Youth Trauma Allies

29/07/2025

Today is Rain Day - recognition of that wet stuff that falls from the sky, and whether you are a fan or it puts a literal dampner on your day, just pause a moment to think about rain.
Rain can stimulate all our senses, the feel of it on our skin, the smell as the first drops hit the earth, the sound of it tapping on the window or sploshing in a puddle, the light shining through the drops or the mist forming in the woods - the fresh taste of the air when the rain has fallen.
Whatever you think about rain, next time it happens - experience it fully, connect with yourself and the rain, and see how you feel afterwards....

23/07/2025

Today is International Yada Yada Yada day. Originating from the US comedy series Seinfeld, it symbolises the mundane and the boring in conversations. It makes me reflect on the power of meaningful connections - as a therapist, I appreciate the importance of creating a space with my clients where there is real depth and meaning in words, that this can be explored and individuals can be truly listened too, rather than a conversation where you are just waiting for your turn to speak. In our busy and stressful world, sometimes there is too much Yada Yada Yada and not enough true connection, leaving us feeling isolated and alone. This is one of the benefits of counselling.

12/07/2025

Our Wonderful Youth Voices Director Xanthe performing in Brainstorm at The Leeds Playhouse.

04/07/2025

Today is 'Invisible Day' - and that got me thinking about anxiety.
Having anxiety can sometimes mean that when you are in public, you are doing everything you can to stay invisible, to not stand out, to not get picked on, to just blend into the background - and you say to yourself, this is helping, this way I can stay safe. But what you are also doing is locking up your personality, not being yourself, focusing on being invisible - and this can add to the anxiety, rather than relieve it. It takes a lot of energy to stay invisible, so maybe it is time to get some help - talk to someone that you know or trust, seek professional help, take some time for self-care. Everything you do to help relieve anxiety, brings you one step closer to freeing up energy to live and enjoy life, not to spend it on staying hidden.

03/07/2025

Today is 'Start the Conversation' day - why not check out our blog on this topic over at our website
https://www.youthtraumaallies.co.uk/blog-3-1/start-the-conversation

The 3rd of July is Start the Conversation day – a day to raise awareness and discuss mental health, and the importance of making connections and reaching out to others. Although it may sound simple, in our busy lives it is can be difficult to find time to have a conversation, or check in with some...

02/07/2025

Today is 'I forgot' day - a day to celebrate the challenges of being human, and having to keep many things in our heads at once, and ultimately, forgetting things every now and again. But forgetfulness can also be an early warning sign that we are under too much stress, managing too much in our heads and in desperate need of a rest. If you find yourself forgetting more things than usual, or forgetting things that you would normally always remember, then take it as an early warning sign to do something relaxing, take a bit of time for yourself, or even ask for help.

25/06/2025

Today is Global Beatles Day - a day to celebrate and honour the iconic band.
Music plays such an important part in our lives, and it is incredible how the music and lyrics created by 4 people has reached millions of people all over the globe, and connected them through familiarity and meaning. Here are some of my favourite Beatles lyrics - the strength of them being their simplicity and their depth. Paul McCartney has said that he wrote Yesterday after the death of his mother, writing a song to process the loss and grief he felt as it was so sudden. Sometimes it is difficult to find our own words to express how we feel, and the lyrics of songs can help us to do that - music can touch us and help to express how we feel. What are some of your favourite lyrics?

18/06/2025

Today is Austistic Pride day - a day to celebrate with pride everything that makes autistic people the amazing, unique human beings that they are. Unfortunately, I have too much experience firsthand about the issues mainstream school settings face trying to meet the adaptations and needs required to allow autistic students to be the wonderful stars that they are. Something needs to change.

14/06/2025

This picture puts it so perfectly from so many of the young people I work with in schools.

The heartbreaking reality of so many neurodiverse children in mainstream school.

Us parents have got to help our children discover their gifting and then create opportunities for them to shine in an environment they're suited to.

We cover this in the Growing Stage our our support programme for parents.
Here's how we did it for our daughter Jade: https://youtu.be/7CHYEgLA3jg?si=6jn5q3Izm8lENwoN

14/06/2025

Feeling stressed? Struggling with panic? Difficulties sleeping?
Check out the free resources that Towards Tranquility has to offer and allow yourself some self-care in turbulant times.

This is a place where you can come regularly to find new supportive tools and resources to help you on your journey towards tranquility and feeling more empowered in everyday life.

12/06/2025

Today is W**d Your Garden Day - a opportunity to get out into your garden, or any outdoor space, and pull up a few weeds to make more space for the plants and flowers to thrive.
Gardening is such wonderful activity for the mind and for the soul, it connects us to nature, allows us to lose ourself in an activity and give us time for reflection.
So if today, or at the weekend you do get chance to do a bit of weeding, or even just to stop and think, why not reflect on yourself and if there is any 'weeding' that can be done in your life to make way for growth. Too often, we get lost in the hustle and bustle of daily life, not taking time to reflect on how we got there and if there are habits or relationships that perhaps are taking over rather than enhancing us. Just focus on the small changes, perhaps you would like to spend more time with a friend, or spend more time outside and away from screens - all growth starts with the planting of a tiny seed, and maybe it is time to give it the space and light to grow.