Sarah McKimm signs off from the Chairside Chat column and reflects on her time writing it and the importance of stepping away at the right time.
Dear readers,
It has been a true honour to have been given the opportunity to bring together my two passions, dentistry and counselling, to help shape the voice of Chairside Chat and respond to the familiar yet often challenging reader enquiries that have come through over the last 12 months. It has been both stretching and deeply rewarding to explore these topics through a multidisciplinary professional lens, and I hope this perspective has resonated with many of you on both a personal and professional level.
After much reflection, I have made the difficult decision to step away from writing the Chairside Chat column. It is not a choice I have taken lightly, and one I have wrestled with quietly for some time. The truth is, this decision has brought up a lot for me. Letting go of something meaningful can feel uncomfortable, even when we know it is the right thing to do. But I have come to recognise that putting my own wellbeing first is not selfish, it is necessary.
What to keep and what to let go of
Balancing my private counselling practice, my role within Unmasked Neurodiversity Network CIC, family life, and the emotional investment that this column has required has become an additional demand that I can no longer carry in the same way. Over recent months, I have had to gently and honestly reassess what I can hold onto and what I need to let go of. Stepping away after 12 months feels both right and timely, allowing me to create space, restore balance, and continue supporting others in a way that feels sustainable and true to who I am.
I have always loved writing. Yet sharing my thoughts so openly has also meant facing my own self-doubt, the familiar voice of not feeling good enough, the fear of judgement, and all that imposter syndrome can bring. I am deeply passionate about what I do, but passion can come with an emotional cost. Each month I have felt the pressure, the anxiety, and the quiet responsibility of wanting to do justice to the stories and experiences entrusted to me.
Sometimes we need to pause. To step back without judgement and ask, with curiosity and compassion, ‘What is happening for me right now?’ That question has guided me more than anything else.
As I complete the 12 months I committed to, I feel proud, grateful, and humbled. It reminds me of a younger version of myself seeing my words published in Dental Nursing magazine, feeling both excited and overwhelmed. Those feelings are still here, and perhaps that is because they reflect how much my work matters to me.
Moving forward
As I draw this chapter to a close, I want to remind you that you can feel fear and still move forward. You can take on challenges you never imagined possible. And you can also give yourself permission to stop when something no longer feels right. Both are courageous choices.
We are often so compassionate with others and yet so critical of ourselves. Maybe the most powerful work we will ever do is learning to turn that kindness inward. To rest, to pause, and to listen.
Because you cannot pour from an empty cup. And sometimes, choosing yourself is the most loving thing you will ever do.
To everyone who has taken the time to contribute, read, edit, and publish these columns, thank you. Your support has meant more than you know. The door remains open for me to continue writing in the future, but in a way that feels lighter and more spacious.
For now, my focus will remain on my private counselling practice and my role as co-founder of Unmasked Neurodiversity Network CIC. Counselling has changed my life in ways I never imagined, and if you feel it could be your next step, it would be an honour to walk alongside you on that journey.
Take gentle care,
Sarah
If you need further support or are interested in counselling, visit Sarah’s website.
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