Donna Wood Counselling

08/01/2023

12/09/2022

♡

21/08/2022

This is an excellent article on grief. Although the advice is for grieving children, this article is for everyone. We're all hurt children inside when we experience a loss. Do contact me if you need counselling support.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/julia-samuel-help-children-cope-grief-ms22wc9hn

Be as honest as possibleOur instinct is to protect children, and that’s OK, but if they know that something is going on, what they make up can be more frighte

25/06/2022

https://inews.co.uk/opinion/daughter-diagnosed-with-adhd-liberating-1697602?ico=related_stories

I assumed my relatives would also be uncomfortable with a 'label' but it has been a vindication for them

18/05/2022

I've been watching Joe Wicks programme Facing My Childhood. A clear message from this is that it is good to talk.

Figure quoted: 6 children in every school class has a parent affected by mental health, which in turn is very likely to affect them.

I counsel adults - those children grow up and can still remain impacted by their childhood, even though their parents may have been doing the best they could at the time. This impact can manifest as increased anxiety, depression, stress etc.

I like to offer a safe space where we can really have a look at all this and more together and improve mental wellbeing. Contact me by text or email me to arrange a free iniitial chat on Zoom or phone. I would be happy to talk with you.

donna@donnawoodcounselling.co.uk
Text to: 07938498114

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/joe-wicks-documentary-parents-mental-illness_uk_62826615e4b003ed2964b774

"I worry about what impact parents’ mental health is having on kids."

16/02/2022

I'm Alice, I'm Autistic: It would be good for many people to see this clip, especially those not aware that masking autistic women are finding life a challenge and mask at great cost to themselves. Many women have been missed but, in my counselling experience with clients, it is not just women who mask.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWm8XJmhfJo

05/02/2022

Love this ❤️

20/01/2022

https://www.theguardian.com/discover-better-with-capita/2021/aug/06/i-now-understand-who-i-am-how-an-adhd-diagnosis-changed-an-hr-managers-life

Capita’s head of career frameworks Sarah Grundy was 40 when she was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder – the support she has received from her employer and colleagues has inspired her to empower others with disabilities

08/01/2022

I take part in regular training with the Aspire Autism Consultancy. Very much enjoyed this course - the practical combined with the theoretical which enables me to provide informed counselling to those with autism and ADHD or couples where this may be proving challenging for the relationship.

30/12/2021

So easy to not put in place the changes we would like/need to make. Haven't posted on this page for a long while but I would like to! Message from this book is to tack a new habit onto a well-established one like clean your teeth and then new habit. The new habit is not try to run a marathon but take a few steps ..... so the habit becomes established.

01/09/2021

Very glad to see this programme and understand more about Crohn's. I believe that counselling can be helpful in working out the balance of fighting spirit and nurturing self that is right for you as an individual.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000njmn/strictly-amy-crohns-and-me

Dancer Amy Dowden opens up about her battle with Crohn’s disease.

05/06/2021

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/alice-thomson-my-family-and-other-dyslexics-08c8fgclx

Long way to go but good to see fewer people feeling the need to hide labels - rather the opposite, celebrating creativity, innovation etc that diversity brings.

I love a bit of neurodiversity. All our family have it and I grew up surrounded by dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, ADHD and Asperger’s. My mother taught adults and children with learning

10/05/2021

Mental Health Awareness Week. Time to look out for your own mental health and for that of others.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-57013126?xtor=ES-211-[43961_PANUK_NLT_19_ENG_ThePursuitOfLove_RET_O35]-20210510-[bbcnews_mentalhealthweekhowtotellifsomeonestrugglesmentalhealthawarenessweek2021_mentalhealth]

Coronavirus has affected many people in different ways - how would you react if someone needed support?

29/04/2021

WHO OR WHAT IS ANDYSMANCLUB?

This will give you a little insight.

Drop it a like and share so we can reach more men who may need our groups 👌🏽

07/02/2021

Masking 'often come at a heavy cost, including physical exhaustion and extreme anxiety.'

Women on the autistic spectrum still remain under-diagnosed or may be even unaware that they are on the spectrum, perhaps until someone else in the family receives a diagnosis. They may have an awareness of much of life seeming difficult and be consciously or unconsciously masking/camouflaging to some extent to their own detriment - it takes tremendous effort and involves not being themselves.

I have a special interest in counselling autistic clients, male and female, and attend monthly training on ways that I can best support them, together with an understanding of all the positives that neuro-diversity brings. Please get in touch if you might like to book a single appointment where you can see whether counselling might help you. I would be happy to support you in your exploration of whether formal diagnosis would be helpful for you or not.

https://www.spectrumnews.org/features/deep-dive/costs-camouflaging-autism/

Many girls hide their autism, sometimes evading diagnosis well into adulthood. These efforts can help women on the spectrum socially and professionally, but they can also do serious harm.

07/02/2021

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2021/01/31/male-infertility-no-joke-laughs-neednt-taboo/

Infertility has increased greatly in the last 40 years. I have counselled women who wished to find support while airing all their feelings about miscarriage, infertility issues etc in a safe, confidential, understanding space.

Evident in this programme is how few men feel they can talk about male infertility - a shame that they somehow feel they cannot do this, it might not feel 'manly'. If this is something that concerns you, please do watch this groundbreaking programme. I would be very happy to make an appointment where you could explore if counselling might help you. When people successfully end counselling they have often changed their view on what being 'strong' is. Is it keeping everything to yourself or getting some support when you need it?

Please find the programme on BBC iPlayer.

Comedian Rhod Gilbert uses humour to break down the boundaries surrounding male infertility in a BBC documentary

16/10/2020

Boost your mental health by listening to a podcast.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/54483803?xtor=ES-211-[36595_PANUK_SOT_41_CDY_CreativeDiversity_RET]-20201016-[bbcsport_joewickspodcastguestsonhowtheykeepahelathymind_mentalhealth]

Mark Cavendish, Fearne Cotton, James Bay and Gordon Ramsay share how they try to maintain a healthy mind.