Suicidal feelings can be incredibly isolating and overwhelming. As a therapist, I have seen first hand the depth of despair that can lead someone to feel like there’s no way out. It’s crucial to understand that these feelings, as intense and painful as they are, can be addressed and managed with the right support and intervention. Here, I want to offer a compassionate perspective on understanding suicidal feelings and provide guidance on what steps to take if you or someone y

Losing someone you love to suicide is an experience that shakes you to your core. As a therapist, I have walked with many individuals through the aftermath of this heartbreaking loss. The feelings that arise can be complex and overwhelming, but there are ways to navigate through this difficult time. Here, I hope to offer some guidance and support for those grappling with such a profound loss. Understanding Your Grief Grieving a suicide can feel different from other types of l

If you are a smoker (or someone who vapes)? I am sure you have wondered if it is really possible to give up the cigarettes for good. It se

When you are over thinking, or having emotional issues, it is easy to get hooked up in the media articles and latest boom of mental health. Every individual could fit into at least one of the ‘labelled’ groups yet most do not actually fit the criteria. So why is this? As human beings, we have a deep seated need to belong, but to also be different. Bring on the arguments of modern day labelling and modern day freedoms. Not only that, but when we feel different or have a low

The body and mind connection is well known. But the heart and mind connection perhaps not so much. The brain and the nervous system are intrinsically linked constantly sending signals to each other via the vast neurological network. Not only this, but hormones also are released or supressed as a result of signals sent via the body to the brain, or by the brain to the body. The brain and the heart produce the love hormone, oxytocin which has a protective influence on the heart

You’ve heard the expression. “Life is a journey.” Well, thoughts are pretty much the same. In the same way you have a choice what to think when you are late for work. (“Oh no I am going to be in such trouble! Where is the damn bus?/Why won’t the traffic move?”). You may not be able to do anything about speeding up the journey, but you do have a choice how you handle the situation. (“Ok, there’s not much I can do, so I can call in and let them know I’m going to be late, and

Changing your outlook can be a transformative journey, one that not only reduces stress but also enriches our understanding of others and ourselves. When we're grappling with anxiety or trauma, our minds tend to gravitate toward negative interpretations of events and behaviours. We may hastily judge others, assuming we understand their motives or intentions. However, it's essential to recognize that each person's perspective is shaped by a myriad of internal and external fact

The evidence of the intrinsic link between mind and body is well known. The link between an unhappy mind and manifestation as something unhealthy in the body is also well known. The body is at dis-ease and responds accordingly.  When the body responds persistently to high cortisol and adrenalin levels, it becomes tense, which in turn sends signals back to the brain to stay alert as a threat (as per the body response) has been perceived. This cycle can wreak havoc on our menta

The Mind-Body Connection The varying emotions we feel in heightened situations, are felt in different locations in the body.  The connection between mind and body is so strong, that even thinking about a past experience that evoked strong feelings, can cause these sensations and emotions to mimic them as if that situation were occurring at that very moment you think about it. The brain does not always distinguish between what is real and what is perceived. These re-lived expe