A Good Place Counselling

15/05/2024

🌟Choosing Your Therapist: It’s Not Just About the Problem, It’s About the Approach🌟

When it comes to therapy, we often focus on the ‘what’—the issues we’re facing. But what if we shifted our perspective to the ‘how’? The therapeutic approach can be just as crucial as the problem at hand.

A therapist’s methodology can resonate with us, inspire us, and ultimately facilitate our journey to wellness in a way that aligns with our personal thinking and learning style. Whether it’s through cognitive-behavioural techniques, narrative therapy, or solution-focused strategies, the ‘how’ can empower us to not only tackle our current challenges but also equip us with the tools for future hurdles.

⚡️I’m a therapist for thinkers … the issue isn’t as important as how effectively we can work together.⚡️

So, let’s start a conversation about the importance of a therapist’s approach. Have you ever chosen a therapist based on their methods? How has it impacted your therapy experience? Share your thoughts and let’s explore the possibilities together.

11/04/2024

🌟 Rest and Digest Awareness 🌟

A 🤓 mischievous post influenced by 😖 Stress Awareness Month 😤

Did you know your body has a built-in stress relief feature? It’s called the ‘rest and digest’ system, and it’s the unsung hero of our hectic lives. 🦸‍♂️

This month, let’s celebrate our inner zen by embracing . Here’s how you can join in:

1️⃣ Breathe Deeply: Take a 5-minute break to just breathe. It’s like hitting the reset button on your stress levels. 🧘‍♀️

2️⃣ Lunch Breaks are Sacred: Actually step away from your desk. Your sandwich deserves your full attention! 🥪

3️⃣ Tech Timeout: Give your eyes (and brain) a break from screens. Your emails can wait. (Yes, even that one.) 📵

4️⃣ Nature’s Call: No, not that one! Get outside, hug a tree, high-five a flower. Nature is the best therapist. 🌳

Let’s make this month about slowing down and appreciating the little things that help us stay grounded. Share your own moments and let’s spread the chill vibes! 😌

26/03/2024

😱He was right about one thing ...😱

Mel Stride speaking in The Telegraph:

⚠️ 'Mental health culture has gone too far'⚠️

20th March 2024.

It's taken me this long to be able to craft my response ... clearing up the pile of feathers I was spitting took some time.

Oh Mel ... there is so very much wrong in the article ... and in the spirit of fairness, I think there is one point that is right. Well, nearly right.

'As a culture we seem to have forgotten that work is good for mental health.'

The right work with the right pressures in the right environment is good for mental health.

The challenges come in both a colleague and the employer knowing what is the right work … what is the right pressure … what is the right environment.

Because every person in every situation is unique.

I'm smiling as I write this because when I read the article, I have my usual old ‘this is this is so written as sound bites and the complexity behind the statements you're making is so very involved’, that I completely forgot that this this work is my bread and butter.

I work with colleagues to support them in having a practicable return to work strategy for employees off sick, mental or physical health issues.

Together we come up with a plan for their return to work from mental ill health absence or of staying in work with mental ill health, you know that's really, really important for me that people don't find themselves in the position where they need to have a mental health time out.

There is one thing that is universal in my work with colleagues and businesses.
I wrote at the beginning that every case is different and unique and it's not as cut and dried as the government seemed to think.

And I realised I'm wrong.

There is one thing that I say in every single case with every single colleague in every single business and it's this.

Whatever you think you can do, what you can actually do to sustain your return-to-work fitness will be 50% of that.

Almost universally we overestimate our fitness. If we've been off work or have a physical condition we are much more accurate in assessing what we can do. The universal human optimism I know means that when it comes to returning to work or staying in work when we have mental ill health, we are so good at self-sabotaging through putting too much pressure on ourselves.

So my top tip go for 50%.

And if you’d like effective support to stay in work, or return to work … click here: https://good.agoodplace.co/Discover

21/03/2024

🌟 Dealing with the Stress of Grief 🌟

Reading Adrian Chiles’ article in The Guardian yesterday on the loss of his father bought me up short.

My father died over 20 years ago, Mum a year ago. I’m well studied and experienced in loss and grief. Like Adrian’s dad, Mum had a life well-lived, into her late 80’s. Her death was predictable. I thought I was prepared.

I’d signed up for a coaching programme, starting in January … Mum died and I decided to postpone the programme, returning in April. It was far, far too soon … my energy was depleted, my creativity and problem-solving abilities non-existent. Even my usual excellent tech-savvyness was absent.

I was so full of stress.

I was reminded that I need to allow myself time and space to move through my grieving and then life becomes less tricky.

Losing someone you love is incredibly difficult. The weight of grief can feel overwhelming, affecting your emotions, thoughts, and even your physical health.
Remember, you don’t have to face this journey alone. Reach out for professional counselling to help you navigate the stress of grief. Whether it’s the loss of a loved one, a relationship, or any significant change, talking to a counsellor can provide support and coping strategies.

