October 2023
Hallowe'en is not for everyone. For some, focusing on the dark side, the negative and the sinister can make worse their already low mood or feelings of fear, particularly for children. I do acknowledge that by making light of these things, having fun with them, it can somehow diminish "evil", however for many young people who already live in fear or experience intrusive negative thoughts, Hallowe'en could just mean more of the same. Concentrating on the positive, the helpful, the joyful side of life makes a solid base for good mental health. And of course Beauty is important. Beauty, whatever that is to you, is something that lifts the soul. Some of the puppets, mannekins and fearsome masks in the shops I've seen recently could be quite frightening and not suitable for small children. Of course, being scared in safety is fun but we need to be sensitive to those who are impressionable and who may suffer nightmares after seeing some of these gruesome images of disfigurement and death.
January 2023
We wish each other a "Happy New Year" and for many it will indeed be happy. For others though, and you may be one, the new year is full of the unknown, maybe a source of fear and/or loneliness, perhaps one of bereavement, loss and sorrow. At last, mental health is now being talked about openly and there is a new way of thinking about how we approach very personal subjects such as PTSD, phobias, low self-esteem, self-harm and personality disorders. Now is the time to seek help if you have been putting it off and it is never too late. Even deep held beliefs about ourselves and the world can be changed and counselling is very much about change - which is why it can be difficult. But it is so worthwhile starting the process and finding out how the human instinct for survival, love and belonging can surely help us find a way forward, with a little help from your counsellor.
August 2022
There's a joke that goes: nostalgia isn't what it used to be. But longing for the past can be a big deal. Linked closely with regret, we can find ourselves going back to "the good old days" which can often cause distress. It is quite normal of course to remember with fondness and if we can do that with no strings attached, it is a valuable and important thing. However, when we find that the past is all we want and that we do not feel that the future holds anything for us, that nostalgia will have taken too much of a hold and it will affect our mental wellbeing. They way out of this is, perhaps for some, to talk and ask questions about how we feel about ourselves in general because longing to have what has long gone can be a way of avoiding responsibility for now. And there will no doubt be reasons for this. If you are feeling that these kinds of thoughts of the past are starting to intrude into your daily life and are making you feel sad, maybe now is the time to make an appointment and find out how you can overcome and start to live for now and for tomorrow.
April 2022
Ever wondered what the Vicious Cycle consists of? It starts
with an event, something happening that produces in us a particular thought. This thought, in turn, produces an emotion or feeling which then instructs how we behave. This can become a "loop" that we can get trapped in. Counselling helps to find a new pathway of thinking out of that loop. New thinking creates new behaviour and a new way of living your life. Sounds logical? With a basic understanding of how we tick and what we can do to change, actually stepping out and making it work becomes easier.
15 Sept 2021
"The anchorage of the self makes it possible for frail vessels to ride the storms of the cosmic ocean without the danger of total shipwreck." Brian Thorne
13 July 2021
Are you stuck in "fight or flight"? This can cause an increase in our stress hormones such as adrenaline and if our "smoke alarm" is constantly going off at perceived dangers, these stress hormones take much longer to dissipate in the body. The answer? Training ourselves to relax more, which in itself is not easy after maybe a lifetime of being on constant alert. Counselling, mindfulness, exercise, being with positive people, distractions of different kinds all help. In fact, choosing to take a step back from stress can be done but it takes practice. Start with small steps and overtime you will see changes happen.
2 August 2020
What is self-care? It is different things to different people. Is it about just doing nothing for a while, or maybe it could be incorporating more activity into your day. It might be about chatting to friends or just the opposite - turning off social media and even the phone itself. Is it about getting more sleep, drinking less, doing more of your hobby or doing less over-thinking. Whatever it is, it is important that we discover what it is and act upon it!
22 June 2020
We create a story of our life from a very early age and this can colour our emotions and thoughts throughout our lives - if we allow it to. Our minds are resistant to changing this story as is so familiar and has made sense to us for so long. However, we can change our minds to think differently. We can free ourselves from the chains of “the story”. Are you ready to start that change? Get in touch and let’s go!
May 2020
THE GOVERNMENT'S WEBSITE STATES:
Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge said:
The last few weeks have been anxious and unsettling for everyone. We have to take time to support each other and find ways to look after our mental health. It is great to see the mental health sector working together with the NHS to help people keep on top of their mental well-being. By pulling together and taking simple steps each day, we can all be better prepared for the times ahead.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have long been advocates for mental health, through their respective patronages and The Royal Foundation’s Heads Together campaign. In 2019, Their Royal Highnesses helped to launch Public Health England’s mental health platform, Every Mind Matters.
The government has also announced a £5 million grant for leading mental health charities, administered by Mind, to fund additional services for people struggling with their mental wellbeing during this time. This could include telephone and online support services for the most isolated and vulnerable in our communities.
Public Health England has updated its world-leading Every Mind Matters platform with specific advice on maintaining good mental wellbeing during the outbreak. People can also complete a ‘Mind Plan’, a quick and free tool that has already been completed over 1.8 million times.