Bethany Thornton Counselling

January blues getting you down? You're not alone, it's the most disliked month of the year, cold weather, grey skies, short days, and financially tight after Christmas costs. Not only that, but trying to keep up with the new year resolutions that seemed such a great idea on 1st Jan, now feel like a chore, or have been abandoned all together (with a side effect of guilt). My latest blog looks at how beating yourself up is perhaps the bad habit you could discard this January and develop the inner cheerleader instead....https://www.bethanythorntoncounselling.co.uk/new-year-cheer/

Have you ever had times where you've felt you've lost yourself? Or wondered who you really are? In a world full of demands, pressures, expectations and comparisons, it's easy to believe the world knows better than you do who you're supposed to be and what you need to do to keep up and fit in. Or you may be so exhausted taking care of everyone else that you haven't been in touch with yourself and your own needs and wants for a long time. My latest blog explores the subject of self awareness and self-acceptance and why it's so important for emotional wellbeing...

The Journey to Self-Acceptance and Being Your True Self Struggling to be your true self? This blog explores how life experiences shape identity and how counselling can support your journey to self-acceptance.

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I think we can all relate to the poem below from time to time....

Today I said “I’m fine”, not once
But five times altogether
When people asked “how are you?”
Then made small talk of the weather

And so I hid behind my mask
The one I’d worn a while
I set in place my bravest face
And dressed it with a smile

And that was how the day went
All “I’m fine” and talk of rain
Until somebody asked me how I was
Then asked again

They asked if I was truly fine
And I said I was not
And they said they were sorry
That they couldn’t do a lot

But then they sat beside me
Whilst I spoke the truth at last
They listened and they held me
As the tears slipped through my mask

And where before, I’d felt I should
Maintain this brave façade,
I realised there was much to gain
By letting down my guard

See, though my load was still the same
It now was not as heavy
‘Cause sitting and offloading it
Had helped a bit already

Today they asked “how are you?”
And I told them I was fine
‘Til someone saw behind the mask
And asked me one more time

And though they may have felt
That there was little they could do
They’ll never know how much it meant
To tell someone the truth

Author - Becky Hemsley 2022

(“I’m fine” is from the poet's second poetry collection: "What the Wild Replied")

How much time do you think you've spent worrying about things that didn't end up happening? Or if they did, weren't as bad as you predicted? My latest blog is all about wasted worry and how to manage overthinking: https://www.bethanythorntoncounselling.co.uk/wasted-worry-letting-go-of-overthinking/

Is your partner driving you mad? Are you arguing about ways in which you both behave? One possible cause is your differing personalities. In my latest blog I've addressed the ways in which extraversion or introversion can impact how we relate to our other half... https://www.bethanythorntoncounselling.co.uk/personality-clash/

Help Dealing With Personality Clashes with Your Partner Relationship counselling (or 'couples counselling' or 'marriage counselling') is an effective form of talking therapy that can help with personality conflicts.

Drama: it's not just in the TV soaps, it plays out in real life all the time, and it can get really unpleasant (to say the least). Are you experiencing some drama in your life? Or trying to help someone else who is? Then I'd recommend reading my latest blog...
https://www.bethanythorntoncounselling.co.uk/tired-of-the-drama/

Dealing with drama in your life? Tired of it? Bethany Thornton, Counsellor in Stafford discusses dynamics in play in toxic relationships and some ideas to help you think about how to start changing those dynamics

Do you have a safe haven? Is there some place in your life that acts as a sanctuary? My latest blog looks at why we all need a safe haven and what this might look like...

A safe haven | Counselling in Stafford In this blog Bethany Thornton, counsellor in Stafford, discusses the benefits of having a safe haven to help cope with the challenges of life.

Do you know your love language? Or those of your loved ones? My new blog explains what love languages are and why they're so important for all your relationships (not just romantic ones)... https://www.bethanythorntoncounselling.co.uk/the-languages-of-love/

The Languages of Love | Counselling in Stafford As we approach Valentines Day, Bethany Thornton, Counsellor in Stafford, reflects on the Five Love Languages. The way in which we can all express and receive love.