Last week, what was meant to be a straightforward appointment with our GP for my little girl became an emergency dash to the hospital in an ambulance. It’s the kind of curveball that comes with the territory of being a parent; sudden, uninvited, and deeply unsettling.

In moments like these, time stretches and contracts all at once. There is the sharp shock of fear, the blur of voices and movement, and the heavy uncertainty of not knowing what comes next.

When life takes a sudden turn for any of us, it doesn’t just affect our thoughts or emotions. It lands, quickly and powerfully, in our body; in the nervous system. While emergencies, frightening news, or unexpected changes are part of being human, their suddenness can jolt us out of our sense of safety, and because they arrive without warning, they often overwhelm our usual ways of coping, leaving our body on high alert long after the moment has passed.

In my therapy sessions, I often end with the phrase, mind yourself and go gently this week. Last week, one of my clients asked me what I meant when I said go gently.

When I say go gently this week, I’m not offering advice in the usual sense. I’m not suggesting you do less, achieve more balance, or finally get it right.

I’m speaking to the pace you carry yourself with.

If you’re attending therapy or thinking about starting, you might wonder whether it’s ok to ask your therapist personal questions.

Therapy is an intimate space. Each week you’re invited to speak about parts of yourself you may never share anywhere else, so it’s completely understandable to feel curious about the person sitting opposite you.

And yet, many clients hesitate. They worry about crossing a boundary or making things uncomfortable. If that’s been your experience, let me say this: yes, it’s absolutely ok to ask your therapist a personal question.

As 2025 draws to a close, many of us will reflect on what the year has held, what has been hard, what has mattered, and what we might want to do differently as we move forward. This time of year often brings a strong focus on New Year's resolutions; plans to change, improve, or finally “get it right.”

But I don’t think resolutions are supportive or indeed helpful.