The Therapeutic Pause

Pause. Reflect. Rest. Reconnect.

Guided reflections and restorative practices inspired by counselling psychology, mindfulness, and humanistic values. A space to pause, reflect, rest, and reconnect with yourself. counselling.substack.com

  1. 6d ago

    Five Minute Hugs 4: When Things Feel Heavy

    Episode Description Sometimes things feel heavy. Not always dramatically. Not always for obvious reasons. Sometimes it is a conversation that lingers longer than expected. A responsibility that keeps returning to mind. A collection of small demands that gradually gather weight. Or simply one of those days when carrying everything seems to require a little more effort than usual. This Five Minute Hug offers a brief invitation to pause alongside that heaviness. Not to make it disappear. Not to become positive. Not to find a solution. Just to spend a few moments gently acknowledging what is here. Through simple reflection and awareness, you are invited to loosen your grip a little, create a little space around whatever feels weighty, and remember that you do not have to carry everything in exactly the same way. Because sometimes kindness begins not by putting everything down, but by holding it a little more gently. What you may find helpful * A quiet and comfortable space * Headphones if preferred * A position that supports rest, whether sitting or lying down * Permission to let this moment be exactly as it is About The Therapeutic Pause The Therapeutic Pause is a collection of guided reflections and restorative practices created by Terry Hanley. These recordings offer opportunities to pause, reflect, rest, and reconnect with yourself. Collections explore ongoing experiences, life transitions, professional development, everyday moments, self-compassion, uncertainty, rest, and the challenges of everyday life. About Terry Hanley Terry Hanley is a Professor at the University of Manchester, a HCPC-registered Counselling Psychologist, and a Fellow of the British Psychological Society. Further resources, writing, and information can be found at: https://www.terryhanleypsychology.co.uk https://counselling.substack.com Important note These recordings are intended as guided reflections and restorative practices and are not a substitute for healthcare or psychological support. Please listen when you are somewhere safe and able to give the recording your attention. Get full access to Counselling and Psychotherapy Stuff at counselling.substack.com/subscribe

    Five Minute Hugs 4: When Things Feel Heavy
  2. Aug 9

    Living with Fatigue 6: Being More than Fatigue

    Episode description Fatigue can take up a great deal of space. It can shape daily routines, influence decisions, and affect what feels possible at different times. When something becomes such a significant part of life, it can sometimes begin to feel as though it is the whole story. This guided reflection offers a gentle reminder that while fatigue may be part of a person’s experience, it need not define the entirety of who they are. Through reflection, the recording creates space to reconnect with other aspects of identity, values, relationships, memories, and hopes. This is the final recording in the Living with Fatigue collection within The Therapeutic Pause. About this collection Living with Fatigue is a six-part series of guided reflections created to accompany some of the experiences that can arise when living with an energy-limiting condition. The recordings explore themes including rest, self-compassion, uncertainty, pace, and identity. A longer reflection on the origins and development of the series, including why it was created, can be found on Counselling and Psychotherapy Stuff. What you may find helpful * A quiet and comfortable space * Headphones if preferred * A position that supports rest * A willingness to spend a few moments alongside uncertainty About The Therapeutic Pause The Therapeutic Pause is a collection of guided reflections and restorative practices created by Terry Hanley. These recordings offer opportunities to pause, reflect, rest, and reconnect with yourself. Collections explore ongoing experiences, life transitions, professional development, everyday moments, self-compassion, uncertainty, rest, and the challenges of everyday life. About Terry Hanley Terry Hanley is a Professor at the University of Manchester, a HCPC-registered Counselling Psychologist, and a Fellow of the British Psychological Society. Further resources, writing, and information can be found at: https://www.terryhanleypsychology.co.uk https://counselling.substack.com Important note These recordings are intended as guided reflections and restorative practices and are not a substitute for healthcare or psychological support. Please listen when you are somewhere safe and able to give the recording your attention. Get full access to Counselling and Psychotherapy Stuff at counselling.substack.com/subscribe

