Elspetherapy

13/08/2024

How are you prioritising yourself this week?

09/08/2024

Feeling stressed in the summer holidays?

Whether it’s midway through the holidays and you’re starting to lose your sh*t or you’re stressing about the kids starting back to school next week and the juggle of work, school, activities and getting back into the routine stressing you out.

Check out my blog of ways you can reduce your stress levels ❤️

Feeling overwhelmed by the challenges of parenting? The ongoing economic crisis, and cost of living has undoubtedly increased stress levels for many parents. This prolonged state of uncertainty can take a toll on your me...

30/07/2024

Meet Penny: A dedicated mother of two and a full time professional in a high pressure role. Penny's life seemed to be on autopilot—juggling work, children, and household responsibilities, but it was taking a toll on her mental and physical health.

The Struggle: Penny was feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and burnt out. Her GP signed her off work, recognising the need for a break. Penny's symptoms were multifaceted:

Emotionally: Constant anxiety, racing thoughts, and excessive worry.
Physically: Tension in her neck, shoulders, and chest, shallow breathing, and increased heart rate.
Behaviourally: Difficulty setting boundaries, checking emails outside work hours, and lack of personal time.
Relationally: Struggling with communication in her marriage, leading to frequent arguments.

Why She Sought Help: Penny’s anxiety was exacerbated by her high pressure job, the demands of managing her children and household, and financial worries. She coped by trying to fix every issue, distracting herself with housework, and staying constantly busy. Penny feared slowing down, believing it would lead to being overwhelmed by anxiety.

Click below to hear how Penny turned things around with the help of CBT👇🏼

Meet Penny: A dedicated mother of two and a full time professional in a high pressure role. Penny's life seemed to be on autopilot—juggling work, children, and household responsibilities, but it was taking a toll on her ...

29/07/2024

☀️Monday Motivation☀️

One of my values is authenticity and I work to to live this everyday.

That can be really hard when perfectionism shows up. So as Brene says, know that you are worthy as your authentic self.

How can you show up authentically this week?

26/07/2024

Ever felt judged for having just one child? Whether it's by choice or circumstance, parents of only children often face unnecessary pressure and misconceptions. In my latest blog post, I share personal experiences, and celebrate the unique dynamics of one child families. Let's embrace the diversity of family structures and support each other in our parenting journeys.

Read more here:

As a therapist and parent of one child, I've seen firsthand the joys and challenges of choosing to have just one child. Whether it was a conscious decision or due to circumstances beyond your control, it's a deeply perso...

22/07/2024

☀️Monday Motivation☀️

What small steps or tiny habits can you create this week?

18/07/2024

Birth trauma is sadly a common but often-overlooked aspect of the childbirth experience that can leave lasting emotional scars on parents. As a therapist, I’ve seen firsthand how the trauma from a difficult birth can affect mental health, relationships, and overall wellbeing.

Birth trauma can stem from unexpected complications, emergency interventions, or feelings of loss of control and fear during delivery. Even if an experience doesn’t appear to be traumatic from a healthcare or outside perspective, it’s what it means to the person experiencing it that matters. This trauma doesn’t just dissipate once the baby arrives; it can lead to anxiety, depression, PTSD, and challenges in bonding with the baby.

It's crucial to acknowledge and validate these experiences. Parents who go through birth trauma deserve support, compassion, and professional help to process their feelings and heal.

This Birth Trauma Awareness Week, if you or someone you know is struggling after a traumatic birth, reach out. Healing is possible, and you don’t have to navigate it alone. 💜

Head on over to the lauragreenwood_therapy team who are having some important, validating and interesting conversations to support you this Birth Trauma Awareness Week.

16/07/2024

🌟Morning motivation🌟

Boundaries are essential because they improve our overall health and wellbeing. They are the invisible lines around ourselves to protect and maintain our self worth, safety and time from the demands and behaviour of others. They are very difficult to set but can be game changing in our lives.

03/07/2024

Taking a break in the sun to recharge the batteries. Looking forward to no screens and no work for a while! 😎☀️🏖️🍹

25/06/2024

☀️Morning Motivation☀️

How do you find inner peace? We often look to external sources whilst ignoring the fact we can find it within when we decide not to let others control how we feel 🫶

20/06/2024

I love this infographic from showing common symptoms of postpartum anxiety and depression (worth noting that symptoms can vary and do overlap).

Generally, if symptoms have lasted for more than two weeks and they start to interfere in any aspect of your life, seek help from a healthcare professional.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can be very effective for treating both. It can help you:

✅Identify unhelpful thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.
✅Learn to avoid “triggers” for depression or anxiety
✅Identify ‘automatic’ negative thoughts
✅Learn different ways of thinking and reacting to situations that trigger depression and/or anxiety.
✅Get out of the house
✅Cope with and overcome intrusive thoughts
✅Reconnect with more helpful ways of coping

If you’d like to learn more or book in for a free consultation, then get in touch at hello@elspetherapy.co.uk or www.elspetherapy.co.uk