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Moving Forward with Healing, Humour, and Self-Compassion
Moving forward is about choosing compassion, shifting focus, and allowing humour to lighten life’s weight. Healing begins with connection and grows through trust in the life waiting ahead. | Inner Counsel Psychotherapy
Stefan Jurgens
Sep 29, 20253 min read
Your Brain Believes What You Tell It: How Self-Talk Shapes Your Mental Health
Learn how intentional self-talk rewires your brain through neuroplasticity. Practical reframing and emotional awareness reduce stress, build resilience, and improve lasting well-being ... one kinder thought at a time.
Stefan Jurgens
Aug 25, 20252 min read
Laughing Brave: Humour as Our Emotional Lifeline
Laughter is more than fun; it's a brave emotional lifeline. It disrupts stress, fosters calm & connection, builds resilience, and grounds us in the present, transforming our well-being. A friend recently shared with me: "When I laugh, everything else vanishes. There are no past regrets, no future worries. I'm completely present. And sharing that laugh with someone else … it’s like we’re instantly connected, completely in sync." Laughter does more than lift moods; it snaps us
Stefan Jurgens
Jun 12, 20253 min read
On Making Mistakes: Why Falling Forward is Part of Being Human
Mistakes aren’t failures, they’re feedback. Embracing them fosters growth, authenticity, and resilience. Celebrate the stumbles; they’re proof you’re moving forward. Growing up, adults fretted, ‘Stefan makes so many mistakes.’ But those ‘mistakes’ were just me learning: climbing bridges, wearing questionable outfits, jamming badly on musical instruments. Those messy moments became my compass, nudging me toward trusting myself over others’ checklists for ‘doing life right.’
Stefan Jurgens
May 19, 20252 min read
We Wear Some Scars, Others Wear Us
Scars, particularly emotional ones, are narratives of survival and growth. By honouring them, we reclaim our power, transforming hidden pain into bridges of connection, growth, and wisdom. When I was a young boy, I fell on broken glass that was hidden in long grass. That scar is still with me, decades later. It felt like a crisis then. Now, it's just part of me. It seems smaller now, not because it was insignificant, but because I’ve grown around it. That scar, like others on
Stefan Jurgens
May 15, 20252 min read
Sometimes We're Like Cats: We Hide When We Don't Feel Right
We took the cat to the vet today. It's never fun, but it's necessary. Cats don't complain. They don't have the vocabulary for it, not in a way we easily understand. Instead, they get quieter, more withdrawn. They hide. And since cats tolerate pain and discomfort better than we do, by the time we notice something's wrong, it's often been wrong for a while. People aren't that different. We don't always recognize when something's off. We don't always have the words to describe i
Stefan Jurgens
Apr 7, 20253 min read
From Family History to Personal Success: Transforming Inherited Challenges into Professional Growth
We inherit more than just our genes: our ancestors' fears, beliefs, strengths, and struggles shape who we are today. By understanding these legacies, we can let go of the burdens and embrace the gifts they offer. Do You Carry More Than Your Own Story? Sometimes, I feel like I’m not doing enough. Even when I check everything off my to-do list, there’s still that nagging sense that I should be doing more. It’s as if I can’t truly believe I’m finished until I’m completely exhaus
Stefan Jurgens
Apr 3, 20254 min read
Navigating Job Loss: Managing the Emotional Fallout and Finding Your Way Forward
Losing a job is more than just a financial setback. It can feel like losing a part of yourself. I know this firsthand. When I was let go from a role where I'd consistently performed at a high level and received exceptional reviews, the shock hit me like a tidal wave. Suddenly, everything felt unstable. I questioned myself constantly. Was I not good enough? Had I missed something? The stress about bills and responsibilities was relentless. Depression crept in. If you’ve been t
Stefan Jurgens
Mar 31, 20253 min read
Is Fear Holding You Back From Your Potential?
You’re not alone. Whether it’s public speaking, networking, or taking on new professional challenges, anxiety often keeps us from doing what we’re truly capable of. In my own life, I struggled with anxiety. Simple things like meeting new people or giving presentations would make my knees shake and my heart race. Fear took away my ability to showcase what I knew I was good at. But here’s the good news: we can change how we respond to fear. The key is learning to name it and fa
Stefan Jurgens
Mar 27, 20252 min read
Hope: Our Hidden Superpower for Professionals Facing Burnout and Uncertainty
Ever felt like you're running on empty, despite doing everything "right" in your career? I've been there. Hope is more than wishful thinking: it's a mindset that fuels resilience and success. This post explores how psychotherapy helps us harness hope to navigate challenges and thrive. A few years ago, I found myself feeling stuck. I had a successful career, but something was missing. Despite the security and expertise I had built, I felt unfulfilled, questioning my purpose, a
Stefan Jurgens
Mar 20, 20254 min read
Managing Anxiety in Uncertain Times: Lessons from a Psychotherapist
Do you feel overwhelmed by the news cycle? You're not alone. Anxiety spreads fast, but so does calm. Lately, I’ve been feeling it. There's a persistent anxiety, a sense of unease about the world. Maybe you have, too? Economic uncertainty, political instability, and an endless stream of alarming headlines make it difficult to stay grounded. Even as a psychotherapist, trained to help others navigate emotions, I have to remind myself to apply the very strategies I teach. The tru
Stefan Jurgens
Mar 13, 20254 min read
Navigating Life, Embracing Change
Choice is the expression of change. It’s through our choices that we embrace the transformations life offers. For busy professionals, navigating choices can feel overwhelming when balanced against demanding careers and personal responsibilities. Psychotherapy offers tools to clarify priorities, overcome self-doubt, and foster growth in ways that align with both personal and professional aspirations. Your past experiences influence your viewpoint, but they don't have to define
Stefan Jurgens
Jan 13, 20252 min read
Looking for insight, guidance, or practical strategies to navigate life’s challenges?
This blog offers tools from therapy to help you manage burnout, heal from past wounds, and explore personal growth. You’ll find posts designed to foster emotional wellness, resilience, and a deeper connection with yourself and others.
Welcome to your journey toward self-discovery and meaningful change.
A Reminder: The content on this site is for general informational purposes only and is not medical or therapeutic advice. It does not create a therapeutic relationship. For diagnosis or treatment, consult a licensed mental health professional.
Inner Counsel Psychotherapy Blog
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