Curiosity - an oft‑neglected game‑changing skill?
Curiosity can interrupt cycles of self‑criticism and help us understand our emotions more clearly. In this week’s post, we explore how a curious stance can deepen self‑compassion and shed light on experiences like anger, boundaries, and the stories we tell ourselves.
The Hardest Person to Be Kind To
We’re often far kinder to others than we are to ourselves. When mistakes happen or life feels difficult, our inner critic can take over. This post explores why self‑compassion feels so hard, where those harsh inner voices come from, and how we can begin responding to ourselves with more understanding.
Mental Health First Aid Kit: In Summary
This final post in the Mental Health First Aid Kit series offers a gentle recap of the techniques we’ve explored, along with alternative resources if they didn’t quite work for you. It’s an invitation to approach yourself with curiosity and self‑compassion as you find what helps in difficult moments.
Mental Health First Aid Tool: The STOP Skill
A practical guide to the DBT STOP skill - a simple technique for pausing in moments of anxiety or overwhelm. Learn how to use it, why it works, and how practising it can help you regain a sense of calm and control.
Mental Health First Aid Tool: Box Breathing
Box breathing is a simple, grounding technique that helps calm the body and steady the mind when stress or anxiety rises. This gentle four‑step pattern can be used anywhere to slow your breathing, regulate your nervous system, and create a moment of calm when you need it most.
Mental Health First Aid Tool: Grounding & the 5-4-3-2-1 Technique
Learn how the 5‑4‑3‑2‑1 grounding technique can help calm anxiety, reduce overwhelm, and bring you back into the present moment as part of this Mental Health First Aid series.
Mental Health First Aid Tool: The Physiological Sigh
When life feels overwhelming, small tools can make a big difference. The physiological sigh is one you can use anytime, anywhere.
Mental Health First Aid Kit: Introduction
A gentle introduction to the idea of a Mental Health First Aid Kit - simple grounding tools you can turn to when life feels overwhelming.
Choosing a Therapist: Part Four
Starting counselling can feel daunting. Here’s what to expect from your first session, and how the process can help you feel more at ease.
On Choosing a Therapist: Part Three
In this post, I explore a key idea within person-centred counselling, how we can lose touch with ourselves through judgement and expectation, and how a warm, accepting therapeutic relationship can help us reconnect and grow.
On Choosing a Therapist: Part Two
An introduction to different counselling approaches, and how to think about what kind of support might be right for you.
On Choosing a Therapist: Part One
For my first post, I’d like to offer some information to help you navigate the sometimes confusing world of counselling, from qualifications to experience levels, so you can feel more confident when choosing the right counsellor for you.