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You can get in touch with me by emailing caroline@grovecounselling.co.uk or by calling or texting 07963070548.

I always aim to respond to your enquiry within the same or next working day depending on when your message was sent.

You can also find and contact me through the Counselling Directory.

theselfcarebearclub

Sharing ways to manage anxiety and build self-esteem with Self-care Bear and friends! 🐻
Caroline Misselbrook | Illustrator and Counsellor | šŸ³ļøā€šŸŒˆ

I’m back from holiday and looking forward to cre I’m back from holiday and looking forward to creating some illustrations featuring Self-care Bear and friends to help us all get through the dark, cold, damp days and nights of late autumn and winter…

I’ll come up with a list of tools and ways to find joy during this time but if you have any recommendations then please do let me know and I can add them! ā¤ļø 

#autumn #winter #selfcare #illustration #cosy #mentalhealth
A sluggy mug for anyone who needs it today ā¤ļø A sluggy mug for anyone who needs it today ā¤ļø 

šŸ†World’s best slugšŸ„‡ 

Slow down, take your time and get some rest where you can…

#selfcare #slug #mindfulness #anxiety #therapy #counselling #rest #slowdown #energy #illustratorofinstagram #therapistofinstagram
🚽🐻 This simple act of self-care is one of th 🚽🐻 This simple act of self-care is one of the most difficult to be mindful of! 

The ways in which we listen (or don’t) to our minds and bodies has a profound impact on our sense of safety and self-esteem. When we prioritise our own needs we tell ourselves that we are in a position of enough safety to do so and that we are worth taking care of. 

Our ancestors wouldn’t have been concerned about whether or not they needed a wee when they were running away from a lion 🦁 Our brains haven’t changed all that much and so we still perceive the choice to ignore what our body is telling us as a sign that we are in danger āš ļøšŸ§  There’s something big and threatening on the horizon that we need to look out for (it would have once been a lion…and now it’s a high priority email!)

Self-care isn’t all about lighting a candle and taking a long hot bath…it’s about going to the toilet when you need to! šŸ’¦šŸ’© 

As I’ve mentioned in my illustrations, I understand that for some people there may not be many opportunities to listen to your body and act on it, particularly in some work places and public environments, so this is meant for the times where you are able to ā¤ļø

#selfcare #selfesteem #anxiety #depression #mindfulness #traumaresponse #queertherapist #inclusive #lgbtq #trans #inclusiveworkplace #inclusivespaces #anxietytips #anxietyhelp
Happy Saturday! ā¤ļø 

Just a reminder…If you’d like a chance to win a little handmade Self-Care Bear key ring just make sure you do these THREE things:

🐻 FOLLOW The Self-Care Bear Club
🐻 LIKE this reel 
🐻 TAG a friend who you think might like The Self-Care Bear Club

For an EXTRA chance to win:
🐻 SHARE the reel to your stories

I’ll draw the winners name out of a hat on Wednesday 12th November and post free of charge!
If you’ve already entered on my previous post please don’t worry about doing it again on this post…your name will already be in the hat.

#bear #craft #competition #selfcare #anxiety #mentalhealth #therapy #counselling #therapist #selfesteem #feltcraft #competition
Putting this here as a reminder to myself and ever Putting this here as a reminder to myself and everyone else! 

Over apologising for things that we don’t need to say sorry for is a form of ā€˜people pleasing’. We may have learned to do this from our care-givers, or as a result of being around a lot of conflict or abuse as children or adults; we try to keep the peace, appease, paper over the cracks, make everything nice…because that helps us to feel a little safer.

HOWEVER, when we continue to engage with this behaviour even when we aren’t in danger, our brains still think we’re under threat. We not only end up feeling more anxious but also guilty and ashamed of things that aren’t even our responsibility. 

As you can imagine this also eats away at our self-esteem! 

So next time you say sorry just for existing imagine this pigeon giving you evils for it. 

