Don’t wait to ask for help. Asking for help is nothing to be ashamed of, especially during this pandemic where we have so little resources and normality to keep us going. If you’re nervous about contacting a service, organisation, or individual psychotherapist/counsellor, then make use of the communication method you feel most comfortable with when […]
Understanding & Managing Suicidal Feelings & Thoughts
We can’t talk about mental health without talking about suicidal feelings and thoughts. Considering these as ‘extreme’ reactions or the more ‘extreme’ end of the mental health spectrum is dismissive of one’s intense suffering or struggle. Many people experience suicidal feelings and thoughts, including those who can get daily life done consistently well. There are […]
I’m A Social Impact Star Award Nominee
Around a fortnight ago I received an e-mail from a network called Inspiring Women Changemakers to let me know I had been put forward by two of its members for an award. I spent a fair part of the following hour getting my head around the news, which was such a surprise. The timing marks […]
Finding the Person Amongst Mental Health
One thing I’m open about is how difficult it can be to condense information about mental health into a short blog post, article, or a photo with a bit of text on social media. Mental health support and information should be accessible to everyone so it’s great to use all these platforms. But I worry […]
Making Changes In Psychotherapy
My working experience has taught me that people want two things from seeing a Psychotherapist. These are a private space to speak freely and be heard, and a sense of moving forward rather than being stuck. These point to the underlying elements of the process which is the working relationship, and the co-created space, between […]
Regulating Embodied Stress Using Breath & Movement
Although humans have evolved over time it’s worth looking to the fundamental survival mechanisms in our bodies and minds to understand how to manage stress, including traumatic stress. This is because our bodies automatically react to any kind of threats in our environment, including at unconscious levels. For people who have experienced significant and/or repeated […]
Introducing Myself Online
Whilst we’re all behind screens more than ever during lockdown, I thought it might be helpful to introduce myself. My name is Erene, and I’m an Integrative Psychotherapist. I have worked with adult clients for ten years so far, including setting up two community-based services between 2014 and 2018. I am also a writer, and speaker, […]
Mental Health Awareness Week: Busting Myths About Asking for Support
For MHAW I’d like to bust some myths about psychotherapy, so that people feel more able to access support for their mental health in this way. Here are five myths I hear a lot about psychotherapy: ‘You have to go to therapy for years to make any progress’ Not true at all. Some types of […]