Returning to school after the six weeks holiday was always a bit of a mixed bag, some young people couldn't wait to get back to the predictability and routine of the school day and others we could see, just didn't want to be there, school for these students seemed to represent a place of suppression rather than expansion. In truth, very little has changed over the years and I've watched similar scenarios play out with my children and their peers. For many young people, whilst the thought of having months off of school may have felt appealing from the start, the thirst for knowledge and lack o ..read more

Anxiety or panic attacks can be a frightening experience for someone whos having them, but it can also a scary for those who support them as well. Imagine you are out shopping with a friend, perhaps you've just treated yourself to something new, and now the coffee shop and a big slice of cake is calling, when all of a sudden your friend has complained of dizziness and seems to be swaying, perhaps they are also breathing rapidly. Sounds frightening, doesn't it! For anyone who has experienced anxiety or supported someone who has, this scenario may seem all too familiar! It can be really difficu ..read more

Self-care has so many benefits, but getting into a good self-care routine can feel difficult, and tends to be one of those things that get's put off, or we tell ourselves that we are just too busy. If this sounds like you, then this is exactly why you need to introduce good self-care into your life. Self-care introduces balance and let's be honest who doesn't need that? When we have good self-care we feel able to give people more, our concentration and energy levels are great and it improves our self-worth and self-esteem, sounds like a win-win doesn't it! You'll be more productive Do you fin ..read more

Since COVID 19, online and telephone counselling has been a popular alternative. Many counsellors including myself have transferred to online or telephone, and whilst some, are going back to face to face slowly it would certainly seem, that online and telephone therapy is here to stay and perhaps will be a bigger part of counselling in the future. But how can you tell if it is going to a good fit for you? Here are a few things to consider when thinking about online or telephone counselling...... Training Counsellors who offer online and telephone counselling have to consider different things ..read more

We've all been there as parents, breakfast is sat on the table slowly turning to mush, whilst we run up and down the stairs with " its time to get up !" constantly coming out of our mouths, seemingly on a loop. By the time they get to their breakfast, it now resembles something the cat spat out, and then comes the obligatory huffing, and perhaps accusations of trying to starve or poison them begins. So why do teenagers find it so difficult to get out of bed? Well, there is a valid reason for it and it's all to do with our sleep/wake cycle, which is also known as our circadian rhythms. Our cir ..read more

Mobile phones are part of our everyday lives, they wake us up in the morning, we can plan our days on them, its easier to keep in touch with friends and family through social media apps and we play games on them where we become part of communities that stretch right around the globe. But have you ever considered how they can become support for you when anxiety strikes? You see if there is one thing I learned from my own experience with anxiety, was focusing can be really hard! Especially when you are in the middle of "get me outta here!!! ", so often I would find myself sat on a bench just tr ..read more

Relationships whether friends, romantic, or work colleagues can be great, they can be supportive, a welcome break from the daily drudgery, an understanding ear when you need to vent, and a place where we can have fun and be silly. But some relationships can be the opposite and these types of relationships don't feel so forgiving or supportive, in fact they can leave us feeling confused, lost, and continually questioning our judgment. Have you ever been in a situation where it feels like someone just keeps having a dig, but you say to yourself " Nah! I'm just being paranoid!" "They didn't mean ..read more

Throughout the lockdown I’ve been reflecting an awful lot on the effects on people's mental well being, especially those with social anxiety and what may happen when the lockdown begins to ease. I realize from my own experience of Social Anxiety, how exhausting it feels, the embarrassment, constant fidgeting, and the ongoing war that happens in our heads. At times the fear of having an Anxiety attack was just as bad as the attack it's self. For me it felt like a constant cycle of avoidance, excuses, and planning ahead. But when I look back to when it first happened, I didn't have a clue what ..read more

In recent years writing a journal has become popular and so many people are feeling the benefits of doing it. But what if you don’t know where to start? Perhaps you have tried it and gave up because you didn’t feel you had the time to dedicate to it or you just hated the thought of writing. Well here's the good news, you don’t have to spend that much time doing it! When I was a teenager I would faithfully write in my diary every night before bed, I wasn't writing anything groundbreaking or exploring myself for answers, generally, it tended to be a round-up of my day and if I felt angry, upset ..read more

Many people right now may feel frustrated, stressed, anxious or overwhelmed. With financial issues perhaps taking their toll, the feeling of isolation and worry for loved ones it's no wonder so many people are feeling the strain right now! We all have such unique situations that we all have to try to navigate through, in new ways that sometimes feel impossible. So bear with me for a moment……………….. Do you remember the people we used to watch on the telly in awe as they would spin loads of china plates on sticks? ( o.k so they probably were not called sticks but you get the idea ) What if you g ..read more