Do you find Christmas hard? You’re not alone. Here are 5 reasons why the festive season doesn’t always bring cheer: 1️⃣ Work becomes more intense Suddenly you’re expected to achieve the same workload in two-thirds of the time — and urgent issues always seem to appear. 2️⃣ It feels wasteful In a world facing environmental and food scarcity, having more than you need can feel uncomfortable or even overwhelming. 3️⃣ Spiritual disconnect Christmas is a Christian celebration, yet only around 6% of UK adults regularly attend church. For many, the spiritual element can feel absent or confusing. 4️⃣ Close proximity to people you don’t normally see This can place huge pressure on interactions, making social dynamics stressful, draining, or difficult to navigate. 5️⃣ Lack of time outside Nature lowers stress, boosts immunity and supports sleep — yet festive traditions keep us indoors, leaving many feeling cooped up and restless. If any of this resonates, it’s okay. You’re not the only one — and you don’t have to keep pushing through alone. Let’s talk. 🖤 @esse_therapy #Christmas #anxiety #stress #family #festive #therapy #hypnotherapy

Let’s talk about why chatting to a real therapist hits different than getting support from AI. 💛 Swipe through the carousel to see the 5 big reasons. 1️⃣ There’s just something about being understood by another human. Therapists bring empathy, intuition, and presence in a way tech can’t. 2️⃣ So much of what you’re feeling isn’t said out loud. Your body language, tone, and energy tell a whole story—your therapist can pick up on all of it. 3️⃣ Therapists are held to strict ethics and confidentiality. Their job is to support you. That’s not how AI works. 4️⃣ The relationship itself matters. Feeling genuinely seen and supported by someone in the room with you? That’s powerful. 5️⃣ And honestly… therapy is about your full, messy, beautiful humanity. A real human can meet you there. At @essetherapyuk, we’re big believers in human connection. Your voice, your story, your emotions—they deserve to be heard by someone who truly gets it. #therapist #lawyer #Bath #Wiltshire #hypnotherapy #peoplematter #communication

Life is super complicated. So many messages and bits of information flying in at you all the time. Its exhausting and overwhelming. What happens if we just boil things down a bit. Keep things simple. One of the best questions I have ever been asked was by my own therapist a number of years ago. She asked, simply: 'When did you last feel joy?' I almost laughed. It was such an alien concept to me at the time. It evoked a time where I put my needs first, prioritised happiness, forgot the to do list, and just lived in the moment. All of these things were so so far away from where I was at the time. However, she suggested that rather than shoot for the moon, I just spent the next few days until our next appointment noticing if there were any moments where things just felt a bit lighter. A bit less heavy. Surprisingly, there were. Even if they were just tiny like hearing a bird singing, or feeling the warmth of towels coming out of the tumble dryer. We aren't talking living in Bali, drinking Mojitos. So this is my task for you these coming days. Notice when things feel lighter, more free, less restrictive. Make more time for those moments, and see where you get to. #therapy #joy #sparkjoy #happiness #hypnotherapy #Bath ##Wiltshire #lawyerlife

As a solicitor and therapist, I understand from both a business and therapeutic stance why wellbeing is now a business necessity — not a luxury. According to LawCare’s 2025 Life in the Law report, 59% of legal professionals report poor mental wellbeing, and 78% regularly work beyond their contracted hours. As both a Partner in a law firm and a Solution-Focused Hypnotherapist, I see the same story playing out across the sector: lawyers under sustained pressure, often believing burnout is simply “part of the job.” It doesn’t have to be. Burnout isn’t about weakness. It’s a physiological response to prolonged stress. The World Health Organisation defines it as a workplace syndrome, and neuroscience confirms it can impair focus, empathy, and decision-making — the very skills lawyers depend on. Even something as simple as a constant flow of emails can keep the brain in “fight or flight,” leaving no room for recovery. Wellbeing is no longer a “soft skill.” It’s a commercial imperative. The UK loses £26 billion annually to stress and mental illness. Highly stressed lawyers are 11x more likely to make mistakes — some costing over £250,000. Clients increasingly check firms’ wellbeing policies as part of their procurement process. When wellbeing suffers, so does performance, retention, and reputation. Sustainable practice starts with cultural change. That means: Training managers and partners in wellbeing-aware leadership Providing burnout and vicarious trauma training Rethinking metrics — valuing collaboration, not just billable hours Modelling flexible, humane working practices Leadership buy-in is crucial. My in-house burnout prevention programme combines neuroscience, psychology, and practical techniques to help lawyers work sustainably. Participants learn to: Spot early signs of burnout Reset the nervous system for focus and calm Build resilience and professional fulfilment This training is designed by a solicitor, for solicitors — grounded in real-life understanding of the pressures of legal practice. Get in touch if you want to talk training or support. #therapy #wellbeing #law #lawfirm #training #solicitor