#sorry #anxiety #selfesteem #pigeon #bird #birdsofinstagram #illustrator #pigeonsofinstagram ##counsellor #therapist #selfworth #apologising #therapytips
Paella time! ā¤ļøšŸ» Such a joy to prepare an Paella time! ā¤ļøšŸ» 

Such a joy to prepare and cook food together 🄰 

#selfcare #paella #catalunya
Olive harvest with friends! šŸ«’ā¤ļøšŸ± This Olive harvest with friends! šŸ«’ā¤ļøšŸ± 

This week I have been mostly up, in, next to, under and at one with a tree šŸ˜‚ 

#olive #oliveharvest #catalunya #wildlifephotography
One of Self-care Bear’s mantras is ā€˜thought no One of Self-care Bear’s mantras is ā€˜thought not fact’. 

It’s important to remember that most of the anxious and/or intrusive thoughts we have are just that…thoughts šŸ’­ They bubble up as a symptom of stress, anxiety and burnout rather than the being the direct cause. Much like a cough or snotty nose is a symptom of having a cold.

Often when we feel overwhelmed with stress, that’s when the negative self-talk starts to creep in too. We might default to beating ourselves up for not being able to cope with the stressful situation, which makes us feel even worse…and even more stressed!

#stress #burnout #mentalhealthawareness #selfcare #bear #anxiety #depression #mentalhealth #mindfulness #selfesteem #counsellor #therapist #illustration
Self-care isn’t just about doing things for your Self-care isn’t just about doing things for yourself šŸ¤” Doing kind things for other people makes us feel good about ourselves and helps us to feel more connected to friends, family and colleagues (which helps with symptoms of depression and anxiety!)…but don’t forget to do these kind things for yourself too of course šŸ˜‰ 

These are just a few ideas from self-care bear šŸ’”šŸ» ā¤ļø 

#selfcare #anxiety #illustration #bear #connection #l#counselling #therapy #therapytips #kindness #compassion #empathy #selfworth #selfesteem
Comparing ourselves to other people’s achievemen Comparing ourselves to other people’s achievements and situations often just ends up with us feeling inadequate, deflated and unhappy. 

Pigeon and blackbird are here to illustrate how we could talk to ourselves and/or each other in a more compassionate way to avoid comparison and celebrate our uniqueness ā¤ļø 

When we live based on comparison, judgement and a preoccupation with what other people might think we loose sight of what makes us genuinely happy. 

You are you, and that’s wonderful 🄰 

#selfcare #selfesteem #pigeons #pigeon #pigeonsofinstagram #illustrator #illustratorofinstagram #birds #birdsofinstagram #anixety
Coo! ā¤ļøšŸ‘»šŸŽƒ #pigeon #halloween #spooky #p Coo! ā¤ļøšŸ‘»šŸŽƒ

#pigeon #halloween #spooky #pigeonlove #pigeonsofinstagram #ghost #illustration
I often ask the question, ā€˜What would you say to I often ask the question, ā€˜What would you say to a friend?’ to clients and to myself! 

It’s a helpful way of trying to practice self-compassion and increase empathy towards ourselves…

Perhaps we can easily come up with an answer to that question but then our mind goes to, ā€˜Well that’s ok for everyone else but not for me!’ 

This is especially true when it comes to setting boundaries, self-care, managing emotions, taking time off, and communicating honestly with others.

I always feel proud of myself when I listen to and act on the advice I’d give a friend because it always pays off.

It’s difficult! 

It’s uncomfortable!

It takes LOTS of practice. 

But you are worth it. Even if you don’t feel like you are right now. 

#anxiety #selfcare #selfesteem #mentalhealth #therapist #therapy #counselling #illustration
Learning to feel safe with anything that feels unf Learning to feel safe with anything that feels unfamiliar is a challenge…but it can be particularly confusing when we feel threatened or uncomfortable with feeling safe, peaceful, calm or loved! We might push these things away, self-sabotage or run away. 

Perhaps within your relationships throughout life you’ve not experienced the warmth and affection you needed…or maybe if you were treated with some kindness and generosity it would be followed by abuse or criticism. 

