“Breathing in, I calm body and mind. Breathing out, I smile. Dwelling in the present moment I know this is the only moment.”
Thich Nhat Hanh (1926 – 2022)
Why Reach… Why Gillian Wells?
- What was the outcome of counselling in relation to your goals?
During my counseling sessions, I aimed to improve my emotional stability and find ways to cope with the various challenges I have encountered, particularly over the past 16 months. Gillian has been incredibly empathetic and caring, providing me with a safe space to express my emotions and offering me practical tools to manage my current situation. Thanks to her guidance and support, I have been able to approach and react to difficult situations more effectively. Although there is still a lot of work to be done, I feel that my counselling sessions have had a positive impact on my mindset and have given me a more positive outlook on life’s ongoing challenges.
- Did you find the counselling effective and, if yes, why?
From my experience, I can say that the counselling has been highly effective in bringing about a positive shift in my mindset. Previously, I used to have a negative outlook towards life and often questioned the purpose of living. However, now I feel more positive and hopeful about my future. Although I still have some work to do in order to avoid any relapse into that dark mindset, I am confident that I am on the right track towards a healthier and happier life.
- Do you have any remaining issues?
Dealing with a chronic health condition that affects my daily life is a constant struggle. The very thought of having to face this challenge every day fills me with a sense of dread. This condition is a part of me, something that I will have to live with for the rest of my life. It takes a toll on me both physically and mentally. Every day is an uphill battle, and even the smallest of tasks can be daunting. Despite my best efforts to stay positive, I often find myself battling with feelings of depression and anxiety. These emotions only add to the burden of dealing with my health issue. It’s like a constant dark cloud hanging over me, and I feel like I’m always trying to outrun it. But no matter how fast I go, it’s always there, lurking in the background.
During my counselling sessions, I have found that talking about my struggles has been a helpful way to alleviate some of the weight on my shoulders. By opening up about my experiences and emotions, I have been able to gradually reduce my levels of anxiety. Additionally, this has helped to improve my overall mindset, particularly when those dark thoughts start to creep in.
- Any other comments?
In my experience with Gillian, her exceptional work ethic, compassion, and ability to understand without judgement have been truly remarkable. Her continued support and guidance during those moments when I felt like nothing mattered and life was simply not worth living have been incredibly valuable to me. Even during my darkest and most difficult moments, my counselling sessions with her have been the only time in my life where I felt like I was truly heard and understood.
I am eternally grateful for Gillian’s graceful, caring, and supportive words, which have been like a life buoy for me, helping me stay afloat when I felt like I was drowning. Her support has not only been a source of comfort, but at times, she has even managed to turn my deep sorrow into a genuine smile. I strongly believe that her dedication to her work and the genuine care she shows for her clients make her an exceptional counsellor.
- Would you recommend this counselling service to others?
In my personal experience, I have found Gillian to be an exceptional source of support and guidance, especially during moments of great difficulty. Her ability to offer insight and assistance is truly invaluable and would highly recommended her to anyone who may be in need of such support.
“Raise your words not your voice, It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder”.
Rumi (1207 – 1273)
Relationship Personal Prayer
I am certain, I am clear, I am relaxed and I am ready.
We aren’t talking about perfection because these days, we only strive for excellence. I have a strong faith and a deep belief. Our connection has already been made, so I am trusting in the process and I am no longer defined by any historic expectations.
And as it all comes rolling in, like a tidal wave of joy, this is the only consciousness that I allow myself to have. You are already on your way. So here goes…
You see me for who I am, with no judgement or hesitation.
You’re there in the middle of the night and you never mind me double checking that you locked the front door. You help on bin night.
You are passionate and driven in what you love and I find that attractive in you.
We move, whatever that looks like. Over mountains, around the coast, on skis and along beaches. We spend time on and in the water.
You make time for those things I view important, family and friends. We don’t get too busy and pottering at home is our favourite thing. We garden.
Our house is full to the brim with joy, laughter and happiness. There is music playing often and we dance around the kitchen at every opportunity. We always communicate.
Bringing children into the world is balanced and shared. We will raise them so they feel extraordinary about themselves. They will be positive contributors and we will lead by example.
You are present in all of our lives. I often find myself sitting outside the kids bedroom just so I can hear your story time.
Holidays are simple. Sand between toes. Crinkly crisps if those little legs can make it all the way to the pub. Wellies and games of snooker. A ball wherever we go. So many reminders of my own childhood. Grandparents love the very bones of these little humans we brought into the world. Seeing everyone together makes me feel totally content.
I find myself in awe of your mind, so broad and wise. You teach me every day. And in doing so, you open me up to new things. I love listening to what you have to say on all manner of topics. Your advice matters.
