Why Mind & Body Are Connected

July 14, 2025

Hello, and welcome to my very first blog!

Launching Feel Better Counselling is a big moment for me—it’s about bringing together my life and work experience in service of others, while doing it my way and from the heart.

For this first post, I’m going with what I know well. I want to offer a bit of insight into how I work, and maybe share something that resonates with you.

In sessions, of course, I’m trained to listen and understand things from your perspective. But by posting blogs, I hope to share some of my own human struggles and the things I’ve learned along the way. If you’ve ever worked with me, you’ll know I often talk about common experiences—how our “human brains” work, and how easy it is to get stuck in unhelpful thought or behaviour loops. These aren’t personal failings. They’re natural, automatic reactions. Your brain is doing what brains do!
I can’t help but bring in the biology sometimes. Our brains are always looking for shortcuts, and the habits we form literally rewire the way we respond to life. This can work for us—or against us.

The Mind-Body Loop

With my background in physiotherapy, radiotherapy, and counselling, I’ve always been fascinated by the link between our minds and bodies.

Research shows that they constantly influence each other. Over time, this can feed into the symptoms of long-term health conditions and sometimes keep people stuck in cycles of pain, stress, or fatigue.

When we feel low or overwhelmed, it’s easy to believe we are the problem. Depression drains our motivation. We stop doing the things that bring connection, joy, or a sense of achievement. Life starts to feel grey and flat, which makes it harder to act—and harder to believe change is possible.

At the same time, our bodies respond too. Muscles weaken, joints stiffen, and we start holding tension in different ways. Movement feels more difficult. Our brains notice this tension and search for reasons—often landing back on old worries or beliefs about ourselves.

Before we know it, we’re stuck in a loop:

We do less → We feel worse → We believe we can’t change → So we do less again.

The Good News: Small Changes Matter

It might sound like a dark picture—but there’s hope in understanding this cycle. Once we see what’s happening, we can look for small, manageable ways to shift things.

When you move your body, you can move your mind.

When you act, even in tiny ways, you can change the story you’re telling yourself.

I often talk about this in sessions—and my dog is the perfect example! She gets excited for her walk and does a little lap around me while I put my shoes on. She discharges her energy, then it’s done. No overthinking. No worrying about the weather or wondering who we might bump into.

Meanwhile, as humans, we’ve often talked ourselves out of the walk before we’ve even stepped outside!

What Can Help?

Here are a few small ideas to break the cycle:
• Track your activity.
Keep it simple. Look back at your day or week and notice moments of achievement, connection, and enjoyment. Did you show up for yourself today? Did you text a friend or pause to appreciate something? Small wins matter. If things feel out of balance, ask yourself: What’s one small step I could take?
• Move regularly.
Gentle stretches can reduce tension and help your body unwind—especially before bed. Progressive muscular relaxation is an excellent tool for systematically creating and releasing tension from your whole body. Here’s a simple guide from MindWell Leeds you can try.
• Practice mindfulness while you move.
Try a walk where you really notice the world around you—what you can see, hear, smell, and feel. Focusing your attention this way can stop automatic thoughts from spiralling, and help ground your mind in the present moment.

How Counselling Can Help
Counselling and CBT can help you spot the patterns that are keeping you stuck. Sometimes talking things through in a safe, non-judgemental space brings emotional relief—but that’s only part of the picture.

Together, we can look at what’s happening now, process things from the past, and work out small, tailored steps that fit your life.

Get in Touch

If this post resonates with you, I’d love to hear from you. Feel free to drop me a message if you’re interested in booking, or just want to say hello!