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https://ramblingpsychotherapist.co.uk/, https://ramblingpsychotherapist.co.uk/index.php/courses/

The Rambling Psychotherapist, Leeds (2025)

19/09/2025

The Great British Beach Clean kicks off today and is running between the 19th -28th September.

This is a drive which I feel is worthy of our attention - the beach is another one of the places where I can find peace (for those of you who saw my post earlier this week), but not only that, it is a significant ecosystem which is being degraded by human action.

Our beautiful, natural environments get so much abuse from visitors, it is often devastating to see the impacts humans can have on these wonderful nourishing spaces and the flora and fauna that live within them. So, I like to do my bit where I can.

I always, without fail, make sure I clear up after myself whenever visiting an outdoor space; I try to leave it in such a condition that you would never know I had been there. And I often take a bag along with me to beach walks and wild swims in order to clear up some of the random bits of rubbish that people leave behind.

It's not just 'nature' that is impacted by the poor behaviour of humans, if you look at the stats, we humans are being heavily impacted too. So, it's in everyone's favour when we take responsibility for this stuff.

Your actions, no matter how small, have an impact. Will you join in the Great British Beach Clean?

16/09/2025

In the background, my life has been pretty 'interesting' lately, and I am finding it necessary to remind myself of the need to resource myself well.

I share this, not to garner any sympathy, but to show, in part, that we therapists don't reach a hallowed state of being impervious to the trials of life, and we do have to walk our talk, particularly when things get tough.

And if we are not impervious, the chances are you aren't either, so this is also my reminder to you, that you aren't necessarily as alone as you might think, if you are struggling with what life has to throw at you right now.

As part of my resourcing the other day, I spent some time reading one of my favourite magazines from the and I encountered some pretty poignant and very timely words from , in which she asked the question 'Where do you find peace?' and shared some of the spaces in which she finds moments of peace.

It inspired me to think about my own places of peace, some of which I am sharing here today with an invitation to you to think about your version too.

Sometimes we just need that reminder to think about where we might seek places of safe harbour and moments of respite. Because it's really hard to remember to think at all when you are in the firing line.

If you feel so compelled, maybe you might join me in the comments to share your peaceful spaces 🕊

12/09/2025

Our brains are seemingly hardwired to pay more attention to the negative in our lives.

Studies have shown that we tend to remember traumatic experiences better than positive ones, recall negative feedback better than praise, think about negative things more frequently than positive ones, and respond more intensely to negative events than to ones which are equally positive. Our decision making is also often more influenced by negative information than that of a more positive nature too.

So, it can often require a conscious effort for us to focus on the positive.

But if we try to eliminate the negative from our lives entirely and just focus on 'love and light', we are actually actively overriding some of our in-built survival mechanisms and this approach can have some major consequences.

So, why are we so often called to think positively?

Evidence would suggest, that when we choose to actively engage with more positive thinking, it can influence how we perceive our experiences in life, by bringing a little more balance to our perspective. This can help us to make better decisions, be more creative in our problem solving and to perceive more opportunities. This, in my mind, can't be a bad thing now can it.

The key to positive thinking being a useful strategy, is in the balance. You don't want to eradicate your ability to gauge when a situation or a person is harmful, but equally you can also have an appreciation for some of the positive aspects of a situation which may be more supportive.

I personally love a bit of daily gratitude practice to remind me of the goodness that I'm surrounded by 😊

Happy Positive Thinking Day!

10/09/2025

It is World Su***de Prevention Day today.

It can be really distressing to learn that someone you care about is having thoughts about ending their life, and su***de and suicidal thoughts have become a really taboo topic in our society.

This really needs to change, because it stops people who are struggling from accessing the support which could benefit them. It sends people who are feeling overwhelmed and under-supported underground, because they don't want the people around them to think less of them, and/or to distress the people they care about.

We need to get comfortable talking about this stuff.

So, how do you address this?

💚 Learn to spot the signs - people who are feeling suicidal will often: distance themselves or not reply to messages ❕ talk about feeling worthless, hopeless or trapped ❕ not do the things they usually enjoy ❕ find day-to-day tasks difficult ❕ Invite them to talk about it.

💛 Don't be afraid to ask if someone might be having suicidal thoughts. It is far better to be clear in your communication. People who have been suicidal have often said it is a relief to talk about thoughts they are experiencing. Just being there to listen and showing you care can help.