  3. Aug 8

    Living with Fatigue 5: Living with Uncertainty

    Episode description One of the more challenging aspects of living with fatigue can be uncertainty. Energy levels may vary from day to day. Plans can feel difficult to make. There may be questions that remain unanswered and futures that are difficult to predict. This guided reflection offers a gentle pause to consider what it means to live alongside uncertainty without needing to resolve it immediately. Rather than searching for certainty, the invitation is to reconnect with the present moment and consider what support, care, and kindness might look like today. This recording forms part of the Living with Fatigue collection within The Therapeutic Pause. What you may find helpful * A quiet and comfortable space * Headphones if preferred * A position that supports rest * A willingness to spend a few moments alongside uncertainty About The Therapeutic Pause The Therapeutic Pause is a collection of guided reflections and restorative practices created by Terry Hanley. These recordings offer opportunities to pause, reflect, rest, and reconnect with yourself. Collections explore ongoing experiences, life transitions, professional development, everyday moments, self-compassion, uncertainty, rest, and the challenges of everyday life. About Terry Hanley Terry Hanley is a Professor at the University of Manchester, a HCPC-registered Counselling Psychologist, and a Fellow of the British Psychological Society. Further resources, writing, and information can be found at: https://www.terryhanleypsychology.co.uk https://counselling.substack.com Important note These recordings are intended as guided reflections and restorative practices and are not a substitute for healthcare or psychological support. Please listen when you are somewhere safe and able to give the recording your attention. Get full access to Counselling and Psychotherapy Stuff at counselling.substack.com/subscribe

  4. Aug 7

    Living with Fatigue 4: A Different Pace

    Episode description Living with fatigue can sometimes mean adjusting to a pace that was never part of the plan. Activities may take longer. Recovery may require more attention. Things that once felt straightforward may need to be approached differently. It can be tempting to compare today with yesterday, or with earlier versions of ourselves. This guided reflection explores what it might mean to meet a different pace with a little less judgement. Rather than focusing on what has been lost, the invitation is to notice what is possible today and to consider how we might work alongside the rhythms that are available to us. This recording forms part of the Living with Fatigue collection within The Therapeutic Pause. What you may find helpful * A quiet and comfortable space * Headphones if preferred * A position that supports rest, whether sitting or lying down * A willingness to reflect on pace, expectations, and self-compassion About The Therapeutic Pause The Therapeutic Pause is a collection of guided reflections and restorative practices created by Terry Hanley. These recordings offer opportunities to pause, reflect, rest, and reconnect with yourself. Collections explore ongoing experiences, life transitions, professional development, everyday moments, self-compassion, uncertainty, rest, and the challenges of everyday life. About Terry Hanley Terry Hanley is a Professor at the University of Manchester, a HCPC-registered Counselling Psychologist, and a Fellow of the British Psychological Society. Further resources, writing, and information can be found at: https://www.terryhanleypsychology.co.uk https://counselling.substack.com Important note These recordings are intended as guided reflections and restorative practices and are not a substitute for healthcare or psychological support. Please listen when you are somewhere safe and able to give the recording your attention. Get full access to Counselling and Psychotherapy Stuff at counselling.substack.com/subscribe

  5. Jul 8

    Guided Imagery 3: A Walk on the Hill

    Episode description Sometimes it can help to step back from the closeness of daily life and see things from a slightly different perspective. In this guided imagery practice, you are invited to follow a gentle path up a hillside, moving at your own pace through open landscapes and changing views. Along the way, there is space to pause, breathe, and notice what becomes visible when we allow ourselves a little distance from the demands of everyday life. This is not a journey about reaching a destination or achieving anything in particular. Instead, it is an opportunity to slow down, reflect, and spend time in a landscape that offers perspective, spaciousness, and a different view of the path beneath your feet. There is no need to imagine everything perfectly. Simply allow the images, sensations, and atmosphere to emerge in whatever way feels right for you. What you may find helpful * A quiet and comfortable space * Headphones if preferred * A position that supports rest, whether sitting or lying down * A willingness to explore a landscape at your own pace About The Therapeutic Pause The Therapeutic Pause is a collection of guided reflections and restorative practices created by Terry Hanley. These recordings offer opportunities to pause, reflect, rest, and reconnect with yourself. Collections explore ongoing experiences, life transitions, professional development, everyday moments, self-compassion, uncertainty, rest, and the challenges of everyday life. About Terry Hanley Terry Hanley is a Professor at the University of Manchester, a HCPC-registered Counselling Psychologist, and a Fellow of the British Psychological Society. Further resources, writing, and information can be found at: https://www.terryhanleypsychology.co.uk https://counselling.substack.com Important note These recordings are intended as guided reflections and restorative practices and are not a substitute for healthcare or psychological support. Please listen when you are somewhere safe and able to give the recording your attention. Get full access to Counselling and Psychotherapy Stuff at counselling.substack.com/subscribe

