Parenting


Mental Health Blog

Until you become a parent, nothing can prepare you for the joy of welcoming a new life into your world.  While it can be the most beautiful of experiences, it can also the most stressful role you take on.  Being a parent is not easy and each stage in your child’s development brings new challenges […]

25/12/2018

Forming your identity


Mental Health Blog

As a combination of qualities, expressions, looks and beliefs; identities relate to basic values that govern the choices people make. Rather than choose their own identities, most people internalise those of their parents or dominant cultures. And this is where the problem lies. In taking on the values of others, people are often not being […]

24/12/2018

How to overcome trauma – developmental and complex


Mental Health Blog

Before we look at how developmental and complex traumas can be overcome, it’s important to understand exactly what they are and how they can impact your life. Like all traumas, developmental and complex traumas are psychological wounds brought on by unexpected events that cause severe shock. What makes them different from other traumas and classifies […]

23/12/2018

Dealing with grief and loss


Mental Health Blog

Grief is the emotional suffering you feel when there is a significant loss in your life.  It is one of life’s greatest challenges and it is not experienced exclusively through bereavement or a relationship breakdown.  Even milestone events can trigger grief including moving home, leaving university or changing jobs.  Grief can occur any time there […]

21/12/2018

Exploring your sexuality


Mental Health Blog

In essence, sexuality is simple. However, expressing it in a way that brings you fulfilment can be quite daunting. Your sexuality describes how you sexually express yourself. It can be a glorious part of your identity, if you’re true to who and what you are.  And this is where everything gets complex. There are at […]

20/12/2018

Expanding your window of tolerance


Mental Health Blog

When traumas strike and emotions become overwhelming, a person is forced out of their comfort zone. According to scientific research, when this happens the frontal cortex (the part of the brain responsible for thinking, planning and reasoning) shuts down and the victim’s window of tolerance narrows. Window of tolerance is a term created by clinical […]

19/12/2018

Coping with anger


Mental Health Blog

Anger is a state of heightened arousal that kicks in when your mind perceives a situation to be potentially dangerous and determines the best solution available is to fight or flee. Used in the proper context and with the right amount of control, anger can be quite beneficial. It can be used when you need […]

18/12/2018

Breaking free from self-harm


Mental Health Blog

Self-harm is a term used to describe deliberate, harmful physical actions used as a means to cope with emotions or distress.  It’s difficult for people to understand self-harming as a coping strategy and many jump to the conclusion that it must be an attempt at suicide.  However, research has shown that people who self-harm have […]

10/06/2018

Coping with low self-esteem


Mental Health Blog

It is quite normal to have down days and to feel a little unsure of yourself, but prolonged low self-esteem can have a debilitating affect on the quality of your life.  Self-esteem is described as confidence in one’s own worth or abilities, and as self-respect. Clinical psychologist Melanie Fennell, who has devoted her working life […]

09/06/2018