If you’re considering attending counselling because you have found yourself in a state of uncertainty in life, it can be tempting to ask for advice and guidance and, in the absence of someone close to you, a therapist can seem like a good choice. However….

Considering talking through your difficulties in therapy but lacking trust in what might happen with your information? It may be useful to check out the following guidelines in order to put your mind at ease and get the support you need.

Considering counselling can be a daunting prospect if you’ve never accessed it before. If you’re uncertain of what to expect and this is preventing you from taking the first step, please read on for an informational guide on what to expect from the very first session. 

Are you finding yourself making significant changes to your life to enhance your sense of wellbeing? Are you acting spontaneously and out of character? Are people commenting or joking about these changes as a mid-life crisis? Do you see it differently?

I’ve heard the term narcissist come up a lot in recent months and it would appear that the Covid pandemic has highlighted narcissistic traits in close relationships as we’ve spent more time with our close families. But could it be something more?

We’re in a helping profession, we’re happy to accommodate clients, we offer appointment flexibility, we offer places that aren’t used weekly that negatively affect our income, we work long hours and offer support outside of sessions to clients in crisis. How are your boundaries looking?

It’s only at the age of 53 that I actually understand what a healthy relationship is. Although sometimes it still shocks me when friends talk about what their partners do for them and how they take an interest in them and the fun they have when they are together, all without any emotional abuse, violence, threats to harm the partner and threats of suicide (to harm themselves). 

Why do we set resolutions for ourselves only to fail to achieve them? We tell ourselves year after year that we’ll eat more healthily, we’ll get up earlier, we’ll stop shouting at the kids, we’ll get to the gym and build some muscle. How long does it last?

Taking care of your mental health is just as important as your physical health. But finding ways to do that, that fits in with our busy lifestyles can feel like we're just adding to our busy workloads. New habits and hobbies can also be expensive, which just adds to our mental load.

So here I am 13 weeks into the journey of abstinence, on the recovery path, clean from cocaine and booze after many, many years of abuse and carnage.

Your life is not quite your own is it? Finding a little respite seems a challenging task and you feel guilty and selfish for wanting some time out. You’re doubting yourself and questioning whether you’re doing a good enough job and are finding it all a little overwhelming.

Have you ever stopped to listen? To really listen? Just closed your eyes and tuned your ears in to the sounds around you? The environment you’re in will dictate what you hear but did you ever ask yourself how this affects you in your day to day living?

You’ve got 90 minutes to make the most of the previous month’s dilemmas. How do you make the most out of the time you have and ensure you get what you need to support you and your clients for the coming month before you get the opportunity to do it again?

How is talking to a counsellor or psychotherapist different to talking to a friend or family member? What is it that makes it therapeutic? How does it help and is it worth my money? What benefit will I get from committing my time to the sessions?

Procrastination … We all do it don’t we? We all put off doing things we don’t like, things we don’t want to really do. We all procrastinate!

So, you’ve qualified and you’re wondering where to go next. Do you apply for paid work or start up your own private practice? You’ve trained hard to get here and you’re desperate to enter a career you’re passionate about. Where do you start?

Becoming a new mum can be a daunting experience. The best source of support would be from other mums going through the same process as us but what if the idea of baby groups fills us with anxiety?

There has been, in recent months, a great deal of focus on the Black Lives Matter movement which has given rise to considerations about our own behaviours and attitudes and created a need in us to do more for equality and diversity, but how does this apply to the therapy room?

This week’s blog post, addressing how finances can affect your mental health, has been contributed by Rebecca Robertson from Evolution Financial Planning. Rebecca has over 20 years experience within the financial sector and has been featured in Forbes Magazines and BBC Radio as well as being a Tedx Speaker! Among other awards, Rebecca has won Financial Adviser of the Year at the Women in Finance Awards. Since founding Evolution Financial Planning Ltd, Rebecca and her team have supported thousands of women and helped them to take control of their money and gain clarity on their finances. 

We all know the feeling, our client is stuck, and we feel stuck along with them. It’s frustrating, we don’t know how to move things forward, and we feel deskilled and question our abilities. So how do we help improve the situation?