In these trying times there can be little time to stop and think and for many people anxiety levels are higher than usual. Counselling provides the opportunity take some time to reflect in a safe, non-judgemental environment where you can explore your thoughts and feelings and express them openly. When life gets difficult we tend to keep ourselves busy, without taking the time to process our thoughts and feelings. Unprocessed thoughts and feelings stay inside us until they are expressed and released. They can build up,  weigh us down and cause problems without us realising it, causing anxiety and depression, low confidence, loss of self and low self esteem.Most of us struggle with something at some point, and tend to get by by telling ourselves that there are people much worse off than we are, and that we should just get on with it. We don't give ourselves permission to feel, or the same compassion that we give to others. Sometimes we avoid what we know we have to face because it is too hard to go there.Maybe you want to finally come to terms with your past. Maybe you are fed up with thinking about the past and want to look towards the future. Maybe you want to discover who you are now and what you want from life. Maybe you already know but are not sure how to get there. Or maybe there is something you have been carrying around for years that you would like to finally be rid of.Counselling helps with all these situations, the aim being for you to gain insight and understanding, and to feel much lighter. It can be life changing when your thoughts become clearer and your mood starts to lift.