Birchwell Counselling Services

Birchwell Counselling Services Counselling and inter-faith chaplaincy outdoors, in nature. Based in South Devon. Sliding scale pric

Watching the sun rise across the valley this morning, as the first rays moved across my face I made the prayer that I al...
27/03/2022

Watching the sun rise across the valley this morning, as the first rays moved across my face I made the prayer that I always make in silence before beginning a counselling session or offering a workshop; 'Let me be a vessel for Truth, for Peace.'

Holding counselling outdoors, in nature, I'm constantly humbled by the simple realization that, despite the amout of skills and knowledge I've acquired since qualifying, I REALLY am simply a vessel through which - if I'm blessed enough- something greater than any thought might speak.

In Zen Buddhist practice, we cultivate the clear, open field of Awareness; without clutter or complex theory. Out of this comes a quiet expansive sense of freedom, almost a playful quality; an emptied-outness that leaves room for Nature's Voice to enter. Who am I to get in the way?

27/04/2021

In one of my favourite books, 'The way of a pilgrim,' the narrator, a Russian wayfarer, begins his journey with a question: how do I "pray incessantly?"
A teacher offeres him a traditional prayer which he is instructed to repeat all day like a mantra and, after much practice and many adventures, he notices "In the end I felt that it was going on by itself in my mind and heart." In other words, the prayer became embodied in him - his very physical existence becomes prayer, every breath and heart beat an offering of deep devotion to the divine.

Whether the religious language of this book works for us or not doesn't matter; its message of commitment to truth and love through the body, remains powerful and clear.

Exercise: Try, even just for a few minutes a day, bringing your attention to the feeling 'being me' or 'I exist.' Just the wonderful, simple feeling of being here. This is one of my favourite devotional practices, and one that anyone can try!

20/04/2021

Very happy to announce that I'll now be offering counselling in person again! I'm currently working from a lovely, peaceful room in Totnes and am also continuing to see clients on counselling walks in both Dartington and Torbay.
Get in touch via [email protected] to arrange a consultation.

16/11/2020

I

I offer counselling sessions over the phone and on Zoom - this means I can hold space for clients anywhere in the UK.

Although there may seem to be some physical distance between us, when we allow ourselves to rest in conscious presence, really there is no distance all.

From this still place, our work together, however challenging, remains rooted in peace.

Contact [email protected] for details or to book a consultation 🙏

II offer counselling sessions over the phone and on Zoom - this means I can hold space for clients anywhere in the UK. A...
16/11/2020

I

I offer counselling sessions over the phone and on Zoom - this means I can hold space for clients anywhere in the UK.

Although there may seem to be some physical distance between us, when we allow ourselves to rest in conscious presence, really there is no distance all.

From this still place, our work together, however challenging, remains rooted in peace.

Contact [email protected] for details or to book a consultation 🙏

A Zen saying: "How amazing; I collect wood, I carry water"
10/11/2020

A Zen saying: "How amazing; I collect wood, I carry water"

So often in Zen stories one character asks another 'where have you come from?' But as the teacher Maurine Stuart told us...
04/11/2020

So often in Zen stories one character asks another 'where have you come from?' But as the teacher Maurine Stuart told us, this question has nothing to do with any physical place or personal narrative. This question goes right to the core of who we are! It asks; 'before personality, story, location, information, name; who are you?' Exploring ourselves in this way, we simultaneously learn to embrace and love our personal identity, our life story; whilst also looking beyond it to the silent core of who we are.
So much of what I strive to offer in counselling is inspired by this simple zen approach: loving and honouring the story, whilst also looking beyond / through it to discover the part us that is unaffected by life's events; the part this is eternally still, perfect and unchanging.

Address

Dartington
Totnes

Telephone

+447928925742

Website

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