When our article ‘Surviving Lockdown’ was published in December 2020, we did not anticipate that we would still be in lockdown well into 2021. As we are looking forward to the day when all restrictions will be lifted, and we rejoice at the thought of some kind of normality returning to our lives, surveys are emerging revealing the impact lockdown is having on our mental health. Post lockdown anxiety is a real issue and people have been affected in different...
This past year has been extraordinarily taxing for almost every one of us. Prior, life, for many of us, ticked along, and then suddenly as coronavirus took hold it appeared that life as we knew it came to a halt; followed almost immediately by a profound change in how we live our daily lives. There have been dreadful events worldwide, some covid-19 related and some not, and, while some people may have seen life improve in some ways as the...
Having successfully provided psychotherapy and counselling within the NHS, charitable services and now the private sector for the past 20 years, one of the things I have noticed, is the trepidation and nervousness that can occur in clients around getting started. Many of the clients I have worked with have come requesting anxiety counselling, stress counselling, counselling for depression, trauma counselling and workplace counselling, and these issues have meant that people can often come along feeling vulnerable and anxious, even...
To say 2020 has been a strange and challenging year for most is an understatement. We have all been disrupted by COVID-19 and unfortunately some people, families, businesses, and countries, have suffered devastating losses, and still face an uncertain future. Victor Frankl, Psychiatrist and holocaust survivor, in his book ‘Man’s search for Meaning’, expressed ‘everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedom – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of...
With the Covid19 pandemic upon us, many people are contained with loved ones of other people where they get opportunities for touch. It’s been suggested that a growing phenomena of skin hunger was already emerging prior to Covid19, especially in western cultures. So, what do you do if you’re quarantined alone, or contained in close quarters with those where there may already be a lack of touch? ‘Touch starvation’ or ‘skin hunger’ are some of the common terms used to...
Thinking about having counselling or psychotherapy, but not sure where to start? Here are 5 tips to help you get started. 1. Recognise if you need help. Starting therapy can feel daunting, especially if you’ve not been before. It’s not uncommon for people to worry that they are weak or ‘crazy’ for needing help. However, seeking out therapy help is commendable and it’s a sign of real strength to recognise limitations, and to get help when you need it. 2....
Outbreaks such as coronavirus can be scary, stressful, and bring anxiety about ourselves, our loved ones and the future. The information below may be helpful to those isolating at home, to protect emotional, mental and spiritual well-being. Stay connected Maintain connections with others you trust, and consider how you can use the phone, videocalls and messaging to keep connected. Checking in on others, and getting support, is vital for good mental health. If you’re struggling, don’t have a support network...
