Explore our insightful blog on overcoming the 'Never Good Enough' syndrome. Discover the roots of self-worth issues and learn effective strategies for healing through somatic therapy, inner child work, and creating new neural pathways. Join us at Expressive Freedom Counselling for a journey of self-discovery and embrace your true worth.

Discover how to transform your inner dialogue with "10 Unhelpful Things We Say to Ourselves and What to Do Instead." Learn to reframe negative self-talk into empowering mantras, understand the impact of words on our well-being, and embrace a more compassionate approach to self-dialogue.

Feeling lost about your future? Discover empowering steps to find clarity and embrace life's uncertainties. Learn how journaling, facing fears, aligning with core values, and envisioning your future self can guide you towards a fulfilling path, even when the next steps aren't clear.

What are Emotions and Feelings? 4 tips to expressing your emotions and feel your feelings. Recently I posted my understanding of the difference between emotions and feelings, and of course, the overlap between the two, but wanted to expand a bit further! You know how we sometimes use the words 'emotions' and 'feelings' interchangeably? Well, it turns out they're not exactly the same thing. Emotions are sending information to us and to others, our inner worlds. They're the universal language of humanity, connecting us to each other and the world around us. If emotions are the universal dance, feelings are the unique steps we take. They're shaped by our experiences, beliefs, and even physical sensations like hunger or pain.

Cultivating Self-Awareness: The Key to Personal Growth Let’s deep dive into Self-Awareness, personal growth, strategies and how you can enhance both in your life

Most of you know me by now, and if not, hi! Welcome to Expressive Freedom where we dive deep into the realms of personal growth and self-discovery.

Today, I wanted us to embark on a transformative, informative and all inclusive journey to explore the power of self-awareness and its profound impact on our personal growth.

I want this to be practical and light whilst providing some tips to help you cultivate self-awareness and unlock your full potential.

The Importance of Self-Awareness

Picture this, You're driving a car with a blindfold on. Sounds absurd, right? Without being aware of your surroundings, you're bound to crash into obstacles, take wrong turns, and feel lost. Similarly, in our personal lives, without self-awareness, we stumble through challenges, repeat patterns, and miss out on opportunities for growth.

Self-awareness is the key that unlocks the door to personal growth. It's the ability to observe and understand our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors without judgment.

By developing self-awareness, we gain insights into our strengths, weaknesses, triggers, and aspirations. This awareness empowers us to make conscious choices, cultivate authenticity, and create meaningful change in our lives.

Blending Somatic Therapy and Holistic Transpersonal Counseling: A Path to Personal Transformation - By integrating body-centered techniques, with somatic therapy we aim to release tension, heal past wounds, and create a solid foundation for personal growth. During somatic therapy I work with clients to bring attention to bodily sensations, movements, and gestures that may hold valuable information about underlying emotions and unresolved trauma. Through a gentle exploration and guided techniques, individuals can gradually welcome orphaned or abandoned parts of themselves, grow in their capacity to be with their experiences whilst releasing stored tension, regulating their nervous system, and re-establishing a sense of safety and balance in their bodies.

By blending somatic therapy and holistic transpersonal counseling, I envision a synergistic approach that offers a powerful catalyst for personal transformation. This integration allows us to address your unique challenges and goals in a comprehensive and holistic way, fostering healing, self-discovery, and personal empowerment.

Questioning Your Identity and Embracing Your Inner Landscape

If I had to ask myself who am I a few years ago, I would've just simply listed some various labels that I associated with! Things like i’m an operations manager, a partner, a divorcee, a stepmom, a daughter etc (you catch my drift!)

However, it has taken me a while to realize that these labels, knowingly or unknowingly, limit our potential. I mean, surely, thats not all I am? In this journal entry I wanted us to embark on a journey of a deeper form of self-discovery, delving deeper into our emotional and spiritual landscapes.

Do you ever find yourself caught in a spiral of thoughts, analyzing and overthinking a situation to the point of exhaustion? I mean hello analysis by paralysis, overwhelm?!

We've all been there, and it's a common human experience for many of us. Overthinking can be a major roadblock to living and thriving and just generally living our lives to the fullest and can also prevent us from fully engaging in the present moment.

What exactly is overthinking? Put simply, it's when we get caught up in a cycle of thinking and analyzing that can lead to increased stress and anxiety. We may find ourselves replaying conversations in our heads, imagining worst-case scenarios, or obsessing over minor details. It can be exhausting and can leave us feeling stuck and unable to move forward.

So many times i have been asked - What does Embodiment mean to you…and so many times, my responses have been…well, different.

Depending on my frame of mind, depending on my connection to Self and/or Spirit and depending on how my connection to my body felt at the time!

The essence of my response though, seems to remain…

Asking myself this time around, What is embodiment mean to me?

Embodiment is the aligned integration of what my soul wants, desires with how I speak, walk and move throughout my life in alignment with those authentic wants and needs. It’s the total unity of mind, body and soul moving in alignment with my Self. To be embodied asks you to hold a sense of awareness, of truth, of gentleness and grace. Its not about perfection, its not about striving….there is a truth to it, and whilst not easssyyy there is an ease to be found when you let go of the striving, feel what wants to be felt through you and I picture it as though I find myself in a space where i can kind of sit back, observe and align myself with the pieces that feel right for me right now!

As much as possible not hiding behind the guise of professionalism like i know it all, cause, lets be honest, NOONE knows it all. What i have learnt is that we all just have something unique to offer others simply from our experience of life and thats the stance i will be taking moving forward. I hope that if you resonate you can take something from this also x love Nic

Over the last few years i have explored getting to know myself and in turn, realized that the one thing i was REALLY good at was keeping myself too busy….all productive things, sure…but WAY too busy to deal with anything or situations that could have been addressed causing me grief or just a level of unhappiness that, well, went ka-boom (internally)!

Well here we go it has been blissful three weeks I could have ever asked for - catching up with colleagues/friends, family time with mum, sisters. Nieces and nephew, parties, good food and time on a boat! So what am I talking about? Am I complaining?

No, by no means no but hear me out…about halfway through I don't know what happens to me but I always fall into a deep state of regret, shame and guilt for not having a to-do list, for not completing certain tasks that I know or tell myself that I should be doing to optimise my down time!

Spring Clean your Life - 5 tips to feeling re-energized

Who is Transpersonal Counselling for?

Why is Transpersonal Counselling different?

My Story - Welcome Home