We always make time for good coffee and naps on Sundays.
We know where we are going, we share a mutual direction and we are working hard together. But in that, we don’t allow the present moment to slip through our fingers, we are grateful for today. You love the seasons too.
Anon
“Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.”
Rumi (1207 – 1273)
I found Ava in a Google search and thank goodness I did. I had no idea what to expect as I had never felt I needed a counsellor before. In fact, I thought I was probably the last person to need one but realize now I probably should have got some professional help sooner. Family and friends tried but admitted they were out of their depth.
I was going through an extended and particularly difficult period involving a great deal of family angst and wasn’t dealing with it well and didn’t feel able to move on.
I was apprehensive but the first appointment was easy to make once I had contacted Nina via e-mail. It took a couple of sessions to explain the problem and cover the background but I immediately felt relaxed enough to convey my distress, anger and confusion to Nina. She wasn’t phased by lots of tears and there was always a box of tissues handy. She helped me through a couple of crisis points and by listening and gently probing, fairly quickly began to tease out some of the issues as she saw them.
She was completely non-judgemental and didn’t tend to give me solutions to specific issues but instead made suggestions or guided me to try to find the answers for myself. Her patience was endless.
There was homework in between sessions which took several forms (podcasts, reading handout and sometimes just thinking and making notes) as well as making some time for myself to practise some relaxation techniques at home. I wasn’t always the model client but I did try as I realised it was important. We also worked on building up my self- confidence again as it had taken a bit of a bashing. Over time Nina helped me to make some sense out of a very difficult situation where I had previously felt I was completely floundering. I think she saved my relationship with certain family members very close to me, which although now different are once again enjoyable and have a future.
I have a lot more understanding now and feel a lot more in control of this situation but as a bonus in my life and relationships generally.
Thank you so much Nina.
A very relieved, wiser and grateful client.
Anon
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Affirmation Poem – I am Wonderfully Well
I am well, wonderfully well
My brain holds an army of drones
Whose job is to seek out unwellness
And respond with its healing hormones.
I am well, wonderfully well
I embrace this ancient wisdom
That positive energy and peace
Will enhance my entire immune system.
I am well, wonderfully well
I choose faith rather than doubt
I send positive thoughts to the world
And to those I care most about.
I am well, wonderfully well
I accept the whole of myself
Past errors I see through kind eyes
I know that my health is my wealth.
I am well, wonderfully well
And this hill is easy to climb
I hope for a much brighter future
Yet embrace where I am at this time.
I am well, wonderfully well
I bathe in the ether of love
I leave fear and anxiety behind me
As I fly beside hope like a dove.
Sylvia E. Thirlway (Ireland)
“The attainment of wealth and honour through the violation of one’s character is no attainment at all.”
Confucius (551-479 B.C.)
I’d been punched, kicked and battered for 13 years before I found the courage to do something about it. It took me a year after deciding to make the call to actually make it. Every time I rang, as soon as it was answered I’d hang up – I just couldn’t do it. The day that changed my life was when my 8 year old daughter heard me crying and was doing her best to comfort me. Looking back now I feel ashamed of that. It’s my job to be comforting her. She asked me how I got the bruises on my back; I cried even more. And lied again. I decided in that moment that would be the last time I would lie to my children.
After 18 months of looking honestly at my life and searching my mind, I’ve learnt about the power to choose. The most important thing said to me at the outset is “your thoughts create your reality”. At first I felt insulted, as if this was a disguised negative judgment of me and I thought “but I’m not choosing this madness”. I slowly realized I wasn’t being accused of anything, I was simply being helped to understand that our realities are determined by the way we think. 5 or 6 people witnessing or experiencing the same thing all react differently because they see it or feel it through their own thoughts and experiences. This has been a very helpful insight to me as I realized I thought I didn’t deserve any better so I tolerated and accepted the violence until it was all I knew. I didn’t even question it any more. Now I feel like I’ve come out of a really bad dream. Thank God I’m free.
The practical and legal battle continues but I’m winning because I’m choosing hope over fear. I’ve promised myself I won’t be a victim any more, both for my two daughters and myself. Understanding The 3 Aspects of Consciousness has really helped me to see things differently. I try to practice it as much as I can. Also coming up with a set of ‘non-negotiables’ really helped me. When Elaine first suggested it, it was an alien concept. I’d never made myself the focus of my life, so deciding on a list of ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’ that would ensure my growth was very odd but they really helped me to build my self-respect. The Reach resources are quite unbelievable. Any time we would talk about something, Elaine would pop up with another handout on that subject. I used to ask her if she was telepathic 🙂 How did she seem to always have what I needed!?! However, none of these resources would have been enough without Elaine’s generous and kind spirit. Thank you for always really seeing me. I now feel safe.
