Rachel Swanick
In the blink of an eye
The rhythmic thud of the football on his foot The swish of grass around her sandals Their heavy breathing and crunching of crisps,...
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Rachel Swanick
May 303 min read
People Pleasing: The Ultimate Contradiction
We all know someone who we can describe as a people pleaser. You know, they are always there to lend a hand, always say yes - you may...
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Rachel Swanick
Jan 195 min read
A Fork in the Road
There are moments in our lives when we are greeted by a fork in the road. In these moments, we make a tiny decision to simply go one way...
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Rachel Swanick
Jan 61 min read
She is Home
Photo: Copyright R Swanick. Taken on Libby's birthday, 21.10.23, Croyde Beach. I dream of her. Of Libby. Of dark hair swishing, And green...
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Rachel Swanick
Nov 29, 20233 min read
The Self-Care Trap
After another gruelling two-day migraine, I resolved, again, to look after myself better. Next time, I would make sure I exercised every...
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Rachel Swanick
Aug 18, 20234 min read
True Equality: Nothing to Lose and Everything to Gain
I have been mulling over my last blog on Imposter Syndrome and in particular the idea of who can change the world for women and those...
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Rachel Swanick
Aug 6, 20233 min read
Straightening our Crowns: Imposter Syndrome and Feminism
I haven’t been here for a while because…. Well… life took over. When life gets busy or overwhelming, the first thing I lose is my...
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Rachel Swanick
Mar 15, 20235 min read
It's just a name, isn't it?
I love people’s names and how they sound when they are said out loud. I love it when people say “oh, she doesn’t look like a so and so…...
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Rachel Swanick
Oct 13, 20225 min read
Mind the Gap: Challenging Attitudes to Children's Mental Health
In the past two weeks, my children and myself have all taken separate mental days from school and work. Between us (and including my...
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Rachel Swanick
Sep 9, 20221 min read
Sunset on the Lake
As the sun set on another day, the clouds floated towards the mountain tops. Pinks, golds, oranges, Whites, blues, greys and greens,...
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Rachel Swanick
Sep 9, 20221 min read
The Empty Chair
Dominica closed her knife and fork, took the last sip of wine and moved slowly to the kitchen. She let the water run for a moment until...
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Rachel Swanick
Mar 1, 20226 min read
Having hope and letting go: Parenting a nearly-teen
After several sleepless nights, we finally found out that our daughter has a good high school to go to in September. The sleeplessness...
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Rachel Swanick
Aug 11, 20215 min read
Longing and Finding Reflections in Art
When I was younger, I used to have flying dreams. In them, I knew I could fly and that once, before, I had flown. The dreams were always...
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Rachel Swanick
Jun 22, 20214 min read
#MakingMemories (with music)
It’s Sunday morning and I’m listening to the radio. The Selector - On the Radio starts with those familiar thumping chords and I’m...
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Rachel Swanick
May 9, 20212 min read
Searching for you: A tale of Dementia
Elizabeth Hannah Moore, Far right This is for my Nanna. My soft, velvety, talc-scented Nanna. Of course, she didn’t always have ‘this’....
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Rachel Swanick
Mar 14, 20214 min read
The Art of Self Disclosure: An Ode To Dr. Yalom
One of the positives to come out of the past year of lockdowns has been an improved frequency of online professional development for...
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Rachel Swanick
Jan 7, 20213 min read
With the best intentions.
When the Christmas songs start, I always get stuck on the John Lennon lyric, “So this is Christmas, and what have you done? Another year...
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Rachel Swanick
Dec 14, 20206 min read
Masking emotions and sensitive children
During a recent Adoption Support Fund assessment, I met a lovely, playful family with a seven year old adopted son. During the music...
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Rachel Swanick
Sep 23, 20201 min read
Can you hear me, now?
Can you hear me? Can you hear me, now? She whispered at the screen. The faces returned her smile, Enthusiastic thumbs up, an audience so...
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Rachel Swanick
Jun 19, 20205 min read
Keeping the music metaphor alive in therapy
When I first started working as a music therapist way back in 2008, I worked with learning difficulties – both functional and profound...
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