Navigating a break from counselling over the holidays

I’m taking over two weeks’ break from my client work this Christmas from Friday 19th December, returning to sessions on Tuesday 6th January.

Like many counsellors, I really considered this decision before I took it. It’s a privilege to do what I do, but breaks and self-care are of course very important in this field. But for some clients a break can be difficult to manage, as sessions are an important source of support.

If you are concerned about how to navigate an upcoming break, be sure to share this with your counsellor. They will be able to help you make sure you know what resources, support and strategies are available to you, and help you to make a safety plan if necessary.

Sometimes a break can also be helpful. Counselling is hard work! And healing happens in the quiet moments too. Taking some time to rest and reflect on your progress and how far you’ve come might also encourage you to feel a little bit proud of yourself.

However you are feeling about having a pause from your sessions, it’s always a good idea to think about how you might take some time for self-care over the next few weeks. This time of year can be challenging for many reasons, and it never hurts to reach out to others or to take some time to do the things you love and that recharge you.

I’ll still be posting a little bit over the break if it feels right, but I’m taking the pressure off myself too - practice what you preach, right?