📞 If you’re struggling, consider contacting a bereavement support organization or a mental health professional. You deserve compassionate guidance during this challenging time. 💙

If you’d like my support, you can book your free 15 minute Discovery Call here: https://good.agoodplace.co/Discover



(https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/mar/20/ive-spent-a-lifetime-dreading-the-loss-of-a-parent-and-now-its-finally-happened )

12/03/2024

Have you ever felt stuck with a problem that even a heart-to-heart with a close friend couldn’t untangle? 🤔 It’s in these moments that talking to a counsellor can make a world of difference. Unlike friends, counsellors are trained professionals who offer a non-judgmental space and use evidence-based techniques to help us navigate our thoughts and emotions. They guide us to uncover the root causes of our issues and empower us with strategies to address them.

Counsellors also provide an outside perspective, free from the biases and preconceptions that even the most well-meaning friends may have. This objectivity is key in helping us see our situation in a new light and find paths forward that we might not have considered. 👀

Which is why I can’t counsel my friends

So, if you’re feeling overwhelmed, remember that it’s okay to seek help. Reaching out to a counsellor isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s a step towards understanding yourself better and taking control of your well-being. 💪

Book you free 15 minute Discovery Call here and begin your transformation: https://good.agoodplace.co/Discover

06/03/2024

💔 Navigating Grief as a Small Business Owner 😢

Grief is a journey that often requires us to recalibrate our personal and professional lives. As a small business owner, the challenge is to balance the vulnerability of our human experience with the resilience needed to keep our business afloat.

Here are a few steps that have helped me along the way:

💜 Allow Yourself to Feel: It’s okay to take a moment to acknowledge your loss. Grief is a natural response, and giving yourself permission to experience these emotions is crucial for healing.

💜Lean on Your Support System: Whether it’s family, friends, work-friends, or a professional counsellor, having a support system can provide the strength you need to manage your business during tough times.

💜Delegate and Trust Your Team: Empower your employees by delegating tasks. Trusting your team not only helps maintain business operations but also fosters a supportive work environment. If you don’t have a team, remember your networks.

💜Communicate with Your Clients: Transparency can go a long way. Most clients will understand if you’re going through a difficult time and appreciate your honesty.

💜Plan and Prioritise: Focus on what’s essential. Prioritising tasks can help you stay productive without becoming overwhelmed.

Remember, it’s not about ignoring your grief but finding a way to move forward with it. Your well-being is the foundation of your business’s success.

Mum died just over a year ago. 💜 This last year I had excellent support from various ‘work-friends’ … once I remembered to ask for it.

I had a robust business resilience procedure, in the numbness of grief I forgot I’d done my prep work well in advance.

Eventually I remembered. Grief literally is our brain rewiring and expecting our normal rational processes to work is setting us up for failure.

Now – I have a print of the picture in this post staring at from my wall, as a gentle reminder when I need it.

Far more encouraging than my boring procedure or a possibly darker message … for a while I had a post-it with ‘DISASTER’ written on it. Not too motivating.

Don’t be a ‘me’ ask immediately. 🙄 And remember to have your physical reminder.

I’d love to know what it is. ❓

29/02/2024

🔥Menopause and me🌊

I quite like it when the media talk about a particular subject that's both close to my heart and my profession.💜

So when the information about menopause being treated with CBT came out this week, I read some of it with sort of wry curiosity.

Most of it is absolutely right. Some of it … well, you can make research say what you want can't you?

My menopause was very, very early. Whilst working in a high-pressure role at a predominantly male workplace.

I wish I’d known then what I do now.

🖤 That there are simple ways of lifting brain-fog
🖤 That my tinnitus isn’t imagined
🖤 That ‘vengeful-harpy’ doesn’t have to be my default mood setting

If you relate to this, there’s one other thing I wish I’d known then:

🆘 That I can ask for help.

If you'd like help … message me, because our menopause is tricky enough without experiencing it in isolation.

13/02/2024

When I was Chair of the Dorset LAG (Local Action Group who had EU funding to award to rural projects) I learnt much about unseen challenges of farming. 🍃

I knew quite a lot from my time working at Kingston Maurward College, Dorset’s Land-Based (and so much more) college. 🐑

I knew how hard it can be to work alone, especially in these uncertain times. Farming is not only a job, but a way of life, and it comes with many challenges and stressors that can affect our mental health.

Until I set up my Counselling Practice, A Good Place, in rural Dorset, I was shocked by the high number of people working on the land … gamekeepers, stable owners as well as farmers who were experiencing poor mental health … the hand-to-mouth nature of the work literally soul destroying.