💙 Recognise that someone expressing suicidal ideation is a marker of the level of distress and overwhelm they are feeling, and not a personal statement about how they feel about you and your relationship. It can be really hard to hear that a loved one is feeling this way, but it does not mean they don't care about you.

🧡 Recognise your limits. You can be an empathic listening ear, but professional help is also available. The Samaritans provide a 24 hour call service (call 116 123) where anyone who is struggling can access an empathic ear at any point. If you have real concerns that your friend or loved one is about to take imminent action, you can also call 999 (in the UK, 112 in Ireland) and ask for an ambulance.

❤️ Recognise the impact of this on you, and get support too. The Samaritans can help here as well.

Having things out in the open has a huge impact. Don't underestimate it!

05/09/2025

It's International Day of Charity

Some of you may know, but for those who do not, I volunteer for an amazing charity who support people to get together, share the joys of outdoor swimming and speak up about their mental health.

Our little Leeds based group meets once a month on a Saturday morning to share some much needed wellbeing time.

We (Sunshine Digital Media and I) also host every now and then a specialist group event for small business owners.

Our next general group swim is on Saturday 20th September, and our next business owners swim is on the 12th.

If you would like to attend either, book your place using the following links

https://events.more-human.co.uk/event/dip-for-small-business-owners-with-mental-health-swims-st-aidans-leeds-1

https://events.more-human.co.uk/event/community-dip-with-mental-health-swims-st-aidans-leeds-24

01/09/2025

It was National Beach Day yesterday and International Beach Day today.

So many people enjoy the experience of having a day out at the beach, but the benefits of spending time there extend way beyond just having a bit of nice time out.

Here are some of the ways that studies have shown being near the sea is known to benefit you:

🌊 Reduces stress - The sound of the waves, the smell of the salt air, the blue hues and the expansive horizon can all have a calming effect on the nervous system. Spending time in blue space is known to lower levels of cortisol, a stress hormone.

🌊 Improves mood - Spending time at the beach can help shift your mindset and boost your mood. It can also increase your levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that plays a role in positive mood regulation.

🌊 Increases creativity - Being in nature has been shown to boost creativity! Studies found that spending time in nature enhances our ability to problem solve and approach situations in new and creative ways.

🌊 Encourages physical activity - Swimming, boating and walking on the beach are all great ways to get exercise. Physical activity is essential for both physical and mental health!

🌊 Boosts mental and physical wellbeing - Lets not forget that wherever there is moving water, we also find negative ions. The impact of negative ion exposure can include reduction in symptoms of depression and a boost to immune function.

Spending time in a beautiful place, doing nice things and getting all the positive health rewards - What's not to like?

I don't currently live close to the coast, but I do visit as often as time allows.

How about you?

26/08/2025

Warning - New Start Incoming!

For many people, no matter how long ago you left education, and no matter whether or not you are supporting people whose schedules are governed by terms, September feels like a bit of a re-set point.

In terms of seasonal cycles, this fits. We have started to bring in the harvest and now is a time to be looking at what projects need to be finished by the end of the year. In times long since passed, we would be beavering away until winter to prep ourselves to navigate the leaner months.

And, guess what? Although the vast majority of us have access to food on demand seven days a week, our bodies haven't evolved much beyond our hunter gatherer ancestors and we still need to have productivity and rest cycles.

You are highly likely to have expended a lot of energy this summer, so just bear in mind, when you are committing yourself to new things this September, that your resources might be lower than you imagine and you might need them to prioritise finishing off things which are already underway. Also bear in mind, that those energy resources will steadily deplete as the year progresses and it will be harder to replenish as the winter approaches.

Autumn is a time of doing the things which are necessary and finding ways to resource yourself that will help see you through the low energy times.

Okay, public service announcement complete for the day. Hope you all enjoy the official end of holiday season and roll seamlessly into September when it arrives next week ☺️

18/08/2025

Just in case you missed it the other week, it's not too late to catch up on the latest installment of the blog before the next one is due in a couple of weeks time.

This time, I talk a little about the plethora of information and approaches to mental and emotional healing that you can find on the internet and how this can be a little off putting, when the reality is that healing journeys are never one-size-fits all. I also list the bare bones that underpin most people's 'successful strategies' and encourage you to think about what approaches might suit you rather than following an out of the box system.

