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Welcome to my blog!  A quick search online for what a welcome blog post is supposed to look like and here we are – a short article designed to let you, the reader, know who I am and explain what my blog will be about. But, before we get started, although I am a UK counsellor, psychotherapist and Mental Health Recovery worker, my blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, medical treatment, or therapy. Please always seek the advice of your physician or qualified mental health provider with any questions you may have regarding any mental health symptom or medical condition.

So, lets get started!

Before coming to counselling, I had a fairly varied career, working in customer service and then becoming self-employed while bringing up my family.  I set up and ran an event entertainment company for many years. I loved every minute of going to children’s parties one day and international airshows the next. This made my natural interest in people grow and grow. To help feed my interest, I started a course with the Open University, and before I knew it, I had achieved a degree with honours.

I was getting to work with many different groups of people, of all ages and backgrounds, from small local events and party organisers to huge international charities and CEOS. Each weekend was different, from freezing in a field helping to raise money for a village hall to sitting in posh art galleries and stately homes being served tea while I face-painted. As the business grew, I built a team of entertainers and artists to work by my side.  Although I loved the people and the work, my interest in mental health grew as the modules I chose for my OU degree focused more and more on counselling and psychology.


When COVID-19 hit, I had already accepted a mental health recovery worker role, and it seemed like a good time to close my entertainment business. I bid goodbye to my paintbrush and apron in exchange for a face mask and thermals!  I started my career in community-based mental health care.  I now spend part of the week supporting people with enduring mental health issues like schizophrenia and personality disorders, and part of the week as a volunteer counsellor.  


I’ve accumulated a fair amount of knowledge throughout my life, not to mention the super-charged, intense and unique learning environment working on the frontline in mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic created. I plan to use this blog to expand on the bite-sized information I share on various social media platforms. If you’re not aware, you can catch me on Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, Twitter (now X), Pinterest, Instagram, and Threads.


Sharing short posts and videos about therapy, self-care, and mental health is helpful, but often these only allow a snippet of information to be shared. This is my space to explore these topics a little deeper.  However, this is no selfless act, as I get to concrete all I have learnt at the same time. For me, blogging is also a chance to find my own voice among what feels like the thousands of voices I have heard and read over the last decade of study (yes, it took me ten years to complete my OU degree while running businesses and raising a family – I am nothing if not determined and persevering!)


I continued to feed my passion for learning about people by starting a master’s in counselling and started volunteering at a local hospice offering bereavement counselling. And here we are, stepping into to my next learning adventure – blogging, social media and most importantly, private practice (not to mention the little issue of a dissertation to write). 


I hope you will join me and come along for the ride!


Jennifer Rose
P.S: If there are any questions you would like me to address, please do let me know.  In the meantime, why not follow me on my socials?
Click here to go to the Socials page of my website, where you can find the links to all my social media.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               








Life doesn't always follow the path we expected. Grief, loss, anxiety, change, and life's unexpected challenges can leave us feeling uncertain, overwhelmed, or wondering where to turn next. I created the Therapy Roadmap as a gentle way of making sense of these experiences. Rather than seeing therapy as simply solving problems, the Roadmap uses familiar landscapes—such as rivers, bridges, forests, and quiet places to rest—to explore the emotional journeys we all encounter at different times in our lives. Wherever you find yourself, each place offers an opportunity for understanding, reflection, and growth. Through these articles, I share compassionate insights, practical guidance, and reflections inspired by the Therapy Roadmap, with the hope of helping you feel a little less alone and a little more confident about the next step on your own journey. Whether you're simply curious, seeking support, or considering counselling, you're warmly welcome here. Take your time to explore the path ahead, and if you feel ready to take the next step, I'd be honoured to walk alongside you.

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