
- Reclaiming her sense of self: Through inner work, Sarah rediscovered her own values, strengths, and desires, learning to trust herself and her instincts again.
Over time, Sarah began to feel lighter and more in control of her life. She developed tools to manage her anxiety, including breathwork and mindfulness practices, and used these skills to navigate triggers when they arose. She also reconnected with supportive friends and started pursuing activities that brought her joy, such as gardening and writing.
By the end of therapy, Sarah had not only worked through the trauma of her DV relationship but also gained a deeper understanding of her family patterns and how they influenced her. She felt more grounded, self-assured, and ready to build a life rooted in safety and self-love. Sarah was optimistic about her future, excited to create relationships and experiences that honoured her healing and newfound strength.
Rachael
A 31-Year-Old Event Planner Reclaims Her Mental Health
Rachael, a 31-year-old event planner, sought counselling to address anxiety, people-pleasing tendencies, and burnout. Years of striving to meet the expectations of others—both at work and in her personal life—had left Rachael feeling overwhelmed, drained, and unsure of her own needs. She wanted to regain control over her mental health, establish healthier boundaries, and learn how to navigate life without constant stress.
Rachael’s struggles with anxiety and people-pleasing had been present since her teenage years but escalated as her career grew more demanding. She felt an ever-present pressure to be perfect, often sacrificing her well-being to ensure others were happy. The result was chronic exhaustion, a lack of joy in her accomplishments, and feelings of resentment that she found difficult to express. Rachael’s goal for counselling was to learn to prioritise her own needs and develop tools to manage her anxiety effectively.
During therapy, Rachael experienced three key breakthroughs:
- Recognising the cost of people-pleasing: Rachael realised how her constant efforts to please others had taken a toll on her mental and physical health. She began to identify where this pattern stemmed from and why it was no longer serving her.
- Developing self-compassion: Therapy helped Rachael replace her harsh inner critic with a kinder, more supportive inner voice. She learned that she was deserving of care and rest, just like anyone else.
- Setting boundaries with confidence: Through practice, Rachael became more comfortable saying no and asserting her needs, both at work and in her relationships. This shift allowed her to reclaim her time and energy for things that truly mattered to her.
As counselling progressed, Rachael noticed a significant improvement in her anxiety levels. She began incorporating mindfulness practices into her daily routine, which helped her stay grounded and present. By setting clearer boundaries, she experienced less stress at work and found more time for hobbies she had neglected, like painting and hiking.
When therapy concluded, Rachael felt empowered and at peace. She had redefined her worth, no longer tying it to how much she could do for others, and felt confident in her ability to maintain balance in her life. Rachael was optimistic about her future and excited to continue her journey of self-discovery and growth, living a life that was true to herself.
Emma
A 42-Year-Old Marketing Executive Reconnects with Calm and Clarity
Emma, a 42-year-old marketing executive, came to counselling overwhelmed by chronic stress at work. Her fast-paced job often left her feeling stuck in cycles of frustration, anxiety, and exhaustion. Emma was seeking help to better manage her stress and reclaim a sense of balance. As we began her journey, Emma also realised that her stress responses were deeply connected to unresolved traumatic events from her past.
For years, Emma had been living in survival mode, frequently oscillating between fight-or-flight reactivity and freeze/collapse states. The stress not only affected her performance at work but also spilled into her personal life, leaving her disconnected from her family and friends. Emma’s goal for counselling was to understand her body’s stress responses, identify her triggers, and learn how to create safety within her nervous system to access calm, grounded energy throughout the day.
Throughout therapy, Emma experienced several transformative breakthroughs:
- Mapping her nervous system responses: Emma learned to recognise when her body shifted into survival patterns. She identified how work pressures or interpersonal conflict often triggered fight-or-flight reactions, while overwhelm caused her to retreat into freeze or collapse.
- Understanding her past’s role in the present: By connecting her stress patterns to past traumatic events, Emma began to see how her body had learned these responses as a way to protect her. This insight helped her replace self-criticism with self-compassion.
- Building nervous system resources: Emma explored grounding techniques, breathing exercises, and sensory-based practices to help her move back into her window of tolerance. These tools empowered her to access states of calm, clarity, and connection, even in high-stress situations.
As therapy progressed, Emma gained a deep sense of self-awareness and confidence in navigating her stress. She began implementing daily practices, such as morning breathwork and mid-day grounding rituals, to regulate her nervous system. At work, Emma was able to pause and respond thoughtfully instead of reacting impulsively, which improved her relationships with colleagues. At home, she reconnected with her family, enjoying moments of presence and joy.
By the time therapy concluded, Emma had transformed her relationship with stress and her body. She felt calm, clear-headed, and equipped with a toolkit to maintain her emotional and nervous system balance. Emma expressed gratitude for her newfound ability to feel safe within herself and was excited to continue embracing a life filled with calm, connection, and resilience.