For whatever reason it is that the nice things feel big and scary, just know that you’re not alone! šŸ‘½ 

Becoming comfortable with feeling safe and loved requires us to give ourselves a sort of exposure therapy to the good stuff…by looking after ourselves and allowing others (who aren’t abusive or unkind) to help us, love us and respect us ā¤ļø 

#selfcare #alien #selfesteem #spookyseason #counsellor #comfortzone #therapy #illustration #mentalhealth #mindfulness #trauma  #anxietysupport #boundaries #therapytips
For me, I find visualisations are one of the most For me, I find visualisations are one of the most effective ways of managing anxiety. Transporting ourselves to a feeling of safety in moments when we can feel our thoughts start to spiral and our body panic helps to create new pathways in our brain and the more we do it the quicker we’ll default to using this as a helpful tool. 

Sorry to break it to you but…YOU CAN’T THINK YOUR WAY OUT OF A FEELING (it’s pointless to try and reason or rationalise with yourself when you’re spiralling) but you can use your imagination in these moments to conjure up images and evoke a feeling that tells your brain and body that you are safe.

Visualisations like this one can help in the moment when, for example, you’re about to do something really nerve wracking; a medical appointment, an exam or test, getting on a plane or train, starting a new job, speaking to someone you don’t know in person or over the phone…or when you are struggling with intrusive thoughts and your mind is going to all the ā€˜what ifs’ and negative hypothetical situations. šŸ’­ 

Your visualisation may be something completely different to mine, or you can use the same one if it brings you comfort and calm. 

Give it a go and start making new pathways 🧠🄾🌳 

#visualisation #selfcare #anxiety #mentalhealthawareness #intrusivethoughts #therapist #counselling #therapy #mindfulness #fox #autumn #naturetherapy #managinganxiety #healthanxiety #illustration
Anxious Ghostie POV: It’s 9am and you have an ap Anxious Ghostie POV: It’s 9am and you have an appointment at 3pm šŸ‘»ā¤ļøšŸ•°ļø 

#anxiety #ghost #spookyseason #spooky #illustration #neurodiversity
The ā€˜scary thing’ is going to look different f The ā€˜scary thing’ is going to look different for all of us…it might be:
šŸ‘» Saying no!
šŸ‘» Doing something nice for yourself
šŸ‘» Doing a task you’ve been putting off for ages
šŸ‘» Taking time off
šŸ‘» Trying something new
šŸ‘» Not doing something perfectly
šŸ‘» Speaking to yourself in a kind way

Our comfort zones can shrink rapidly (and our anxiety levels soar) when we aren’t exposing ourselves to things that make us feel a little scared and uncomfortable on a regular basis. 

Even though anxiety and stress increase temporarily when we’re doing something scary, we are doing it in a controlled way that helps our nervous system get used to riding the waves of emotion that come with pushing ourselves out of our comfort zone.

It’s not about jumping so far in the deep end that we get terrified or burned out…it’s about small doses of discomfort that give us enough evidence that we can do the scary things. 

This is what emotional regulation is all about. We can’t avoid anxiety and stress but we can teach ourselves how to manage and recover from it more efficiently.

It’s helps to build confidence and self-esteem ā¤ļø 

#spooky #selfcare #spookyseason #anxiety #discomfort #comfortzone #bear #illustration
With extra pumpkin pie spice on top! šŸ»šŸ§”šŸŽƒ With extra pumpkin pie spice on top! šŸ»šŸ§”šŸŽƒ 

#bear #selfcare #pumpkin #spooky #spookyseason #illustratorofinstagram
Anxious ghostie thought the Christmas song might m Anxious ghostie thought the Christmas song might make it better? 

#sundayscaries #selfcare #anxious #anxiety #ghost #spooky
Pigeon just loves the spooky season! šŸ‘»šŸ¦ā¤ļø 

#pigeon #ghost #halloween #illustration #selfcare #therapy #spookyseason
Happy Saturday! ā¤ļø 

Just a reminder…If you’d like a chance to win a little handmade Self-Care Bear key ring just make sure you do these THREE things:

🐻 FOLLOW The Self-Care Bear Club
🐻 LIKE this reel 
🐻 TAG a friend who you think might like The Self-Care Bear Club

For an EXTRA chance to win:
🐻 SHARE the reel to your stories

I’ll draw the winners name out of a hat on Wednesday 12th November and post free of charge!
If you’ve already entered on my previous post please don’t worry about doing it again on this post…your name will already be in the hat.

#bear #craft #competition #selfcare #anxiety #mentalhealth #therapy #counselling #therapist #selfesteem #feltcraft
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