https://embarkcounselling.co.uk/

Embark Counselling & Coaching, 29 Woodbury Park Road, Tunbridge Wells (2026)

09/06/2026

Always a pleasure & privilege to watch a client gain self-understanding, awareness, clarity & confidence.

I’ve space for up to two new clients, one in-person & one online.

Message me to arrange a free discovery call and take that first step towards health & happiness.

Lucy

21/05/2026

How do you feel towards your inner judge or critic?

Perhaps you have a particularly harsh critic who hammers home a perceived error you made that they can’t let you ignore. Often, the more severe the criticism, the more pain they’re trying to protect you from.

Through IFS we’re shown a new way to build a relationship with our inner parts, particularly the critical or judgmental ones who appear at first hand to be set on self-destruction and belittling language.

In time, we learn that our criticisms have evolved to do the exact opposite of their intended impact.
More often than not, a harsh critic is working 24/7, 365, to protect a younger, more vulnerable part of you that was hurt, scared, or fearful of the precise thing your critic is attempting to stop from happening again.

In my case, my critic was judging my ‘pathetic attempt at spelling’, and my ‘useless, stupid spelling mistake that proved how dumb I am’.

Harsh words, from a young protector trying their hardest to make sure I never felt the pain of a teacher or parent using their red pen and rolling their disappointed eyes at me again.

So, here’s the thing: IFS, which is the shorthand for Internal Family Systems, offers us a way to understand why critics work as hard as they do. Once we understand why, we can also find out what they’re concerned could happen if they don’t criticise us. We can then offer ways to bring the Self-energy of compassion, clarity, and calm to our critics and help heal the wounded parts of us that they work so tirelessly to protect.

It’s a beautifully intuitive system that has powerful healing potential for you and your inner system.

Do let me know if you’re curious to find out more, and together we can embark on a journey of discovering how your protectors try to keep you safe.

Finally, I’ve been shortlisted in The Muddy Award for Best Wellbeing Specialist in Kent. Voting is still open for a couple more days. If you’d like to vote for me, please click the link in the bio.

11/05/2026

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK this year invites us to take action.

It makes sense, as it’s surprising how few people choose action when they’re struggling. Let’s face it, asking for help is hard, especially when we’re feeling low or overwhelmed.

Often, we can convince ourselves that our situation is not ‘big’ or ‘important’ enough and that we ‘should’ be able to manage alone. We can feel stubborn, scared or stuck, and inaction becomes the far easier path.

We may have fears about what help might mean or concerns that we might open a can of worms, risking making things worse. This might be tangled up with doubt, anxiety, worry or confusion.

We get all mixed up in part of us defending their corner, refusing to see beyond the story we tell ourselves, or stubbornly holding onto the status quo.

This week is your invitation to take action, to take that brave first step forward towards change. This courageous act will help you become more aware of your challenges and cultivate the wisdom to seek the right kind of support for you. This may be as simple as a coffee with a friend, a walk in the park or a guilt-free afternoon nap.

If you feel you need something more collaborative, therapeutic, and insightful, get in touch with me. I offer a way to help you become aware of your inner conflicts and meet the critic, judge, or tyrant that runs your life, forcing you into inaction. This, in turn, helps cultivate more inner understanding, clarity and calm.

By exploring what makes you, you, a deeper awareness opens up, and pretty soon you’ll be wondering why you didn’t begin sooner.

Will you open up to an action that could bring you clarity, compassion and curiosity? I hope so. Get in touch to arrange a free phone call, and together we’ll discuss what’s needed to help you get back on track to a meaningful life full of hope and joy.

This action might just be the kindness thing you’ve done for yourself.

I look forward to meeting you there.

Lucy x

11/05/2026

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK this year invites us to take action.

It makes sense, as it’s surprising how few people choose action when they’re struggling. Let’s face it, asking for help is hard, especially when we’re feeling low or overwhelmed.

Often, we can convince ourselves that our situation is not ‘big’ or ‘important’ enough and that we ‘should’ be able to manage alone. We can feel stubborn, scared or stuck, and inaction becomes the far easier path.

We may have fears about what help might mean or concerns that we might open a can of worms, risking making things worse. This might be tangled up with doubt, anxiety, worry or confusion.

We get all mixed up in part of us defending their corner, refusing to see beyond the story we tell ourselves, or stubbornly holding onto the status quo.

This week is your invitation to take action, to take that brave first step forward towards change. This courageous act will help you become more aware of your challenges and cultivate the wisdom to seek the right kind of support for you. This may be as simple as a coffee with a friend, a walk in the park or a guilt-free afternoon nap.

If you feel you need something more collaborative, therapeutic, and insightful, get in touch with me. I offer a way to help you become aware of your inner conflicts and meet the critic, judge, or tyrant that runs your life, forcing you into inaction. This, in turn, helps cultivate more inner understanding, clarity and calm.

By exploring what makes you, you, a deeper awareness opens up, and pretty soon you’ll be wondering why you didn’t begin sooner.

Will you open up to an action that could bring you clarity, compassion and curiosity? I hope so. Get in touch to arrange a free phone call, and together we’ll discuss what’s needed to help you get back on track to a meaningful life full of hope and joy.

