What is a phobia? According to the NHS, phobias are “an overwhelming and debilitating fear of an object, place, situation, feeling or animal.” Phobias are exaggerated and irrational fears that are generally ‘learned’. The actual danger from the situation, object, etc is greatly over estimated and leads to fear out of proportion to the real danger … Continue reading Phobias: How are they established, maintained and treated?
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Is “Blue Monday” Real?
Experts have often stated that this time of the year is the most depressing due to a combination of factors - darker, colder weather, failed New Years resolutions and the cost of bills in the winter months after an expensive Christmas can be a real strain. “Blue Monday”, thought to be the most depressing day … Continue reading Is “Blue Monday” Real?
Menopause and mental health
Menopause is a natural biological process which defined as a time where a woman’s ovaries stop producing sex hormones (oestrogen and progesterone) and menstruation stops. Typically, menopause occurs around 50 years of age but it could be much younger or older than this. We hear a lot about the physical symptoms like hot flushes, thinning … Continue reading Menopause and mental health
Attachment styles and relationships
What is attachment? Attachment is our emotional bond with other human beings. We can an innate drive to bond with others but we now know that the way we bond with others often follows a blueprint from our very first connection with another - with our primary caregivers. Attachment in babies and young children In … Continue reading Attachment styles and relationships
Good grief: what is grief and when to seek help
We will all lose people close to us and experience loss - it is a natural part of life. But when should you seek help with a bereavement from a counsellor or other mental health professional? What is grief Grief is a natural response to losing something or someone important to you. We often think … Continue reading Good grief: what is grief and when to seek help
Can I use affirmations to improve my mental health?
What are affirmations? Affirmations are mantras or sayings that are repeated regularly to ourselves that can improve negative thought patterns. They are normally a couple of words or short phrase that contains particular meaning for us, something we want to feel and remember. For example, someone who is struggling with self-esteem in relationships might have … Continue reading Can I use affirmations to improve my mental health?
Post-COVID mental health
This global pandemic has put a strain on everyone’s mental health - whether it was the fear of becoming ill or losing loved ones, anxiety around keeping your job or managing finances during furlough or redundancy or coping without your normal routine and social networks. To a stronger or lesser degree, the COVID-19 pandemic has … Continue reading Post-COVID mental health
The emotional toolkit
In general, people know how to keep physically healthy, by exercising, taking vitamins, eating well, etc. However, it seems there is less understanding of how to keep mentally healthy and how to prioritise your psychological wellbeing. We face these psychological wounds more often than physical ones - we experience rejection, failure and loneliness - and … Continue reading The emotional toolkit
What is Depression?
We all feel sad at times and sadness is a natural reaction and emotion for us to have. Individuals with clinical depression experience long-term low mood accompanied by somatic and cognitive changes. These changes can significantly affect the individual’s capacity to function and complete even basic tasks. The severity is based on the amount of … Continue reading What is Depression?
Overcoming Perfectionism
Perfectionism (or the need to be or be seen to be perfect) is often held up as a positive character trait that encourages you to push yourself to perform well. Many people will say “what’s wrong with striving to be perfect? Isn’t having extremely high expectations a good thing?” However, it can also lead to … Continue reading Overcoming Perfectionism
Waypoint Counselling 