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December 29th 2018
New Year- New You? Time to Get SMART with your new year goals
This is the time of the year when a lot of people start thinking of their new year goals. Let’s be honest now, how often do we get within reaching distance of New Year with a head filled of the most amazing plans and goals for the pending cure all that is New Year’s Day? There is something about the start of another year that feels like an incredible reset! Such hope, massive amounts of drive and passion to make this year different to last, finally this will be your year! The trouble with this is t...
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December 15th 2018
The Pain of Christmas Past
Christmas is traditionally a time of family, togetherness and love. But for some of us, life has happened and things are not as they once were. Perhaps we have lost someone special, maybe we are separated from our spouse or spending this year without our children as we used to. Big life events can happen that change the way we feel about Christmas past and present.Dealing with Christmas Change:At times like this no amount of Christmas cards, glossy television adverts or general festive cheer can impact on h...
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December 13th 2018
Beat Stress: 5 things to do in your lunch break
Perhaps you came into work stressed this morning, or you have felt it steadily building?  Either way, your lunch break can be one of our greatest weapons to subdue stress and keep it at bay.Consider your lunch break to be your essential rest and repair time, and when you use it effectively, you can be rewarded with a more manageable afternoon that keeps you feeling in control for longer. Here are 5 things to consider to beat stress in your lunch break: 1. Get Outdoors! Step away from the...
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October 2nd 2018
24 hour counselling: where to find help after hours?
We looked at the different options that are available in the UK for someone trying to get counselling support after hours. The most known services are probably the different phone helplines. We strongly advice visitors to our site to visit these helplines if they’re in a crisis and there is a threat to their physical wellbeing. We summarise the services available: Free services – immediate responseSamaritans – a 24-hour helpline available to anyone that needs help. They can be reached in 116 123 ...
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May 18th 2018
Instant Counselling: official sponsor of the Mental Health Blog Awards!
This year, we will be sponsoring the Micro Influencer Award brought to you by the Mental Health Bloggers Awards #MHBlogAwards MHBlogAwards 2018 will celebrate well-known and emerging influencers/bloggers and recognise excellence in addressing mental health. Whether they focus on Mental Health or not, all the nominees have raised awareness, supported, explained and comforted their communities and for that, they deserve a big shout out! The event will be hosted by Mike from Mike’s Open J...
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March 24th 2018
The Persona
What is a persona?The word persona is derived from Latin, where it originally referred to a theatrical mask used by actors during the rendition of antique plays. Nowadays, the word ‘concept’ is often used to describe a role a person plays in public, independently of what he truly is or feels. This usage is based on the psychological notion of "persona". A concept which was articulated by the psychiatrist Carl Gustave Jung in the 1920's. According to him, it's an interface between the individual's self a...
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January 30th 2018
Where to find a telephone counselling service available 24/7?
Many times the need to speak to a counsellor does not fit with the ‘traditional’ timings of face-to-face therapy. That is why telephone counselling is one of the most convenient ways to get support at times that other services are currently not available. However, very few organisations provide a 24/7 availability for this kind of services. For example, in the UK many services usually operate phone consultations during set hours (usually between 7 am to 9 pm). Quite often there is also a need to book an...
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January 27th 2018
When Is Low Sexual Desire a Sexual Dysfunction?
Hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) is a sexual problem characterised by distress related to loss or a major decline in sexual interest (thinking about it, engaging in it, being receptive to a partner's initiation, etc.). It is the most common sexual dysfunction among women of all ages and is estimated to affect nearly 1 in 10 women. What are normal fluctuations in sexual desire?In order to determine what is abnormal or dysfunctional, it is helpful to understand what is normal or functional. Each ...
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January 27th 2018
Understanding the link between anxiety and depression
Research has found that between 5–10% of the adult population has experience both anxiety and depression at the same time in a 12-month period.  It is important to acknowledge the implications of this condition because depressed individuals that also experience anxiety tend to spend more time in depressive episodes compared to those without it, although it is the number and severity of symptoms rather than the presence of an anxiety disorder itself that increase the risk.  Similarly, individuals...
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January 27th 2018
Exploring the effectiveness of counselling to treat children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
The use of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) as a treatment for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been widely explored. Whilst CBT appears superior to no treatment or treatment as usual, few studies have assessed CBT against alternative therapy. What is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy?Behavioural therapies are based on the way you think (cognitive) and/or the way you behave. These therapies recognise that it is possible to change or recondition, our thoughts or behaviour ...
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January 20th 2018
Managing anxiety during times of change
At the start of a new year, many people are keen to have anxiety. Because they make changes in their lives by seeking out ways to become healthier, more successful, wealthier and happier versions of themselves. One integral part of becoming a new and improved version of yourself is making changes to reach your goal, however, this can be a difficult hurdle to overcome and the process of self-improvement may seem daunting.Change can induce physical and psychological symptoms of anxiety which may include:Worry...
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January 7th 2018
Is Telephone Counselling Effective?
Telephone counselling. What are the strengths and limitations? Telephone counselling is increasingly becoming an attractive alternative to traditional face-to-face counselling. The four strengths that have been attributed to this mode of therapy are as follows: It is less expensive compared to face-to-face therapy, it allows anonymity, it gives a sense of control, and it’s convenient. These strengths are believed to make counselling possible for some who would not otherwise seek or receive couns...
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