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Lena Brailsford Therapy & Support, Cromford, Matlock (2026)

04/06/2026

💛 Support Can Exist Alongside Support 💛

“We’re waiting.”

It’s a phrase I hear often.

But what families rarely talk about is what happens whilst they’re waiting.

The school phone calls.

The bedtime worries.

The tears after school.

The anxiety.

The endless wondering.

The feeling that everyone else seems to have answers whilst you’re still trying to work out the questions.

Waiting for CAMHS.

Waiting for assessments.

Waiting for school support.

Waiting for answers.

And whilst those services can play an incredibly important role, life doesn’t stop whilst you’re waiting.

Children are still struggling.

Parents are still worrying.

Families are still carrying the weight of it every single day.

One of the greatest lessons my life and career have taught me is that nobody holds all the answers.

The best outcomes happen when people work together.

Each bringing their own expertise.

Each seeing something slightly different.

Each helping to build a fuller picture.

Perhaps that’s why collaboration has always felt so important to me.

I come from a family whose lives have been dedicated to supporting others.

Nurses, mental health professionals, counsellors, therapists and healers.

People who spent their lives supporting children, adults and families through some of life’s most challenging moments.

People who understood the importance of listening, advocating, caring and working together.

Those values didn’t stay in the workplace.

They were part of everyday life growing up.

The conversations around the table.

The stories shared.

The compassion shown.

The belief that nobody should have to face difficult times alone.

Looking back, I can see how much those experiences shaped me and the way I work today.

Throughout my career, whether bringing together families and professionals through Barnardo’s, working alongside schools and specialist services as an Autism Outreach Teacher, or coordinating therapists and outside agencies within education, I have always valued the insight, expertise and perspectives that different people bring.

Because support shouldn’t be competitive.

Support can exist alongside support.

Many of the families I support are already working with schools, navigating EHCP processes, on waiting lists, exploring neurodiversity or accessing CAMHS support. My work sits alongside those journeys, not instead of them.

You don’t have to wait until every assessment is completed, every meeting has happened or every answer has been found before seeking support.

Sometimes what families need most is someone to help them make sense of where they are right now.

My role isn’t to replace other services.

It’s to offer a calm space to reflect, make sense of what’s happening, explore possibilities and help people feel less alone whilst they find their way.

If you’re currently carrying a lot, feeling overwhelmed, worried about your child, or wondering what the next step might be, you’re very welcome to get in touch.

💛 I offer a free 20-minute Discovery Call where we can explore what’s going on and whether I might be able to help.

Because sometimes the most important thing isn’t having all the answers.

It’s having the right support around you.
DM to find out more
Lena
🌼

03/06/2026

🌼 I was inspired to create this floral version of the Reiki Principles for my treatment room.

My space has gradually developed a bit of an indoor garden vibe. Flowers have always made me smile and bring a sense of calm and colour to a room 🌺

(Unfortunately mine are artificial, as they are far safer in my care than real ones! 🌸😂 I have a remarkable talent for loving plants whilst simultaneously forgetting to keep them alive.)

So flowers felt like the perfect way to bring these principles to life.

Although they sit at the heart of Reiki practice, I’ve always felt they are really principles for everyday living.

🌸 Be kind.

🌸 Be grateful.

🌸 Do your work honestly.

🌸 Worry a little less.

🌸 Respond with understanding rather than anger.

As I was creating it, I found myself reflecting on one of my favourite grounding thoughts:

People are a little like flowers.

Given the right conditions, care, patience and space, we grow in our own way and in our own time.

The same is true of children.

The same is true of families.

And, if I’m honest, it’s true of me too.

As a parent, practitioner and human being, I certainly don’t get these right every day. There are days when I worry. Days when I’m tired. Days when I need reminding of my own values.

But that’s exactly why I love these principles.

Not because they ask us to be perfect.

But because they gently invite us back to what matters.

Kindness.

Gratitude.

Integrity.

Compassion.

One day at a time.

💛 Which of these principles speaks to you most today?

02/06/2026

💛 Conflict Resolution: What Are We Really Teaching Our Children?

When conflict happens, most of us focus on the behaviour.

The shouting.

The tears.

The slammed doors.

The refusal to cooperate.

But what if the most important part isn’t the conflict itself?

What if it’s what happens afterwards?

Children aren’t learning that healthy relationships never experience conflict.

They’re learning how relationships recover.

Do people listen?

Do feelings matter?

Can mistakes be acknowledged?

Is it safe to disagree?

