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Shaw Life Counselling Insights


Why You Feel Stuck, Push People Away, and Struggle with Self-Worth”
If you feel stuck, push people away, or quietly doubt your worth, you're not alone. This piece explores the patterns behind the feelings - and how things can begin to shift.

Kathy Shaw
5 hours ago3 min read


How to Set Boundaries Without Guilt: Counsellor & Therapist for Overcoming People-Pleasing & Anxiety
How to Set Boundaries Without Feeling Guilty Setting boundaries is one of the most important things we can do for our mental and emotional wellbeing—yet it’s also one of the hardest. Many people who seek support from a counsellor or therapist struggle with people-pleasing, anxiety, or low self-worth , often rooted in earlier life experiences. When you’ve learned to prioritise others’ needs, setting boundaries can feel uncomfortable… even wrong. Guilt often follows, making yo

Kathy Shaw
Mar 213 min read


How Childhood Trauma Affects Adult Behaviour | Anxiety, People-Pleasing & Healing
How Childhood Trauma Affects Adult Behaviour Many adults struggle with anxiety, overthinking, people-pleasing, or low self-worth without fully understanding where these patterns come from. In many cases, these challenges are linked to childhood trauma and early life experiences. Understanding how childhood trauma affects adult behaviour can be a powerful first step toward healing and creating lasting change. What Is Childhood Trauma? Childhood trauma does not always involve e

Kathy Shaw
Mar 62 min read


Who This Website Is For: Counsellor, Therapist & Clinical Supervisor
Ethical counselling and reflective clinical supervision grounded in warmth, integrity, and thoughtful therapeutic practice.

Kathy Shaw
Feb 103 min read


Children’s Mental Health Week: Supporting Young People Before Struggles Become Lifelong
Parenting young teens can feel confusing and overwhelming. As children move into early adolescence, mood swings, independence, and behaviour changes can leave parents unsure of themselves. This blog explores what’s really happening beneath the surface — and how to stay connected during the early teenage years.

Kathy Shaw
Feb 101 min read


When the Ending Comes Too Soon: Supporting Year 11 Through Loss and Uncertainty
When GCSEs were cancelled and school ended without ceremony, Year 11 students lost more than exams — they lost milestones, closure, and shared goodbyes. As both a parent and a counsellor, I reflect on the emotional impact of this sudden change and how we can support teenagers navigating disappointment, grief, and uncertainty.

Kathy Shaw
Mar 20, 20202 min read


Mental Health Support: Why Talking to a Counsellor Can Change Your Life
It's OK to not be OK. Why reaching out for help is a good thing.

Kathy Shaw
Nov 11, 20193 min read


Parenting Young Teens: You’re Not Doing It Wrong
Coping with teens

Kathy Shaw
Sep 26, 20193 min read
Writing has been a part of my life for many years, particularly poetry and journaling. It's how I've learned to make sense of things that are often difficult to explain in everyday language. What I share here is my own work - shaped by both personal reflection and what I witness in the therapy room.
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