Today is International Women's Day.

And like many things in life, it has had me reflecting.

On the incredible women I’m surrounded by, clients, counsellors, friends, family. Women who carry more than most people ever see. Women who keep going through grief, trauma, motherhood, menopause, loss, joy, growth, work, relationships and everything else life throws at them.

I am endlessly proud of them.

Not in a distant, professional way. In a real way.

Because here’s something people don’t always realise about therapists.

Yes, we think about our clients outside the therapy room.

Not in an intrusive or unhealthy way. Not in a “they take over our lives” way. Just in a human way.

When you sit with someone week after week while they unpack parts of their life that they may never have said out loud before… they matter. Their story matters. Their growth matters.

If someone tells me they did something brave that week, set a boundary, spoke their truth, rested when they needed to, I feel proud of them.

And I tell them.

Often.

Because hearing “I’m proud of you” can be life changing if you’ve rarely heard it before.

Therapy, for me, isn’t about sitting silently pretending I’m a blank slate. It’s relational. It’s human. If something is brilliant, I’ll say it. If something is hard, messy, or, let’s be honest…. a bit shit, I’ll say that too.

Not with judgement. With honesty.

I adore this work.

And today, while we’re celebrating women, I also want to acknowledge the men.

The men who come to therapy and sit down opposite me, sometimes with visible discomfort because society hasn’t always made it easy for them to talk about feelings. The men who push through that anyway. The men who cry, reflect, question themselves, and grow.

What a privilege that is.

It’s also a day that reminds me of the men in my life, the ones who support, encourage, listen, laugh, and occasionally shake their heads at my endless stream of ideas.

Celebrating women doesn’t mean excluding men. It means recognising strength, resilience and humanity wherever it shows up.

And for me, that shows up every single day in my work.

Clients who think they’re “not doing very well” when in reality they’re doing something incredibly brave, facing themselves.

Counsellor colleagues who support each other, challenge each other, lift each other up.

Friends who show up in the messy middle of life.

Family who love us through all our chapters.

We don’t celebrate each other enough. We don’t say the things we feel out loud often enough.

So I try to.

If I’m proud of someone, I’ll say it.
If someone inspires me, I’ll say it.
If someone has done something difficult, I’ll recognise it.

Communication matters. Appreciation matters.

And modelling that is part of how I work too.

Because when people feel seen and valued, something shifts inside them.

Today, however, I’m celebrating in a very glamorous way.

I’m out walking with my husband and the puppies… with a rather impressive bump on my head from cleaning out a cupboard yesterday. Apparently housework is now officially hazardous to my health.

So I’ve decided the safest option today is fresh air, dogs, sunshine if we’re lucky, and appreciating the people around me.

Which feels very fitting.

To all the incredible women, and the supportive men, in my world and beyond:

I see you.
I’m proud of you.
And I’m grateful for you.

Stay safe.
Stay connected.
And take gentle care.

Louise x

If this resonates, you’re not on your own.

Pull up a chair.

I've got you.

If you’re tired of carrying it alone, I’m here.

We can take it at your pace. No pressure. No fixing. Just space to be human.

📧 louisemalyancounselling@gmail.com