Another sleepless night and the alarm-clock signalling time to get ready for work. Stella (not her real name) struggled to move. She loved her marketing job and the fact that it allowed her to travel, but life had become increasingly complicated lately and she was starting to feel anxious and worn out.

She had turned thirty-eight this year, the desire to have children was getting stronger but she no longer felt in love with her partner of six years. Also, a family member overseas had become terminally ill and she was feeling guilty because she could not provide much support. She had started attending counselling therapy in recent weeks but it would take time to sort through all these conflicting emotions.

She needed to become more resilient to be able to get though this stressful period in her life and she needed someone to support her on that part of her journey.

Meanwhile, she was feeling drained from lack of sleep, experiencing more frequent stabbing pains in her legs, her concentration at work was suffering and anxiety was setting in. When Stella contacted me to enquire about reflexology treatments she had a very clear objective. She needed to become more resilient to be able to get though this stressful period in her life and she needed someone to support her on that part of her journey.

Her company’s health insurance package allowed her to reclaim most of the costs of a maximum of eight reflexology treatments. She had already marked out the dates she could be available. Within a few day’s we got started on her wellbeing plan.

Her company’s health insurance package allowed her to reclaim most of the costs of a maximum of eight reflexology treatments.

As a result of Stella’s first reflexology treatment, the pains in her legs were significantly reduced, which coincided with a good night’s sleep. After her second treatment there was no further mention of physical pain. During the treatments, Stella was able to release all tension and enter a deeply meditative state.

I encouraged her to continue her meditative practices at home. She started to implement some Pilate’s exercises too. I gave her additional self-care tips for grounding and some insights for dealing with conflict and difficult conversations. She bought my book ‘Seven C’s to Calm- Reclaiming your Anxiety-free Self’ and told me, after reading it, that she found it "extremely helpful and inspiring".

As the weeks went by, Stella returned to me more radiant and self-assured. Her conversations with her partner had improved and surprisingly they remained open to each other. Also, the possibility of change did not seem so daunting. She was benefiting from renewed vigour and feeling more focused in her job. She had managed to travel overseas to provide some support to her terminally ill sister. Overall, she felt more in charge of her life, the challenges she faced felt more manageable and she was being kinder to herself.

Stella is not the only person experiencing these stressful phases in life. It happens to us all. I am supporting clients as they navigate challenging life situations. A lot of stress stems from unhappy relationships, including divorce and separation, especially where children are involved. I see clients who want to conceive to have children of their own but because they have so much stress from other sources, including work, they know this is not helping matters. I have assisted clients who were shaken by the trauma of bullying and even a client who had experienced physical assault. Some clients need support as they go through changing life circumstances, dealing with illness or managing special needs.

We are humans with amazing potential which we can tap into when we apply ourselves mentally, physically and spiritually but sometimes we need support on our journey through life.

In 1999, I experienced a burnout in my job. The job was certainly stressful at that time but I was also struggling in my personal life. I knew nothing about mindfulness, healing or self-care back then but I realised very quickly the importance of getting support. I examined every aspect of myself to develop a better outlook and life experience. I uncovered talents I had previously ignored and became fascinated by the healing potential of human beings.

My clients can benefit not only from my reflexology therapy but also from my experience of developing authenticity on a path to wellbeing.

Supporting others during their stressful times is rewarding and satisfying as I see them emerge stronger and more empowered.

If you are recognising the signs of stress in your own life and want to regain your spark and vigour the best thing you can do is reach out for support. Reflexology is great for tension release and there are additional benefits to be gained from giving your body and mind a break.

I provide a bespoke reflexology wellness service for clients in Carlow, Dublin and some parts of the south-east of Ireland. You can find out more about reflexology and my treatment plans in our Frequently Asked Questions.