This article was originally published on Medium in January 2021: click here to view there. There is no doubt about it, the pandemic is different this year to last year, and our psychological responses are different this year to last year. Although we learned many lessons about how to cope well and even thrive in
Blue Monday 2021: Pandemic mental health is different this year Read Post »
CLICK ON THE PICTURE FOR MY NEW VIDEO: “The Paradoxical Theory of Change” ..change occurs when one becomes what he is, not when he tries to become what he is not. Change does not take place through a coercive attempt by the individual or by another person to change him, but it does take place
The Paradoxical Theory Of Change 2020 Read Post »
What if Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is not a disorder? And what if winter 2020 is not simply the biggest challenge to mood management, but a great opportunity to address the impact of winter on your mood? Before I get stuck in, I must declare this as my own opinion as a therapist with decades
SAD: should we attribute lower mood in winter to a ‘disorder’? Read Post »
Once again it is through my own personal therapy that I first came to work with a concept that has proved invaluable in my professional practice with clients and in my writing to support people during these times. The model has been powerful for me and for anyone who has had the ground taken out
Feeling safe in uncertain times Read Post »
There is no exit strategy. The monkeys have the balls and we don’t know where they will be dropped. The frustration stage precedes the distress of the injustice and grief of loss. However, a deeper sense of internal safety grows within, once we learn to live with uncertainty.
Just when I get my ducks in a row, in come the monkeys… Read Post »
Isn’t it busy at the moment? Wonderful people setting up wonderful projects, everyone zooming and doing yoga, home schooling, street what’s app groups and people launching their own channels and podcasts. So much to help people from feeling dangerously lonely. Or maybe you’re like me, and countless people I’ve spoken to, who are responding at
The Legitimacy of Responding Slowly Read Post »
Not worrying during the current crisis is not only unrealistic but is also unhelpful. In this blog I will explain how to make worry your servant and not your master, how to use it to help you and not let it undermine you. Stress is a stimulus that provokes response and action and is therefore
Worrying Effectively Read Post »
The difference between guilt, shame and anger, the pleasure of being a responsible adult and 3 Things to remind yourself of, when you feel guilty or ‘bad’. So you feel guilty? That’s great. Feeling guilt is a sign that you have working conscience. It is a response to witnessing suffering. When we see starving children,
A question I am often asked is what someone can do to retain progress? For example, why do they keep breaking resolutions and diet plans and what do I advise? My approach is different to most coaching. At the outset we look at the core person, who they are, what their values, expressions and needs
The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing. Stephen Covey I’ve often used this quote with my clients, it’s a whole week’s topic in my coaching group starting this autumn, and today I’ve been using it myself. I’m sure many of you are familiar with the spinning plates analogy, and in
THIS is the main thing Read Post »