Stacey Sewell Counselling

This is a daft post inspired by meeting a colleague’s pet tortoise a little while ago. I gave him a cuddle and he offered me a little tortoise therapy. I’ve invited him to share some of his thoughts with you.

1. Eat plenty of veg. Greens are good for you. As are strawberries.
2. Flow with the seasons. Slow down in winter, or hibernate if you must. But if you choose to hibernate in an isolated spot (away from your friends and family, or in the fridge) make sure someone comes to check on you every so often.
3. Go at your own pace. Contrary to what you may have heard about tortoises, we don’t engage in races. That’s why we’re content.
4. Climb over obstacles. I overcome shoes and cats and the barriers my human erects to try to keep me in one room and out of another, but the setbacks on your path may look more like relationship break ups, redundancies or bank holiday DIY. Keep trying and take things one step at a time. Ask for help if you need it, especially if you’ve fallen onto your back and you’re struggling to right yourself.
5. Bask in what warms you. There are many things in life that can be draining, so it’s good to take in the things that charge you up. I like sunshine and my heat lamp. You might like a good book or the love of your friends and family. I gather humans can enjoy the sun too, but do make sure to wear sunscreen and a hat, especially if you’re a pale northerner like Stacey.
6. Think about when you retreat into your shell. Retreating for self-protection is often a good course of action, but not always. Think about whether the threat is real or imagined.
7. Sometimes getting lost in something is good. Well, trying new paths is, anyway. I like to adventure in the garden. My human ensures I can be found by sticking a string to my back so that she can follow it and find me. Meanwhile, I’ve discovered tasty treats and other things that nourish me.
8. Finally, take a bath. Although you humans have simplified and commercialised the concept a bit, and self-care is about more than just baths, baths can still be very soothing and can hydrate the soul as well as the skin. They can also make you delightfully wrinkly, like a tortoise.

You perhaps shouldn’t take this too seriously. After all, he might be a gorgeous little creature but he doesn’t have any training or qualifications. Luckily he has a hard shell and can withstand criticism. Though, you never know, it might contain the odd pearl of wisdom. . .

If you’d like to connect with a human therapist, then do get in touch. I welcome humour and laughter in my consulting room as well as any other feelings you might bring. We can work together to help you to build your own guide to wellbeing.

Image credit: “Grumpy baby gopher tortoise” by USFWS/Southeast is licensed under CC BY 2.0.