Grab yourself a cuppa and a cosy spot for ten minutes and follow the link to get reading https://ramblingpsychotherapist.co.uk/index.php/2025/07/17/a-mothers-love-part-4/

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15/08/2025

Did you know that a particular part of our eyes are made up of fractal structures, and that when we spend time in the outdoors, perceiving fractal structures like trees, a relaxation response occurs in our nervous systems?

It's a bit like a perfectly fitting jigsaw piece slots into place and presses the 'we can calm down now' button.

As I said earlier in the week, I am currently having a few days off to enjoy my own version of relaxation, but as it's National Relaxation Day today, I thought I would pre-schedule a little post to share this awesome piece of information.

As part of my time off, I booked in for a couple of hours of forest bathing with the fab guys from .and.heath so I could dive into some deep rejuvenating relaxation. Not only do they run these fabulous community events at the , but these guys have also developed an amazing app that will teach you the ins and outs of forest bathing, in your own chosen space and in your own time.

Follow this link to the play store https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=co.uk.hawkandheath.hawkandheath&pli=1 to download the app, and if you use the code RAMPSY10 at the checkout, you'll get a nifty little discount off your membership.

13/08/2025

Happy birthday to me 🥳

I'm having a few days off to celebrate the fact that I have lived life to the full through another entire revolution around the sun.

I'm finding it quite remarkable, that in the not too distant future, I will have been doing this thing called life for half a century (that still sounds like a very long time). Lots has changed over the years in my attitude, including my beliefs about what makes someone old, and how much of your sh*t you can be expected to have together by certain ages.

I have come to the conclusion that life is what you make of it in any given moment, so for the next few days you will find me frolicking in water, haunting the woods, and maybe even seeking out some eagles eye type perspective in the hills - basically I will be doing what I enjoy the most.

It might not be everyone's cup of chai, but I have learned over the years not to compare so heavily my likes and dislikes to those of others.

I'll see you when I return.

In the meantime, watch out for my pre-scheduled post on Friday for National Relaxation Day.

09/08/2025

I might have a bit of a problem...

You see, I am a self-confessed book lover and today is Book Lover's Day.

I have a book habit, so I have taken this photo of a section of my tidiest book case, to remind myself that just because today is a day of massive jubilation, I should not use that as an excuse to buy more books 😂

Ever since I was tiny, even before I could actually read, I have delighted in the experience of spending time with a book. The tactility of a book, turning the pages and smelling the scent of the paper is a glorious experience in its own right, in my humble opinion.

Don't get me wrong, a book's content is important too. I love to read, over a wide variety of genres and subjects, so my book shelves look to be quite eclectic and very well stocked.

Diving into a book is one of my greatest pleasures in life.

I have read some fabulous and thought provoking writing recently, so I will share my favourites with you now, just in case you are on the look out for recommendations and have not issued yourself a self-imposed book buying ban:

📖 Elif Shafak - The Forty Rules of Love and There are Rivers in the Sky 📖 this writer crafts the most beautifully spun tales, weaving lives together across centuries. She is exceptionally talented in my eyes. I absolutely devoured both novels and will (when my ban is lifted) be getting more.

📖Dr Anna Lembke - Dopamine Nation 📖 I think everyone I know could benefit from reading this book. It was a real eye opener.

📖Brian Klaas - Fluke 📖 only dive into this book if you want to find yourself questioning virtually everything you think you know about the way the world works. It's a real thought provoker.

Are you a book lover?

What do you love to read?

05/08/2025

Play stops us from stagnating.

We think, as adults, that our days of play have been left long behind, but evidence would suggest that play is absolutely essential throughout the entirety of our lives.

Play fires our creativity, improves our problem solving skills, helps us build trust and intimacy with others, and encourages us to try new things. It strengthens our relationships and keeps us forming new neural pathways which help us to stave off brain atrophy as we age.

And yet so many people think of play as being a ridiculous activity for grown-ups.

I personally disagree! I love to integrate play into my daily life.

The good news is, it doesn't have to be structured or formal in any way. You can absolutely capitalise on a moment of play, whenever and wherever the mood takes you.

It brings an element of spontaneous joy to life. I think that's a good thing.

What are your thoughts?

Join me in the comments to discuss ☺️

Tomorrow is play day in the UK. Will you take the opportunity to engage in a moment of playfulness?

The Rambling Psychotherapist

19/09/2025

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12/09/2025

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05/09/2025

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Monday	11am - 8pm
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