Karen Hanson Counselling

One of the kinds of grief Francis Weller names—the grief of losing everything we love—often begins long before anything is actually gone. It can arrive quietly, months or even years ahead of the moment of loss, sitting on the horizon in front of us, as some deep, intuitive part of us is already preparing for a world that is about to change. The emotional weight of anticipating loss When we sense that something precious is slipping away—a loved one living with cancer or dement

As the year has turned and the days sit at their shortest, mid‑winter can bring with it a natural pause. The darker months can invite us inward, encouraging a moment of reflection and a taking stock of where we find ourselves in life. For some, this season stirs a sense of possibility—a fresh start, renewed motivation, or the familiar ritual of setting intentions for the year ahead. For others, winter offers something quieter: a permission to rest. The cold, wet days can draw

In the heart of winter — the “bleak midwinter” — the season of festivities can bring light and warmth to the darkest days. For some, this time of year is genuinely nourishing: filled with laughter, playfulness, celebration, comfort, a sense of togetherness or a time of deep rest. These times can be deeply sustaining of emotional wellbeing. For many, though, the experience is more complex. Alongside enjoyment there may be obligations that feel heavy, a quiet exhaustion, work t

Max Porter’s Grief Is the Thing With Feathers   offers a tender and unusual window into the experience of loss. Through the voices of a father and his two sons, Porter captures the disorienting landscape that follows the death of someone deeply loved. The arrival of the crow in the story speaks to the strangeness of grief — how unpredictable, intrusive, and mysterious it can feel. When someone important to us dies, our responses vary widely. Grief may arrive as emotional over

The reasons people seek counselling are as varied as our individual lives. Often, it’s a moment of stepping through a new doorway — entering a phase where familiar ways of coping no longer feel enough, or where emotional struggles are asking for attention and understanding. Counselling can offer a space to explore these challenges and to move at your own pace toward greater clarity and ease. On this page, I will be posting short reflections on some of the experiences that com