The Beginning of the End: November Reflections
November always feels like a month of in-between -
the final amber leaves holding on, the warm glow behind closed curtains,
and the quiet realisation that - all of a sudden - another year is almost done.
For me, it’s a natural time for reflection:
what has been heavy, what has been nourishing,
and what has shifted quietly under the surface?
💡 Try it yourself
As we head into winter, take a moment to pause and check in:
What do you want to leave behind this year?
What do you want to carry forward with intention?
What parts of you feel tired, and which are asking for warmth and light?
Sometimes reflection doesn’t have to be deep or lengthy,
a small note on a post-it, a line in a journal.
Or, conversely, reflection can lead to motivation and planning,
even creating a spring manifesto over a cup of tea.
📌 For therapists reading
Are there spaces in your week that feel grounding? And are there others that quietly drain you?
As the year draws to a close, supervision and peer spaces can be an anchor, but so too can community, creativity, and connection outside of the therapy room.
📆 Upcoming Events
Last ever pitch (quick, quick!) - you can still join me online next week for:
🗓️ Working Therapeutically with Teenagers and Young Adults
📅 Monday, 10th November at 6 pm BST
Bring a cuppa as we explore the complex world of working therapeutically with young people — and how we, as practitioners, can look after ourselves as we do so.
If you’re local, come along to Therapy Network NorthEast’s networking event on Friday, 5th December, 10:15–11:45 am at Ouseburn Farm, Newcastle upon Tyne (NE1 2PA).
I’ll be speaking about my love of working with young adults, and there’ll be time for connection, conversation, and community.
📘 Writing Update
I’ve shared Sophie’s story, and so far she’s been well-received. There is something incredibly joyful about other people falling in love with your characters. It’s time for the next step of this journey.
In the meantime, I’ve been writing weekly on Substack as always. Posts like Modern Life, Micro-Stresses, and Neurodivergent Minds exploring the difficulties for parents and professionals to navigate and fight in a system to advocate for young people to have access to, feel safe and supported in education, have drawn the most attention recently. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
📖 Substacks I’ve Loved Recently
A few pieces that have stayed with me this month::
My hardest moment as a therapist, and what it taught me - by Dr Vicki Connop
“So, you think I need therapy?” Today’s Session: Monica - By Ordinary Therapist
Twenty ways to enjoy winter, Marking the fifth birthday of ‘Wintering’ - by Katherine May
📚 Recent reads
Again my fiction reads span the genres:
Lost Memory of Skin by Russell Banks, a complex story exploring the margins of society, recommended by Carol Featherstone
The kidnapping of Alice Ingold by Alice Ingold, a good book with interesting relationships, but with a (annoying) twist!
The Great Orchid Heist by Eleanor Heist, a cosy crime, meets unusual romance and wholesome feels.
And I will confess I have been binge-watching Taskmaster, a great way to break up my day with some lighthearted laughs.
💡 Ideas to Consider
Sometimes stress relief and self-care aren’t found where we expect them. As therapists, we’re trained to watch for burnout, but it’s not always about doing too much ‘work’.
As therapists, we’re trained to watch for burnout,
but it’s not always as simple as work too hard → take a break.
I am beginning to see more and more with supervisees when life feels hard and overwhelming, the counselling room is the one place that feels structured, safe, and calm. This is a place where practitioners know what is expected of us, we have a framework to follow, and our identity is well reflected upon and often validated. That can feel like a balm when our child seems to hate us, our partners feel distant, the car breaks down, or a parent refuses to see a doctor.
That sense of calm can be a balm… but it can also blur the edges of burnout.
📝 Therapist note: The counselling room can be both self-care and self-cost. Staying curious about which it is, in supervision, can be one of the most protective things we do.
(If you’d like to read more on this, Sally Brown’s excellent article explores this beautifully: What Really Causes Burnout in Therapists?)
💭 Closing Thought
Before we are distracted by fairy lights and chocolates, take a moment to think about the space winter gives us to reflect and decide what we carry forward.
I wonder:
It’s lovely to share a few quiet moments with you today.
Until next time,
💛🌿 Helen
If you’d like to support my work or are interested in learning more about working therapeutically with young people, you can:
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Buy my book ☕ Buy me a virtual toasted teacake or cuppa on Ko-fi 💛