Skovva is a Cornish word meaning shelter or haven. Roughly pronounced as SKOH-vah. This came to me when I was thinking what is the kind of service I want to offer.

It was born from the Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) Harbour analogy which was developed by Professor Paul Gilbert. It goes something like this:

• The Sea is life - open, unpredictable, expansive. There are currents and the waves and tide change depending on the weather and universe. It is not within our control.

• The Harbour is a place of safety, ok the tide comes in, the waves can still be a bit choppy or disturbed in the harbour but the sea and little boats within it are held. It is a place to pause and restore.

• The Boat we are the boats and boats are not meant to stay in the harbour indefinitely, they are meant to go back out to sea to explore, to try, to meet life.

I believe finding the right therapy for us, at the right time can help us, the boat, get back out to sea.

Life can happen, whatever that is, and can be out of our control but our emotions are ours and it is within are control to learn, to be compassionate, to manage them, rest and restore our boat.