Grateful Mother of Two
“Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted.”
Albert Einstein (1879-1955)
I first contacted Reach because of the breakdown of my marriage and was desperate to get rid of the pain, the rage and the fear I was feeling as a result of being left alone with three small children to look after by myself. I felt completely isolated, without friends or family anywhere near by. It took some time to come to terms with what had happened – before I was ready to let go of these feelings, and I was very skeptical that I ever would. It is a miracle to me that I no longer fight daily with myself, punish myself in my mind for my failings as a woman, a wife, as a mother and as a person.
My journey with Reach showed me that all aspects of my life depend upon how I feel about myself. There was great resistance to the idea that I could even like myself a little bit but I am really starting to feel that I can create a better life for my family and me. Having understood that it’s not what you know it’s what you do that counts has really changed me life. Thanks Jo! I finally got it. I finally realized that I needed to practice taking care of myself in all kinds of different ways and if I could just be consistent in this practice then positive change would be the result. I’m still trying and it’s working.
Jennifer Hutchinson
“In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But in practice, there is.”
Yogi Berra (1925 – present)
Dear All
I’ve suffered with anxiety and panic for over 15 years. I’ve avoided travelling, job opportunities and relationships, all because I didn’t feel good enough. Over this time my world had completely shrunk and I felt invisible. For the last 18 months I have taken the most extraordinary journey with Reach. Two things have made the greatest impact on me – N.O.S.E. and The Story of Health. It was the simplicity of their messages that really grabbed my attention. They were both so obvious once I heard them and yet I’d never come across anything quite like them before. Once I got the concept of N.O.S.E. I became obsessive about it because I really could see that the more I ‘named and owned’ my stuff the more my mind was set free. As a result I’ve started to travel (no where elaborate but at least I’m not imprisoned by my four walls). I’m forming new relationships and applying for positions I never would have felt worthy of. I owe the Reach Approach so much and I’m now busy building my life on the principles of The Story of Health. This work has really changed my life and I would encourage those of you looking for help to look in this direction.
D. Gordon
“In meditation it is possible to dive deeper into the mind, to a place where there is no disturbance and there is absolute solitude. It is at this point in the profound stillness that the sound of the mind can be heard”
A.E.I Falconar (1926 – Present)
My wife and I were having some problems in our marriage and had never even considered counselling but a friend suggested Reach to us in the end as we couldn’t seem to find any common ground on our own we thought it would be worth giving it a go. Even though we are still working on some of our issues it became clear to us both very early on in the process that what we had thought the problems were, in fact were only the symptoms and by looking deeper into ourselves and understanding how our pasts were pushing into our everyday lives, over and over again, we could see the cause and effect very clearly. We have both really appreciated the practical suggestions we’ve received which have enabled us to actually change our behaviour with each other and break out of patterns that seemed to have beaten us for years. You may be in the same position as we were, thinking that counselling isn’t really for you but I can certainly say that our experience has opened our eyes and definitely saved our marriage.
John Peterson
“I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have.”
Thomas Jefferson (1743- 1826)
I am 75 years old and I’ve just realised, over the last few days, that I am injuring myself with my own thoughts! My current illness has been made worse by the way I think. I can’t tell you of the relief I’ve had as this has dawned on me. For the first time in my life I realise that my health and well-being are determined by my thoughts. I can either heal or damage myself just by the way I think. Easton’s support and kindness has helped change my life. I’m feeling great knowing that my health is in my own hands. Thank you, thank you, thank you. The things that have helped me the most have been mirror work and two CDs, Heal Thyself and The Path of Least Resistance. They are well worth a listen. Hope this is of some use to some one looking for help.
Mary Paige
“You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.”
Kahlil Gibran (1883 – 1931)
Reach has been a lifeline to me over the last 2 years. I had nowhere to turn and no one who I felt was interested enough to listen to my story. I realised I was deeply depressed and probably had been since I was a child. I have not finished the work yet but little by little I know I am moving in the right direction. The depression has faded and I can see there is a future for me. My relationships with my children have blossomed and I know will only get better, the better I get. My marriage is still in a sticky situation but I at least have hope that this too can improve. My dependence on medication has ended and slowly I’m taking back control of my life. For me, being heard has been the most important thing. I really feel like Jo cares. She has been thoughtful and attentive and this has helped me find my inner strength. I hope my words will be of some use to you as you read them.
T. Hood
“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear”.
Mark Twain (1835 – 1910)