Honouring Legacies is a reflection on my journey within the Rekindling Nello James steering group, a space that asks for deep listening, cultural memory work, and the kind of emotional labour that honours both personal and collective histories. The project itself is rooted in preserving and amplifying Caribbean and African heritage in South Manchester, celebrating the radical legacy of CLR James, and uplifting the voices of elders, educators, and everyday community members who shaped the spirit of places like the Nello James Centre.

There are moments in our professional lives that invite us to pause, breathe, and look at the journey that has carried us forward. Being awarded full BACP accreditation has offered me one of those moments. It’s more than a milestone, it’s an opportunity to reflect on the years of learning, listening, and co-creating that have shaped my work as a counsellor and creative wellbeing practitioner.

Over the past year, I’ve been facilitating Embracing Self-Compassion, a rolling six-week focus group designed to help people reconnect with themselves in kinder, more compassionate ways. What began as a small wellbeing space on the BetterHelp platform has grown into a reflective, international community where attendees explore their inner critic, rewrite limiting narratives, and practise self-kindness in real, tangible ways.
Drawing on narrative therapy, shared reflection, and simple grounding techniques, each session invites participants to slow down, listen inwardly, and build a gentler relationship with themselves.

In this blog, I reflect on my experience within the African Objects: Psychoactives, Spirituality & Mental Health project, a collaboration between Portraits of Recovery, Manchester Museum, and artist Divine Southgate Smith. The project reminded me that healing doesn’t only happen in therapy rooms; it can unfold wherever people gather to make meaning together, through art, heritage, and shared reflection.

Stories have roots and wings, they travel across generations, carrying wisdom, memory, and connection. In this reflection, I explore how a childhood poem taught me about healing, belonging, and the quiet power of listening.

As a therapist and creative practitioner, I’m continually inspired by the process of self-discovery, both my clients’ and my own. This blog explores what it means to move toward self-actualisation: the lifelong journey of understanding ourselves, expressing our stories, and fulfilling our potential

MIF 2023 Aviva Studios - the new home for Factory International opens its front yard for massive garden party!

Hello and welcome to Howlite Therapy’s blog page written by me, Lorraine Ballintine founder and counsellor for Howlite Therapy.