Sophie
A 34-Year-Old Social Worker Navigates the Loss of Her Mother
Sophie, a 34-year-old social worker, sought counselling to cope with the deep grief following the sudden loss of her mother. Sophie had always been close to her mother, and the loss left her feeling overwhelmed with sadness, confusion, and an intense sense of emptiness. She found it difficult to focus at work, and her relationships with friends and family became strained as she withdrew emotionally. Sophie came to therapy with the hope of understanding her grief and finding a way to move forward while honouring her mother’s memory.
The grief Sophie experienced was complex and layered. She was grappling with feelings of guilt, unresolved emotions from their last months together, and the fear that she would never fully recover from the loss. Sophie’s goal for counselling was to better understand her grief and develop healthy ways of processing and expressing her emotions, ultimately finding a path to healing that felt authentic to her.
Throughout her sessions, Sophie made three key discoveries:
- Grief is unique and doesn't follow a set timeline: Sophie learned that grief is a deeply personal experience and there is no "right" way to grieve. By allowing herself to experience grief in her own way and at her own pace, she was able to release some of the self-imposed pressure to "move on" quickly.
- Connecting with her mother’s legacy: Sophie found comfort in reflecting on the positive qualities of her mother, the lessons she had imparted, and the love they had shared. She began to honour her mother’s memory through small rituals, such as writing letters or lighting candles on special dates, which helped her feel connected to her.
- Creating space for joy and healing: Sophie realised that it was possible to hold both grief and joy at the same time. She learned how to carve out moments of peace and happiness in her life, knowing that healing doesn’t mean forgetting but rather finding a way to live with the grief while still embracing life’s beauty.
By the end of therapy, Sophie felt lighter and more at peace with her grief. She had gained tools to help her process emotions when they arose, and she no longer felt overwhelmed by the sadness that had once consumed her. Sophie was able to approach her grief with compassion, allowing herself to feel both the pain and the healing. She had rediscovered her ability to connect with her loved ones and was ready to live her life with greater resilience and gratitude for the love her mother had given her. Sophie expressed hope for the future, knowing that, while grief would always be a part of her journey, it no longer defined her.
Claire
A 45-Year-Old Childcare worker Learns to Navigate Chronic Illness with Acceptance and Self-Compassio
Claire, a 45-year-old teacher, came to counselling seeking support for her chronic illness, which had left her feeling physically drained, emotionally overwhelmed, and disconnected from the life she once knew. After being diagnosed with a long-term condition, Claire struggled with fluctuating symptoms that ranged from severe fatigue to debilitating pain, and she felt as though her world had been turned upside down. She came to therapy hoping to find a way to accept her new reality, manage her symptoms, and reclaim some semblance of peace in her life.
For Claire, the journey with chronic illness was not about finding a cure, but learning how to live in harmony with her body and mind despite ongoing challenges. The emotional weight of her diagnosis, coupled with the physical toll, had brought up feelings of grief, frustration, and a sense of loss for the life she had once envisioned for herself. Claire’s goal for counselling was to understand her body’s responses to stress, identify triggers for her symptoms, and learn techniques to calm her nervous system so she could experience more peace and acceptance.
Throughout her therapy sessions, Claire made several key discoveries:
- Recognising her triggers and survival states: Claire learned to identify how certain situations, thoughts, and emotions triggered her physical symptoms. She discovered that when she entered a stress response—such as fight-or-flight or freeze—her body became more reactive, intensifying her chronic illness symptoms. By learning to notice these patterns, Claire was able to make mindful choices to intervene and reduce the impact of these stress responses.
- Connecting to her nervous system and finding safety: Claire discovered the power of nervous system regulation, using grounding techniques, breathwork, and body awareness practices to activate her parasympathetic system and create a sense of safety in her body. These practices helped Claire experience more moments of calm and peace, even during flare-ups of her symptoms, allowing her to feel more in control of her body and mind.
- Processing grief and rebuilding her life: Claire recognised that living with chronic illness was a form of loss, and through therapy, she was able to process the grief surrounding the life she had once imagined. By accepting that her illness was a part of her reality, Claire could begin to rebuild her life with compassion, focusing on what she could do rather than what she couldn’t. This shift allowed her to find new joys and a sense of purpose, despite her physical limitations.
As Claire worked through her grief and learned to manage her symptoms, she found a renewed sense of resilience. While her chronic illness remained a part of her life, it no longer dominated her thoughts or emotions. She had gained the tools to access calm, to feel safe in her body, and to acknowledge the difficult moments without letting them define her. Claire was able to rebuild her life with more acceptance and clarity, balancing rest with activity, and finding peace in the present moment.
When therapy concluded, Claire felt more at ease with her illness. She knew that while healing from chronic illness might not be possible, finding peace and acceptance was. Claire’s journey had taught her that it was possible to live a fulfilling life with chronic illness by managing her symptoms, staying attuned to her body, and creating safety within her nervous system. She left therapy with a greater sense of self-compassion, knowing that her healing journey was one of acceptance, not perfection.