Can relationships bend without breaking?

And let’s be honest, as children grow, develop their own opinions and begin the journey towards independence, conflict is almost inevitable.

I know I had disagreements with my parents growing up, and as a parent myself, I’m navigating some of these challenges too.

For me, these moments aren’t just about managing behaviour.

They’re opportunities to teach something much deeper.

That it’s okay to think differently.

That it’s okay to question.

That it’s okay to have strong opinions.

But also how to express those opinions with respect.

How to listen as well as speak.

How to disagree without attacking.

How to stay connected even when we don’t see things the same way.

And when things do go wrong, as they inevitably will from time to time, how to repair and move forward together.

Because perfection isn’t what builds strong relationships.

Repair is.

The conversation afterwards.

The hug.

The apology.

The reassurance.

The willingness to say:

💛 “That didn’t go how I wanted it to.”

When children experience healthy repair, they learn something incredibly important:

Relationships can survive difficult moments.

And so can they.

✨ Sometimes the biggest shifts in family life don’t come from changing behaviour.

They come from understanding what’s happening beneath it.

If you’re finding yourself stuck in the same family patterns, my Child, Parent & Family Clarity Sessions offer a calm space to pause, reflect and explore what’s really going on beneath the surface.

Message me to find out more 💛

01/06/2026

Monday morning can feel heavy in some homes.

The weekend is over.

The uniform is on.

But your child suddenly has a stomach ache, a headache, tears in their eyes or simply says, “I don’t want to go.”

Sometimes it isn’t about being difficult.

Sometimes it’s anxiety.

Sometimes it’s friendship worries.

Sometimes they’re carrying stress they don’t have the words to explain.

And sometimes they’re simply exhausted from trying to hold it all together.

If your Monday mornings feel like a battle, you’re not alone.

Many parents are quietly carrying the same worries and wondering what they’re missing.

Behind the resistance, there is often a child who needs understanding rather than pressure.

And a parent who needs support too.

If you’re concerned about your child’s emotional wellbeing and would like a safe space to talk things through, my Child & Family Clarity Sessions can help you make sense of what’s going on and explore the next steps together.

🌿 You don’t have to figure it all out alone.

Message me to find out more.
Lena
🧡

31/05/2026

🌿 Sometimes it’s not the work that’s exhausting.

It’s all the thinking.

The noticing.

The analysing.

The trying to understand.

Over the years I’ve met many children who appear to be coping perfectly well on the surface.

They follow the rules.

They try hard.

They care deeply.

They want to get things right.

But underneath, they’re carrying far more than most adults realise.

They’re trying to understand friendships.

Trying to work out what people really mean.

Trying to make sense of rules that seem to change depending on the situation.

Trying to fit in whilst still being themselves.

Trying to work out where they belong.

And all of that takes energy 💛

Sometimes so much energy that by the time they get home, there’s very little left.

This can look like:

🌿 irritability

🌿 needing lots of downtime

🌿 withdrawing from activities they usually enjoy

🌿 struggling to make decisions

🌿 emotional outbursts over seemingly small things

🌿 wanting to stay home and do very little

As parents, it can be easy to think:
“Come on, you’ll feel better if you get out.”

Or:
“You’re fine now, that was weeks ago.”

But sometimes a child’s nervous system hasn’t caught up with the calendar.

The stressful event may be over.

The recovery isn’t.

And honestly, I think many adults can relate to this too.

How often do we keep going because we have to, only to crash once the pressure lifts?

Children are no different.

Sometimes what they need most isn’t motivation.

It’s permission.

Permission to rest.

Permission to recover.

Permission to be accepted exactly as they are whilst they refill their tank 🌿

As a parent and through my years working in specialist education, I’ve learned that understanding often helps more than pressure.

Because when children feel understood, they no longer have to spend so much energy trying to explain themselves.

And sometimes that’s where healing begins 💛

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone.

✨ Child & Family Clarity Sessions
✨ A calm space for children and parents to explore what’s really going on beneath the surface.

30/05/2026

🌿 Time for You 🌿

How often do you give yourself an uninterrupted hour to simply rest, recharge and receive?

Whether you’re carrying stress, feeling emotionally drained, navigating change or simply in need of a little peace, Reiki offers a gentle opportunity to slow down and reconnect with yourself 💛

Each 1:1 Reiki session includes time to settle, reflect and set an intention before your treatment, allowing the session to be tailored to what feels most important for you on that day.

