Hajira Riaz Psychotherapy MBACP

Thank you to everyone who has supported me. Today I was grateful to be part of group filled with so many amazing women. With over 100 of us hiking up to Mount Snowdon summit. Collectively, we were able to raise over £41k for the people of Palestine, Alhamdulillah 🇵🇸🤍

This year, I have set the goal of working on all the different aspects of my life that are important to me, my physical and mental health, as well as the relationship I have with my faith. Trying to align all these elements rather than prioritising one over the other to find a balance that works for me. What are your goals this year?

After darkness come light and with every hardship comes ease, the sun always rises. On the days where the darkness feels overwhelming hold on to the knowledge that your reality right now may be tough but this isn't your reality forever, it will subside. Speak to yourself with kindness, you are doing your best ❤️

Someone I care deeply about gifted me this hope bracelet today. It was definitely my favourite minute of the day. A reminder to anyone who needs it - HOPE. Every moment brings change, every moment is different. Don't give up on yourself because every morning the sun rises. Have faith and belief in yourself that you have the capability to create the life you want. Hold on to hope, keep it as your armour, you have got this ❤️

A reminder to be conscious of the way you speak to yourself 🤍

A reminder for anyone who needs it 🤍

 

What a surreal experience! I never thought I would take part in a boxing match, but here I am. 8 weeks of tough training, and with all your support, I was able to raise money for Cancer Research

The night will be one I will always remember, what a great fight and what a great experience 🤍

A reminder to myself that new experiences are scary, but if you never give them a try, you won't know what is on the other side - H

Yesterday I was blessed to take part in a charity treck to Cadair Idris in Snowdonia. We were fundraising to support Action for Humanity's Prosthetic Limb Clinic which provides artificial limbs for children in Syria. I met some amazing people along the way!

Please share and donate on the link below: https://www.justgiving.com/page/cadairidriswomensmarch23

I am excited to be participating in a two day training course on youth mental health first aid Mental Health First Aid England

Reflection - With the blessed month of Ramadan coming towards an end, it can leave us with a mixture of emotions. This month has taught me that the relationship you have with faith is one that is ongoing. We get moments where we feel connected and our imaan (faith) is high and other moments where we have to work on it, and that's okay. Feeling disconnected doesn't mean you won't be able to get back to a place where you want to be, so don't give up and remind yourself that Allah sees your struggles. May Allah accepted our efforts, our ibadah (worship), our good deed and forgive us for our shortcomings. May we all feel the sweetness of faith, ameen 🙏🏽💖

Sometimes talking can seem like the most difficult thing to do. That could be for a number of reasons from not wanting to be judged or not feeling worthy to share. Sometimes, our own trauma is too much for us to bare so we conceal it because we don't want to hurt anyone else with it or it feels too much to tackle on our own. The thing is, you are only hurting yourself. You begin to guard your thoughts and feelings, and they remain caged within. Talking is the most important thing you can do. That load you are carrying all on your own continues to get heavier, but as you reach out for support and talk, that same load becomes manageable, and that's how it all starts. Don't allow your silence to grow. Reach out to your family, your friends, your colleagues , or anyone you trust. Keep going and hold on to hope 🙏🏽🤍

“As long as you keep secrets and suppress information, you are fundamentally at war with yourself…The critical issue is allowing yourself to know what you know. That takes an enormous amount of courage.”
- Bessel van der Kolk

Reach out and speak your truth, you don't have to hold and conceal everything within ❤️

Over time I have been gifted these stones by some of the most important people in my life. Each hold a message/word that allow me to focus and reflect on what I am doing in the present moment. They radiate self compassion and allow me to ground myself. When everything feels overwhelming, sometimes holding on to a simple word like 'hope', 'faith' and 'happiness' is all you need to bring yourself back to the present. I have huge amounts of gratitude for all the wonderful people in my life ❤️

Reflection - Every moment is different. Every day is an opportunity to follow your goals and dreams. Yes, there are hurdles and times where nothing feels possible, but don't give up on hope. Hold on to gratitude because when you begin to forget that every moment is different, you become stuck in the emotions you are currently feeling. It can be hard to see a way out. But that's the thing, there is always a way out and an avenue you can take. You have control of what you set out for yourself and how you go forward. You have knowledge from your past, and you have the power to give yourself everything you deserve and need. Be gentle, be compassionate and keep going 💕

Reflection: In Islam if you are rewarded by God, your good deeds will be multiplied up to seven hundred times as much or even more. There is a limit. However, when it comes to Sabr (patients) the reward is limitless.

Ibn Masud states most people don't enter paradise because of their good deeds but because of a hardship they faced and they were patient over it.

