When I bought my home in 2008, I imagined I’d be here forever. And yet, at times, I absolutely hated living here. It brought on all sorts of anxieties and worries the kind that seem to come with adulthood.

Even as a counsellor, I’ve sat with anxiety , and I think that’s part of what makes my work honest. It’s through those personal experiences that I can truly sit alongside clients as they explore their own.

My home holds so many stories. It’s now the only physical place my family has left where my mam spent time  since my dad moved out of the home they shared, and my brother and sister-in-law have moved on from theirs too. It’s been the backdrop to laughter, tears, career changes, heartbreaks, new connections, and long hours sat on the step on my landing — my thinking space.

Over the years, I grew up in this home. I changed. I retrained as a counsellor, built deeper relationships, and started showing up more fully as myself. For a long time, I just called it a house I hadn’t formed a relationship with it. Slowly, though, I began to shape it into something of my own. It became more than a roof over my head. It became a safe space. A place where I could enjoy my own company and come home to myself.

Change Brings Up Feelings — And That’s Okay

So, why am I writing this now? Because I’m about to leave this home. It’s time for a new beginning — and with that comes excitement, sadness, anxiety, and a bit of wonder. Will I miss it? Absolutely. But I also feel ready. Ready to embrace change, feel the unknown fully, and step into whatever comes next.

This process reminds me of what often happens in the counselling room.

The Counselling Room as a Safe Space

In Person-Centred Counselling, the relationship we build together is the foundation. Much like how I slowly built a relationship with my home, clients often begin counselling unsure, guarded, maybe a little disconnected. But over time  with empathy, genuine presence (congruence), and unconditional positive regard, a sense of safety can grow.

The counselling space becomes somewhere to take off the masks, lay down the armour, and start exploring what’s underneath.

I often describe it like this: counselling is a place to examine the armour you’ve built up to survive life , to look at each piece, understand how it’s helped you, and gently decide whether you still need it. My home has been part of my armour. It's protected me, nurtured me, and allowed me to grow into the person I am. And now, I feel ready to let it go ,because I’ve created that safety within myself.

That’s what I hope for everyone who steps into the counselling room. That, in time, they begin to feel safe in themselves, not just in the room. That no matter what changes around them, they carry something steady inside.

Change Is Not Linear, Neither Is Counselling

Counselling, like life, doesn’t follow a straight path. There are moments that feel like breakthroughs, and others that feel like steps backwards. As Paula Abdul sang (and yes, I do quote her sometimes), it’s two steps forward and two steps back.

But that’s okay.

Whether you're experiencing anxiety, grief, or a life transition, Person-Centred Counselling meets you exactly where you are — without judgement, without pressure. Just a space to explore, to reflect, and to feel what needs to be felt.

Final Thoughts

Leaving this home is a big step, but it’s also a reminder: I’ve built a safe space within myself. That’s something I now carry with me — and something I want to offer to others.

If you’re navigating change, feeling unsettled, or simply want to reconnect with your authentic self, Person-Centred Counselling can support you. It’s not about fixing you , it’s about creating a space where you feel safe enough to be yourself, and from there, to grow.

Take Care

Nicole x