✨ 1 Hour Reiki Session – £45

Held at The Hearth Space above Fig Coffee House, Matlock.

Current availability:
🌿 Monday – 9:30am
🌿 Tuesday – 9:30am 11pm
🌿 Wednesday – 9:30am

I also host a small, friendly Reiki Healing Circle every Monday at 11am.

This relaxed group session is perfect if you’ve been curious about Reiki and would like to experience it in a welcoming environment without committing to private sessions.

✨ Reiki Healing Circle – £20
✨ Includes a hot drink from Fig Coffee House
✨ Come alone or bring a friend

If you’d like to book a session or find out more, simply send me a message 💛

Sometimes an hour of rest is exactly what the mind, body and heart have been asking for 🌿
DM to book
Lena
🌸

29/05/2026

🌿 Friendship isn’t always the real problem.

One of the most common concerns parents bring to me is friendship difficulties.

“My child says nobody wants to play with them.”

“They feel left out.”

“They don’t seem to fit in.”

“They’re struggling to find their people.”

And whilst friendships can absolutely be the challenge, over the years I’ve learned that the presenting problem isn’t always the root cause 💛

Sometimes underneath friendship worries we find:

🌿 low confidence
🌿 anxiety
🌿 feeling different from peers
🌿 difficulties reading social situations
🌿 worries about change or transitions
🌿 sensory overwhelm
🌿 a need to better understand themselves

As adults, it’s natural to want to fix the friendship problem. We offer advice, solutions and encouragement.

But often the most powerful thing we can do is slow down, listen and become curious about what may be sitting underneath.

This is why my Child & Family Clarity Sessions are designed to be gentle, child-led and pressure-free.

Children can talk, colour, create, use Lego, engage in mindful activities or simply spend time in a calm, welcoming space whilst we explore what’s going on together. Parents remain present throughout and are part of the journey too 🌿

As someone with a background in specialist education and autism outreach, I know that children don’t always tell us the real issue straight away.

Sometimes they need time.

Sometimes they need trust.

Sometimes they simply need someone to ask the right questions.

And sometimes, just being heard is enough to help things begin to make sense 💛

Whether your child is struggling with friendships, confidence, school worries, anxiety, transitions or simply seems a little lost right now, you’re very welcome to get in touch.

✨ Child & Family Clarity Sessions
✨ Parent Clarity Sessions
✨ Holistic Treatments for Children & Adults

📩 Message me for an informal chat to explore what support may feel right for your family.

27/05/2026

🌺🌸Bank Holidays at Barn Farm🦚

This weekend at Barn Farm really reminded me why my work has gradually evolved into so much more than simply offering treatments 🦋

🌼Although the official opening time each day is 12, I always open the wellness space from 9am and stay right until the very end on the final day too. 🌺

🌸 I noticed early ( ever the observant teacher) that some children, adults and families naturally seek those quieter moments before or after the crowds.

The slower mornings.
The softer atmosphere.
The peace that gently returns once the busyness fades 💛

🌺I honestly love watching families and children pause for a while beneath the trees in our little wellness area surrounded by the rhododendrons🌼

Some children wander over for colouring, crystal spell jars, mindful crafts and creative activities whilst parents simply sot nearby breathing a little slower for once. Others come for treatments, conversations, grounding or a moment to themselves. Some simply sit quietly together in the shade.

And honestly… I love all of it 🌿

As a parent myself, I know how rare and precious those moments can be. The moments where you are not organising, rushing, planning, carrying, solving problems or thinking ten steps ahead.

Just being.
Together 💛

And I think that’s what I’m trying to create more and more through these spaces now.🥰

🌸Not somewhere people arrive feeling pressured to “fix” themselves or explain everything perfectly, but somewhere adults and children alike can soften enough to simply exhale for a while 🌺

Because not everybody needs a massage.💖
Not everybody wants to talk deeply about life.✨
Not everybody is ready for reflection.💕

Sometimes people simply need a calm space where they feel welcome, safe, seen and able to just be exactly as they are 🌿
Thats what this little enclosed wellness haven space is 🫶🏽

✨Alongside the restful family space, treatments remained the working space of the weekend. ✨
Back, neck and shoulder massages were especially popular and so many people commented on how quickly they were able to completely switch off once the treatment began…

That moment where the shoulders drop.
The breathing slows.
The nervous system finally realises:

“I can rest for a while now.” 💛
Most commenting on how they wished they had booked longer. Just to chill in peace after, before returning to the hustle outside of the tent. 🧡

As someone with a background in teaching and passionate about regulation, inclusion and diversity. I naturally notice how differently children, adults and families experience busy environments, sensory load and social spaces. And honestly, this weekend reinforced for me again how we are all may need different external things but are seeking the same inner experience- peace, connection, happy .😁

Some quietly crave slower, gentler and more thoughtful spaces to reconnect within 🌱 others thrive in the busy, social , vibrant energy to achieve the same 🌺 Hopefully i have a balance of both 🫶🏽

I’m already reflecting on this and how I may change the setup for August.

