January can bring a lot of pressure for counsellors and therapists, with worries about enquiries, a sense of falling behind, and rising self-criticism. This can feel even more intense for neurodivergent counsellors and those who are highly sensitive to pressure.

In this episode of Good Enough Counsellors, I’m joined by Eve Menezes Cunningham to explore a kinder way of moving through January, especially for counsellors in private practice.

Eve draws on therapy, yoga therapy, coaching and writing to offer a deeply compassionate, embodied approach to wellbeing. We talk about self-compassion, nervous system care, and how understanding ourselves, including neurodivergence and survival responses, can reduce shame and self-criticism.

Eve shares her accessible, cat-based way of explaining polyvagal theory (purr, hiss, hide), helping counsellors notice what state they’re in and respond with kindness rather than judgement.

We also explore why boundaries can feel so uncomfortable to set, particularly for people who learned early on to please others in order to feel safe, and why holding yourself with compassion after setting a boundary is just as important as the boundary itself.

We finish with Eve’s gentle invitation for January: to treat yourself as you would a beloved, precious creature, with curiosity, patience and care, rather than seeing yourself as a problem to fix.

1. Why January often feels hard for counsellors and therapists
2. Pressure, anxiety and self-criticism in private practice
3. Self-compassion and being kinder to yourself
4. Neurodivergence and nervous system awareness
5. Polyvagal theory explained through cats (purr, hiss, hide)
6. Why boundaries feel difficult and how to support yourself
7. A gentle, realistic approach to January without pressure

Eve Menezes Cunningham is a therapist, supervisor, podcast host and former Editor-in-Chief of the Irish Journal of Counselling and Psychotherapy. She has a monthly column in Platinum and her book 365 Ways to Feel Better is widely available. You can find Eve and her resources at https://selfcarecoaching.net.

Setting up in private practice? Download my free checklist HERE

Need ideas for how to get clients? Download my free handout 21 Ways for Counsellors to Attract New Clients HERE

You can also find me here:

The Good Enough Counsellors Facebook Group

Josephine Hughes on Facebook

Josephine Hughes on YouTube

My website: josephinehughes.com

The information contained in Good Enough Counsellors is provided for...