theraplaywithjess

Search This Blog

Testimonials

Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps

Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps

Healing from the Hut

Healing from the Hut - and Why I identify as Neurodivergent. It all started with a dual process. At the time, I was supporting a teacher in supervision who was navigating his recent diagnosis of neurodivergence. Through our work together, he felt empowered to share his diagnosis with senior leaders and adjust his working hours in a way that supported his challenges rather than masked them. Watching him take that step gave me pause. If he could make changes to better honour his needs, then why couldn’t I? That moment became a mirror. It encouraged me to accept my own challenges and adapt my working week in ways that truly support me. And so, I submitted a statutory request for flexible working. On paper, it was simple: permission to reduce my working hours, so I could leave early and complete my notes/PPA away from a busy school setting. In practice, it was an act of self-acceptance. The beach hut has since become a special space for me. With no WiFi, no constant interruptio...

The Sea & Me

The Sea & Me A reflection on authenticity, connection, and the healing power of the ocean. I write this blog while looking out at a line of family wetsuits hanging to dry, their salt-stiff arms swaying in the breeze. The scent of salt and seaweed drifts through the air — familiar, grounding, alive. It feels like the right moment to pause and reflect on what the sea has meant to me over the years: not just as a place of joy and freedom, but as a mirror, a teacher, and sometimes, a lifeline. There is a tension in my work as a therapist: how much of me do I share? Self-disclosure is a delicate tool. Too much, and the focus drifts from the client’s story. Too little, and the bridge of trust may remain incomplete. Yet when used with care and intention, it can strengthen empathy and connection. Because most of my clients don’t see my social media, I’ve chosen this space to share a little more about why I do what I do — particularly my lifelong relationship wi...

Helping Children Process the Loss of a Pet - The Day the River Went Out and Never Came Back

The Day the River Went Out and Never Came Back – Helping Children Process the Loss of a Pet In loving memory of our cat, River and our dog, Kuja. Today is remembrance day and yesterday, our family cat, River, was hit by a car and died. The house feels different now — quieter, emptier. River was woven into the rhythm of our days: morning greetings, evening cuddles, the soft weight at the end of a bed. As I sit with grief, I’ve been reflecting on how we help children process the loss of a pet — something teachers, parents, and therapists often encounter but sometimes brush past too quickly. Many children I work with want to talk about pets they lost long ago — what they meant to them, how they miss them, where they think they’ve gone. It’s a powerful reminder that grief in children is real and lasting, even when adults assume they’ve “moved on.” What Is Grief? “Grief is the normal and natural emotional reaction to loss or change of any kind. Of itself...

Powered by Blogger