This action might just be the kindness thing you’ve done for yourself.

I look forward to meeting you there.

Lucy x

09/05/2026

Just 5 minutes a day is all it takes to give your system the message it needs to return to a slow, steady pace.

If you find yourself often feeling in a rush, overwhelmed or anxious then this could be the most important 5 minutes of your day.

Set a timer, sit down & focus your attention on something soothing. Your breath, the bird song or your body are all great choices.

Focus & notice your awareness expand, right here & now. Nothing more & nothing less is needed.

Give it a go, 5 mins every day, or at least 5 times a week. Let me know how you go!

Oh & please remember that the Muddy Awards are still open for your votes. If you’d like to vote for me please click the link in the bio. The voting is close & every vote counts. I’m shortlisted for Best Wellbeing Specialist.

Thank you!

Lucy ###

01/05/2026

Birds make things better!

There was once a post on some neighbourhood forum or other complaining about how noisy the birds outside their bedroom window were.

Can you imagine being so angry with the world that even the sound of bird song agitates you?

Perhaps you can, and perhaps this post is therefore for you? Also, perhaps, like me, the moment you hear a bird sing, you stop, just for a heartbeat, to listen.

In that heartbeat, you are Self-remembering. You’re taking yourself out of all the parts that fret, worry and moan and let yourself savour, if only for a millisecond, what it might feel like to be a bird. To spend your days sitting in a tree, bathed by the sunlight and feel so positively joyful that you’re moved to song.

Some days I envy the birds, then I remember that envy is a part of me trying to keep me safe from some perceived danger or threat, and through the compassionate calm of Self, I can remember that I am every bit as free as the birds, if only I have the awareness to notice.

Oh, & please remember to vote for me in this years Muddy Stilettos Awards. You’ll find me in the BEST WELLBEING SPECIALIST category & the link is in my bio.

26/04/2026

This supercharged sign is the human equivalent of turning it off & on again. Just as quick, equally baffling & almost always guaranteed to help.

Here’s how! One long breath in (slowly count to 5 if you can), then an extra sniff through your nose to fill up. Now the supercharged bit: add a sip more breath in through your mouth till at capacity, hold a millisecond longer & then let it all go.

3 times should be enough to feel the benefits. Let me know what you notice.

Enjoy your day. Lucy x

25/04/2026

WHAT DOES WELLBEING MEAN?

As you may know, I’ve recently been shortlisted in the Muddy Stilettos Awards for the Best Wellbeing Specialist in Kent. Which has got me thinking, what does wellbeing mean to me?

Fundamentally, the only way to truly be well is to be aware. To honestly, regularly & consciously check how you’re feeling mentally, emotionally & physically.

Once you’ve become aware of how you feel, you might want to explore why?

You then open up all sorts of options to choose from in order to make changes, where necessary.

These changes, when consciously and authentically made, boost your sense of being well.

Without awareness we are in a muddled fog of confusion, conflict or denial.

With awareness we step into clarity & with compassion we can choose the right next steps to take.

I’m curious to hear what you think? Let me know, I’d love to hear.

Oh, and please do vote, the link is in my bio & I’d be so grateful.

Lucy x

01/04/2026

I’m always immensely grateful to clients when they take the time & consideration to write a review of their experience working through IFS (Internal Family Systems) with me.

This review is from a long-standing & precious client who knows me well, & I’ve had the privilege of sharing my smorgasbord of ancient, mixed with modern, somatic, psychological, & spiritual tools with them.

I offer both private therapy sessions & will soon be announcing more group IFS workshops & day retreats.

Discover more about how I work on my website, then get in touch when you’re ready to explore your inner system of parts & how to expand the energy of your compassionate & curious Self as both a support & a healing source.

Here’s the review in full. I hope it gives you some insight & both the courage & curiosity to start your own journey of freedom & expansion:

“Lucy has a rare way of guiding you—gently, thoughtfully, and with real depth. She creates a space where you feel safe enough to explore the parts of yourself you might usually avoid.

Through Internal Family Systems, she helps you connect with the different parts of you with compassion and curiosity. With her support, you can feel and release emotions from the past without getting caught in the story, which feels incredibly freeing and light.

There is something powerful in how she works: bringing clarity where there was confusion, calm where there was overwhelm, and a deeper connection back to yourself.

She holds space with a quiet, poetic presence—gently supporting you through the process of becoming, where old emotions can soften and release without judgment.

She is, without question, one of the most amazing people I have ever met: a fountain of wisdom, endlessly creative, deeply kind, and profoundly supportive.

Working with Lucy feels like being guided home to yourself—with a sense of freedom you didn’t know was possible.”

Remember, I’m a fully trained & qualified psychotherapist, counsellor & coach, registered with the BACP, & have a Level 2 IFS training through IFS UK & The IFS Institute.

With love & infinite light.

Lucy x

Embark Counselling & Coaching

09/06/2026

21/05/2026

11/05/2026

11/05/2026

09/05/2026

01/05/2026

26/04/2026

25/04/2026

01/04/2026

Address

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Contact The Business

Shortcuts

Share

Category