“Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. "Pooh?" he whispered. "Yes, Piglet?" "Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's hand. "I just wanted to be sure of you.”― A.A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh

What’s often needed most is a space where they can be seen, understood, and validated.

Sometimes the most important thing I can do isn’t to fix, but to be present, to show that they matter, that their voice is worth hearing. There is a quiet strength in offering support, not through grand gestures, but in the simple act of sitting with someone in their vulnerability.

When I listen with an open heart, I am not only assisting with their healing — I am connecting with the humanity that binds us all. And in that moment, the care we share becomes something greater than just healthcare. It becomes a shared journey.

Below, is a reflection from someone whom I have really enjoyed working with:

I started meeting with Graeme for pastoral supervision almost a year ago.  I have a job that can be emotionally challenging at times, and it can often be quite solitary.  Whilst I really enjoy it there have been times over the past year when I have questioned if it’s the right job for me and, more importantly, am I the right person for the job.

I have come to value my sessions with Graeme and really look forward to them.  Each time I walk into the room feeling I have the weight of the world on my shoulders and leave feeling so much lighter and with a clear head.  He has a way of giving me permission to be vulnerable and open up about the issues that are troubling me, teasing out the issue and often helping me reach the solution by myself.  We have built a strong trust and rapport that is so important in allowing me to be open and honest.

Graeme’s support and guidance is invaluable to me now.  I feel it makes me more effective and more confident in my abilities at work, but also helps me to be the wife and mum that I want to be at home.  Graeme often emails me an article, poem, or book recommendations based on our conversations between sessions and this just shows that he doesn’t only view these meeting as a work commitment, he actually cares about our conversations and that means a lot. 

Tea can solve most things.