So no matter what you are going through, know in the background God hasn't forgotten you, stay patient and remember after every hardship comes ease 💖

I came across this picture and to me it represents a lot. A reminder that everything comes back to the relationship you have with yourself and how you treat yourself. A reminder of the importance of staying grounded and the importance of listening to what your body, mind and soul is telling you. To put your energy back into yourself and to know that regardless of what happens in life, if you focus on yourself and your own wellbeing you will get through anything. You are important, so start showing yourself that care and compassion. Life is built in ways where you have ups and downs, but never forget the power you hold in yourself 💖✨️

'I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better' — Maya Angelou

Forgiving yourself can be tough and an emotional experience. We may have made mistakes and choices that weren't in our best interests. We may have neglected the values that carry importance to us, resulting in hurt.

The judgment we carry stops us from understanding ourselves and healing old wounds. Start creating the space for forgiveness. Forgiveness for your past self because you don't have to carry your mistakes on your shoulders forever.

This quote radiates compassion towards your past while holding accountability to where you are at present. Be gentle with yourself ❤

Keep going, you aren't beyond help. Keep fighting, take it one step at a time, you have got this 🤍 Sometimes we give up on ourselves and we aren't even aware of it, but you can break the cycles. You can create the life you want for yourself. You have got this far, have trust you will find a way out. Believe in yourself 💖

This year has been one of huge change. I started my private practice where I get to do what I love most. I left my old job and will be starting my new part-time job as a bereavement practitioner. I was blessed to be able to travel to different corners of the world, meeting so many lovely people. I started my masters program to continue my own development. All I can say is alhamdulillah 🙏🏽 I guess when I reflect back to a few years ago, I never thought I would be in the position I am today. My younger self would be proud of me. It hasn't been an easy ride, and in all the wins, there have been losses. Moments where I thought none of this would be possible and moments where I wanted to give up. There is still a long way to go and challenges to come but the belief that I am enough will get me through it all ❤️

No matter where you are in life. Don't give up on hope. There is no correct timeline of where you should be and when you should be there. Everyone's life is unique to them, so take it at your own pace and celebrate your wins because they are huge, even if you don't see them 💕

We are all born so beautiful, don't ever forget that 💖✨️

Hi all 👋🏽

It's been a while since I have come on here and said hello. With the days getting colder and the mornings darker, it made me reflect on the passing of time, the year is coming towards an end. The year so far has had a lot in store and so much more to come in the coming months. It can sometimes feel overwhelming as the reality is we are all still living in pretty uncertain times which can be hard to navigate through. Take a moment to sit with it all and reflect over all the things you are grateful for. I for one am grateful for starting my private practice 🙏🏽

I am a qualified, MBACP psychotherapist, now taking on clients face to face in Manchester and online all over the UK.

For more information please get in touch via my website which is linked in my bio or through email at: [email protected]

“However long the night, the dawn will break.” - African Proverb.

Reflection - Moments change and nothing stays the same forever. The world really is your oyster and you have the capability to do what it is you truly desire. Sometimes life can feel stagnant, you lose direction and you become consumed by it all. Other times you are filled with moments that you cherish. Hurdles come and it is okay to ask for help, it is okay to not know where life is taking you. Our minds can be our biggest hurdles but listen to what your mind is telling you. Embrace it all with compassion and hold on to hope. Never forget the 'dawn will break'. You have got this 💕

Have you ever sat and listened to how you speak to yourself? Does negative self talk flood your mind? When our internal narrative is so harsh we can become stuck in a cycle of trying to 'hate ourselves better'. As though being self critical will result in all our problems going away. The irony ayy. We talk about hate never being the answer to external problems so why is it that when it comes to our internal dialogue, everything changes up. Sit a reflect for a minute. Do you really need that self-criticism or do you need some self compassion and kindness. Hating yourself won't change the person you are, be gentle with yourself 🤍

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It is easy to begin to neglect yourself. To stop giving yourself the basics and to stop treating yourself with kindness. Creating a cycle of pain that becomes familiar. Breaking that cycle can be difficult and uncomfortable but it isn't impossible. You deserve kindness and compassion. You deserve a break and you deserve nice things. Take care of your heart because that's where it all starts 🤍

I am now taking on clients face to face and online

Today marks the day I launch my private practice: Hajira Talks Therapy

For more information please get in touch via my website: https://www.hajiratalkstherapy.com/ or through email at: [email protected]

I intend on starting with clients from the start of September so get in touch with any queries and I'll get back to you as soon as possible

Whatever you are going through in this moment, know that it won't be your reality forever. Each moment is different to the last, find comfort in knowing - brighter days are coming 💕🌟💯

HOPE - What a powerful thing. My supervisor gifted me this hope pendant at my graduation. To me it marks the end of a chapter but the start of a new journey, my career in something I love. She said she thinks "Counselling is all about hope" and honestly it made me reflect. Clients come to therapy with hope. Hope that things will change and we as therapist tend to that hope when people struggle or forget. Hopelessness is scary but therapy allows for us to think of different pathways, installing hope. Hope can lay dorment for some time but when it ignites you know you can persevere and you know you can overcome anything. I will always hold on to this necklace because it is a powerful reminder to me of what it feels like to have hope. Hope that I will be able to navigate through whatever life has to offer and hopful for the new venture I intend to start 💕