And I’d genuinely love to hear from anyone who spent time in the wellness area this weekend to help with this , even if you didn’t and have ideas please share. I am always open to comments to make me think and make spaces more inclusive & engaging for those who want them💛

What did you and your children enjoy most?
What helped you feel comfortable, calm or connected?
What would you love to see more of next time? 🌿

Just comment below 🌺
I won’t be around in July but know Claire and Jon will both make the space a place to rest and enjoy some wellbeing -whether its with sound healing , mindful walks to the moor or in the beautiful sauna & plunge pool 😱
enjoy 🌺
Lena
🌼

Ps: if you want to book a slot for August just DM me and i will get you booked in 🌸

Pps. If anyone has any photos please share i was either too distracted to photograph or couldn’t find my phone lol ( yes my marketing is as fantastic and seamless as ever lol)

27/05/2026

The Peacocks at Barn Farm always gather little trails of children behind them everywhere they go 🦚✨

Honestly… myself included at times 😂🌿

One little girl came into my tent and carefully made what she called a “sleep” crystal spell jar. At first I assumed it was all about bedtime worries, but after chatting and gently asking more questions, it turned out the real issue wasn’t sleep at all… it was the peacocks loudly calling through the night and waking her up 💛

So together we renamed it:
✨ “The Shhh Be Quiet Peacock Spell.”

Every time we spotted a peacock afterwards we would whisper:

“Shhhh… “ then we would listen to the quiet. 😂🦚

The next morning I asked if it had worked and she confidently smiled and said:

“Yes.”

And honestly, I think there’s something beautiful in that.

Children naturally believe in magic.
In possibility.
In wonder.
In the idea that things can change ✨

Once she believed the spell was helping, her whole focus shifted. Instead of waiting for the next loud squawk, she started noticing the quiet moments instead 🌿So at night she wasn’t waiting for the next cry but rather was lulled by the quiet.
Meanwhile , I became slightly fascinated by the peacocks myself 😂

In the early mornings after the freezing nights and before the boiling hot days,I watched them slowly turning in circles in the sunlight, almost as though they were warming their feathers and waking their bodies back up for the day. Preening and maybe showing off ?
Inspired i decided to join them
twirling in circles too, imagining my own “tail feathers” warming in the sun alongside them ✨
And honestly… it felt lovely.
A reminder to slow down.
To play.
To notice.
To lighten up and shake it off💛
I watched countless children watch the peacocks with such wonder all weekend — saw photos , feathers, heard tales of their exploits, sat and watched these huge birds launch themselves from tree to tree 🌿

Mindfulness isn’t always silent meditation or sitting still with our eyes closed.

sometimes it’s simply:
following peacocks through a field,
twirling in the sunshine, tickling with feathers,
and finding wonder , beauty and joy in the everyday.✨

21/05/2026

✨🌿 FINAL CALL FOR TODAY’S MINDFUL WALK 🌿✨

Today is International Meditation Day 💛
And honestly… if you’re a parent like me who’s been holding everyone else together, juggling life, slightly overstretched, ready for the half term, emotionally tired or just craving a little breathing space… this is your sign to come join us ✨

I will be leading a FREE gentle mindful walk today across the beautiful Middleton Moor — a chance to slow down, clear your head, reconnect with nature and just have a little bit of you time. 🌾🌤️

No pressure.
No experience needed.
Just fresh air, grounding conversation, time to slow down, experience mindful moments and space to breathe.

📍 Meet: Middleton Top Car Park
⏰ Time: 1PM
🚶‍♀️ Approx 90 minute walk

Whether you come alone, bring a friend, need to reset your nervous system, escape the house for a bit or simply fancy doing something calming for yourself for once… you are so welcome 💛

Sometimes the smallest pause can make the biggest difference ✨
Lena
🧡

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Lena Brailsford Therapy & Support

04/06/2026

03/06/2026

02/06/2026

01/06/2026

31/05/2026

30/05/2026

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27/05/2026

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21/05/2026

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