Why I Chose the Name 'Red Cape Counselling'
- Hayley
- Aug 5
- 3 min read
When someone asks me where my private practice name came from, why ‘Red Cape’? Why not something more clinical or obviously therapeutic. The short answer is because I believe in the quiet, everyday courage it takes to ask for help.
The longer answer starts with a more familiar story.
"That moment, right before the hero steps into the unknown - that’s where I work. That’s where counselling lives."
We all know the ‘hero’ story. An ordinary person faces something extraordinary. It’s overwhelming, they’re afraid. They doubt themselves. But still, they choose to act. They move forwards, not because they feel invincible, but because something inside tells them they can’t stay ‘stuck’. That moment, right before the hero steps into the unknown - that’s where I work. That’s where counselling lives.
The red cape can be symbolic in this sense. It’s not about superpowers or dramatic rescues. It’s about what helps us show up when we would rather hide. The cape doesn’t give you magic powers, it just reminds you you’ve had it all along.
In counselling, I don’t offer fixes or magic solutions. But there is space - space to pause, reflect, grieve, change, grow. Sometimes, just walking into a counselling session is an act of bravery. It’s not because you are broken, but because you are willing to look at the parts of yourself that feel too much, too messy, too complex.
"No-one is coming to rescue you."
The truth is, no-one is coming to rescue you. That’s not easy to hear, but it is also empowering. Because if the change comes from within, then it can never be taken away. The work we do in counselling isn’t about fixing you, it’s about helping you connect with your true self and inner resources. Your values, your voice, your choices.
The red cape is optional. Not all heroes wear them; most don’t. But sometimes, it can be helpful to imagine it there, wrapping around your shoulders and giving you that extra bit of strength. A reminder that even on your hardest days, you’re still standing. Still trying, still moving.
There’s also the symbolism of red. Red is bold, it stands out. It can be the colour of heart, fire, passion; things that pulse and persist. It’s not always comfortable, but it’s always alive. And counselling, at its core, is a process of coming back to life. Of feeling more, not less. Of reclaiming your full, complicated and brilliant humanity.
Red Cape Counselling isn’t about me being the hero, either. I’m not here to swoop in and ‘save’ anyone. It’s about you; your story. Your courage. Your willingness to show up for yourself.
So if you are standing at the edge of something - grief, change, burnout, anxiety, identity questions, emptiness or quiet and hollow sense something is not right, you don’t need to remain that way forever. You just need to take a step. And if it helps, picture a red cape as you take that step.
When you're ready - I'm here.
You don’t have to have all the words or know exactly what you need. If something in this resonates, let’s talk. You can contact me with any questions or book a session when you’re ready.
You don’t have to do it alone.
