Summer, Systems & Small Gestures: June Reflections
☀️ Summer Approaches
Exams wind down, the final term begins, and summer whispers on the horizon.
If you missed it, I recently shared a post on navigating the post-exam crash, that odd feeling of emptiness after the adrenaline fades and revision ends. It’s not always beach days and bliss, but with care and awareness, the good moments can truly feel good.
For those working to the academic year, this is a liminal space: tying up loose ends, planning for next year, and for those in pastoral or therapeutic roles, preparing some young people for six weeks, or more, without regular support. If home doesn’t feel safe or stable, this time can carry a quiet dread or real risk. With a few weeks still to go, it’s wise to plan ahead:
Signpost to external support
Share emergency contact lists
Offer a transitional item or message
Reinforce coping skills in your final sessions
📘 Writing update:
My therapeutic fiction project is moving in bursts, and I have hit the landmark of 50,000 words. For me, this marks the point of no return. This draft will be completed! I am excited to see how my character ends her story.
Excitingly, this month, I have written an article on safeguarding in work with young adults in the BACP Children, Young People and Families Journal (CYPF); if you are a subscriber, look out for it in print, and the digital flip book is free to access for all BACP members. 🔗 ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eMPYfiss
Heather Ndaji, MBACP, is a school counsellor and shared a lovely book review of “A Practical Guide for Working Therapeutically with Teenagers and Young Adults”, which made my day. The review can be found at the end of the same journal.
📖 Substacks I’ve Loved Recently
Adolescent mental health reflects that of adults – Nevin Harper
Brainrot, Screen Addiction, and Late-Stage Capitalism - Tommy Blanchard
What do you want, right now? – Annie, Ridout
Trigger Warnings: helping or hurting? - Dr. Selda Koydemir
📚 Recent reads:
Writing Works: A Resource Handbook for Therapeutic Writing Workshops and Activities (Bolton, Field & Thompson), and I have some more lined up.
I have been downloading numerous Kindle fiction books ready for my summer break. A book a day - yes, please!
🌀 Tools to Try: Rituals of Softening
Often we have to wear ‘professional clothing’, lanyards, badges, or carry paperwork in our roles. These small symbols are indicators to those we work with that we are on the ‘other side’, the adults, the professionals, the authority figure. This usually isn’t conducive to forming a relationship or even feeling at ease.
If appropriate, making a small gesture can be powerful - taking off the lanyard, putting down the paperwork, even hugging a cushion, can show that this space is different, “this is different — this is a space for you.”
💡Ideas to Consider: Theories are not truths
We’re in a moment rich with psychology discourse — TikTok trends, Netflix specials, and podcast debates. Awareness is valuable, but let’s remember theories are theories:
A good example is Adolescence, which highlights a genuine problem: media and negative influences do harm some young people, but they also affect adults.
And #notallyoungpeople. There are many educated, independent thinkers among the young. Not all young people are lost or radicalised.
A more academic example is attachment theory, which, yes, offers insight, but it is not a predictor, and a person is unlikely to fit neatly into one attachment category.
Without care, we risk turning complex lives into personality quizzes. Let’s stay curious and critical.
🖥️ Online Resources
🎧I have been adding podcasts to my CPD recently, tuning into ones from NSPCC learning and ACAMH. When we are surrounded by admin, listening often feels gentler than reading in a busy week, learning in rest.
💭 Closing Reflection
What quiet gesture could you offer — to a client, a colleague, or yourself — that says: “I see you. I’m here.”?
Lovely to share a moment with you. 💛🍃
Until next time, Helen
Find my book at PCCS, Amazon and Waterstones.
🌿 If you’ve found something here that resonates…
Hello, lovely people,
Writing here continues to be one of my favourite things, a place where therapeutic work, reflection, and storytelling meet. I’ve loved the sense of connection and recognition that comes through the screen.
If you’ve ever found something useful, moving, or thought-provoking here, and you’d like to support my work, I’ve now set up a Ko-fi page where you can buy me a virtual toasted teacake or cuppa. 💛
There’s no pressure; everything I currently share will remain freely accessible, but your support helps cover the time, care, and quiet cuppa it takes to write these pieces.
Thank you, as always, for being here.