    Guided Imagery 3: A Walk on the Hill
  6. Jul 7

    Five Minute Hugs 3: Nothing to Fix Right Now

    Episode description We spend much of our lives trying to improve things, solve problems, and make sense of whatever is asking for our attention. While there is value in that, there are also moments when it can be helpful to step out of fixing mode for a while. This Five Minute Hug offers a brief invitation to pause and spend a few moments with yourself exactly as you are. There is nothing to achieve, nothing to perfect, and nothing that needs to be resolved before you are allowed to take a breath. Through gentle reflection and awareness, you are invited to let go of the pressure to do something with this moment and simply experience it. Not as a task. Not as a project. Just as a person having a moment of space. What you may find helpful * A quiet and comfortable space * Headphones if preferred * A position that supports rest, whether sitting or lying down * Permission to let this moment be enough About The Therapeutic Pause The Therapeutic Pause is a collection of guided reflections and restorative practices created by Terry Hanley. These recordings offer opportunities to pause, reflect, rest, and reconnect with yourself. Collections explore ongoing experiences, life transitions, professional development, everyday moments, self-compassion, uncertainty, rest, and the challenges of everyday life. About Terry Hanley Terry Hanley is a Professor at the University of Manchester, a HCPC-registered Counselling Psychologist, and a Fellow of the British Psychological Society. Further resources, writing, and information can be found at: https://www.terryhanleypsychology.co.uk https://counselling.substack.com Important note These recordings are intended as guided reflections and restorative practices and are not a substitute for healthcare or psychological support. Please listen when you are somewhere safe and able to give the recording your attention. Get full access to Counselling and Psychotherapy Stuff at counselling.substack.com/subscribe

    Five Minute Hugs 3: Nothing to Fix Right Now
  7. Jul 7

    Living with Fatigue 3: Rest Without Guilt

    Episode description For many people living with fatigue, rest can become surprisingly complicated. What begins as a physical need can sometimes become entangled with expectations, responsibilities, and the feeling that we should be doing more. This guided reflection offers an opportunity to step away from those pressures for a while and explore what it might be like to rest without needing to justify it. Through gentle reflection and awareness, you are invited to consider rest not as something that must be earned, but as a natural response to what is needed in this moment. There is nothing to prove here, nothing to achieve, and no particular way you should feel. Just a few minutes to pause, breathe, and make a little space for yourself. What you may find helpful * A quiet and comfortable space * Headphones if preferred * A position that supports rest, whether sitting or lying down * A willingness to let this moment be enough About The Therapeutic Pause The Therapeutic Pause is a collection of guided reflections and restorative practices created by Terry Hanley. These recordings offer opportunities to pause, reflect, rest, and reconnect with yourself. Collections explore ongoing experiences, life transitions, professional development, everyday moments, self-compassion, uncertainty, rest, and the challenges of everyday life. About Terry Hanley Terry Hanley is a Professor at the University of Manchester, a HCPC-registered Counselling Psychologist, and a Fellow of the British Psychological Society. Further resources, writing, and information can be found at: https://www.terryhanleypsychology.co.uk https://counselling.substack.com Important note These recordings are intended as guided reflections and restorative practices and are not a substitute for healthcare or psychological support. Please listen when you are somewhere safe and able to give the recording your attention. Get full access to Counselling and Psychotherapy Stuff at counselling.substack.com/subscribe

    Living with Fatigue 3: Rest Without Guilt
  8. Jul 6

    Living with Fatigue 2: Meeting Your Body Where It Is

    Episode description Living with fatigue can sometimes change the relationship we have with our bodies. What was once taken for granted may require more attention, more patience, or a different pace than before. This guided reflection offers an opportunity to pause for a while and gently reconnect with your body as it is today. Rather than striving to change anything, the invitation is simply to notice, listen, and make room for whatever is present. Through breath, awareness, and reflection, you are encouraged to approach your body with curiosity and kindness. Not as a problem to be solved or a project to be completed, but as something living that deserves care exactly as it is. What you may find helpful * A quiet and comfortable space * Headphones if preferred * A position that supports rest, whether sitting or lying down * A willingness to listen to your body without judgement About The Therapeutic Pause The Therapeutic Pause is a collection of guided reflections and restorative practices created by Terry Hanley. These recordings offer opportunities to pause, reflect, rest, and reconnect with yourself. Collections explore ongoing experiences, life transitions, professional development, everyday moments, self-compassion, uncertainty, rest, and the challenges of everyday life. About Terry Hanley Terry Hanley is a Professor at the University of Manchester, a HCPC-registered Counselling Psychologist, and a Fellow of the British Psychological Society. Further resources, writing, and information can be found at: https://www.terryhanleypsychology.co.uk https://counselling.substack.com Important note These recordings are intended as guided reflections and restorative practices and are not a substitute for healthcare or psychological support. Please listen when you are somewhere safe and able to give the recording your attention. Get full access to Counselling and Psychotherapy Stuff at counselling.substack.com/subscribe

    Living with Fatigue 2: Meeting Your Body Where It Is

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Guided reflections and restorative practices inspired by counselling psychology, mindfulness, and humanistic values. A space to pause, reflect, rest, and reconnect with yourself. counselling.substack.com