According to a recent study by the Farm Safety Foundation, poor mental health is the biggest hidden problem facing the farming industry today, and 88% of farmers under 40 rank it as the main issue they face. Farmers are often isolated, working long hours, dealing with financial pressures, weather uncertainties, animal diseases, and policy changes.

They also tend to live and work in the same place, which can make it hard to switch off and relax.

That’s why I’m supporting the 💟 Mind Your Head campaign💟, which aims to raise awareness and break the stigma around mental health in farming.

The campaign encourages farmers to talk about their feelings, seek help when needed, and look after themselves and each other. Counselling, peer support, online resources, and helplines are some of the options available for farmers who are struggling with their mental health.

I believe that mental health is as important as physical health, and that we should not be ashamed or afraid to admit when we need help. Farming is a vital and rewarding sector, and we need to take care of ourselves and our colleagues to keep it going. If you are a farmer, or know someone who is, please join me in supporting the Mind Your Head campaign and spreading the message that you are not alone. .

I have supported dozens of farmers through my Counselling service.

The support starts with a free Discovery Call.

If things are getting too much, overwhelming, frightening … PLEASE contact me to arrange a free 15 minute Discovery Call … find out more or book here: https://agoodplace.co/

16/01/2024

⁉ To AI or not to AI ...
.. that is the question. ⁉

I can't quite believe it's a year since Mum died. I remembered that an account should be releasing money to me ... I wasn't sure what the process was.

I rang them yesterday, I was almost sure I was talking with AI ... it was good AI ... when I explained that Mum had died it responded 'I'm sorry for your loss' ... I thought perhaps this was a real person ...

Went around the script a couple of times and it was clearly AI ... and repeated the 'I'm sorry for your loss'. At which point I asked if I could talk with a person please ... far too distressing for me ...

This image is created by AI.

AI is more and more involved in our lives ... questions we ask online about our wellbeing and mental health are often answered by AI ... AI is a great start, but ... humanity is nuanced and unique ... AI is a robot, equations, 1s and 0s ... it can never connect as deeply as another human can.

Sometimes AI is not the best tool ... sometimes a real-live person is needed ... sometimes. 🙏

15/01/2024

🌼It's Sunflower Monday.🌼

💙There's no basis in research for Blue Monday.💙

Apparently it was a marketing ploy by a travel firm to get us to buy holidays.⛺️🏖

Trouble is the human spirit sometimes believes what it's told, without question. Which can leave us feeling rubbish when we don't need to.

It could be that life right now is rubbish, with financial stress and other worries ... fine if that makes us feel stressed and down.

Please do reach out for the right support if that's you.

Absolutely ... it is not Blue Monday just because it's the 3rd Monday in January.

It's Sunflower Monday ... look at those sunflowers in the image ... how smiley and cheerful are they? So let's stop thinking about Blue Monday ... Great New Order song tho ...

I'm renaming the 3rd Monday in January ...

Smile at a Sunflower day ...

Because often changing how we think about something is enough to change how we feel for the better ...

Enjoy the rest of Sunflower Monday 🙏

12/01/2024

😞Are your evenings ruined because you're worrying about going to work tomorrow?😞

Are you surfing Facebook for jobs?🌊

Or, perhaps, you're binge watching Friends or The Bear, so that you can delay going to bed where you'll be lying awake worrying about tomorrow?

You're not alone. 3️⃣ in 5 people in the workplace feel this way, facing challenges and difficulties at work. It's more common than you imagine.

If changing your job isn't practical right now, there are things that you can do to help how you feel:

Notice what's OK ... we're programmed to notice what's wrong - thank you survival instinct - we have to actively notice what's OK ... or perhaps even good.

Do one thing ... notice what's OK. Sounds cheesy, I get that ... believe me ... it makes a positive difference. 😏

And I've more information here: https://good.agoodplace.co/workwise

09/01/2024

Too much month for our money!

This year more than any other in recent times, the jokey observation that January has ‘more month than money’ has never been truer. And it’s no joke.

January can be a tough month for many people, especially those who are struggling with debt. The festive season can leave a dent in our wallets, and the arrival of the credit card bills can cause a lot of stress and anxiety.

When we're struggling financially our mental health is impacted too.

And for many of us, sharing that we're struggling financially is as difficult as sharing we're struggling with our mental health.

Please ... reach out for help - you are not alone in your struggle with money worries.

Many people face financial difficulties at some point in their lives, and there is no shame in asking for help. Remember that your situation is not hopeless, and that there are solutions and support available to you. You have the power and the potential to overcome your challenges and achieve your goals. You deserve to live a happy and fulfilling life, free from debt and stress. You can do this!

Citizens Advice are a great resource to help! Non-judgemental and with loads of practical guidance - https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/

Give them a call!

Online free advice from Citizens Advice to help you find a way forward, whatever the problem. Our research enables us to campaign on issues affecting people's lives.