Balanced Mind, Family Coach, Wellbeing Specialist & Clinical Hypnotherapist

25/05/2025

18/03/2025

On fire!!👣

11/01/2023

Hi everyone!!!

Wow 2023 has started with a BANG ‼️ for me.

1/ Got my drivers licence back
2/ I have a new additional business FB page called Pencil pARTy with Jane please take a quick look and a like would be appreciated. More will follow.

13/11/2022

Hello, I would like to let everyone know that I am taking tentative steps back into the work place. I want to firstly thank everyone who has stayed with me in my recovery, which has been far longer and harder than I could have ever imagined. Just before I was struck down and stopped working, I had completed a course in Drawing & Talking and became a Practitioner. I am now on their Kickstart Programme, so I want you to know that in the next couple of months I will be ready and able to take on clients, I will be working with children (5+), young people and adults. If you or someone you know is struggling with anxiety, confidence, bereavement or have, or are going through a traumatic event Drawing & Talking can help. It is a 1-1 intervention, run over 12 weeks, each session is 30 min and will be held in the same place at the same time every week for 12 weeks. If you wish to know more please feel free to DM me in the first instance and we can chat. Please feel free to share.

29/06/2022

Making plans for the summer holidays? We know times are tough for many families financially, so to help you get to the activities available through our get into summer programme (https://www.angus.gov.uk/schools_and_young_people/summer_funor?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=Orlo&utm_content=Holiday+food+and+fun.uk%2Fschools_and_young_people%2Fsummer_funor%3Futm_source%3DFacebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=Orlo&utm_content=Holiday+food+and+fun.uk%2Fschools_and_young_people%2Fsummer_funor%3Futm_source%3DFacebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=Orlo&utm_content=Holiday+food+and+fun.uk%2Fschools_and_young_people%2Fsummer_fun) or for a trip to the beach or park, we’re offering a family bus pass for Angus families! 🚌

One adult and any number of children can travel free on the bus in Angus every day from Thursday 30 June to Monday 15 August. You need to show the voucher on your phone to the bus drive. **We sent the pass out to school parents by email/text on 17 June. We'll send it out again by email/text before 30 June in case you missed it.**

There will also be a ASN taxi offer with transport available for travel throughout Angus using the approved operators. Information will be sent directly to families via the school groupcall (week beginning 27 June).

18/02/2022

I saw this today and thought it a great analogy. Feel free to share 🤗

02/01/2022

While I rebuild my life slowly. I’ve decided to push myself by signing up to cover 50 miles in January, I started today as yesterday wasn’t a good day for me (it happens). This is a fundraiser for the Maggie’s Dundee Centre.
So today I did just over 2.5 miles. As my (wise) sister said it is a challenge within a challenge!!!!

29/07/2021

For anyone with young children or teenagers

Dear Mum and Dad,

Please stick with me.

I can’t think clearly right now because there is a rather substantial section of my prefrontal cortex missing. It’s a fairly important chunk, something having to do with rational thought. You see, it won’t be fully developed until I’m about 25. And from where I sit, 25 seems a long way off.

But here's what i want my parents to know..

My brain is not yet fully developed

It doesn’t matter that I’m smart; even a perfect score on my math test doesn’t insulate me from the normal developmental stages that we all go through. Judgement and intelligence are two completely distinct things.

And, the same thing that makes my brain wonderfully flexible, creative and sponge-like also makes me impulsive. Not necessarily reckless or negligent but more impulsive than I will be later in life.

Please stick with me.

So when you look at me like I have ten heads after I’ve done something “stupid” or failed to do something “smart,” you’re not really helping.

You adults respond to situations with your prefrontal cortex (rationally) but I am more inclined to respond with my amygdala (emotionally). And when you ask, “What were you thinking?” the answer is I wasn’t, at least not in the way you are. You can blame me, or you can blame mother nature, but either way, it is what it is.

At this point in my life, I get that you love me, but my friends are my everything. Please understand that. Right now I choose my friends, but, don’t be fooled, I am watching you. Carefully.

Please stick with me.
......

Here’s what you can do for me

1. Model adulting.
I see all the behaviors that you are modeling and I hear all of the words you say. I may not listen but I do hear you. I seem impervious to your advice, like I’m wearing a Kevlar vest but your actions and words are penetrating. I promise. If you keep showing me the way, I will follow even if I detour many, many times before we reach our destination.

2. Let me figure things out for myself.

If you allow me to experience the consequences of my own actions I will learn from them. Please give me a little bit of leash and let me know that I can figure things out for myself. The more I do, the more confidence and resilience I will develop.

3. Tell me about you.

I want you to tell me all the stories of the crazy things you did as a teen, and what you learned from them. Then give me the space to do the same.

4. Help me with perspective.

Keep reminding me of the big picture. I will roll my eyes at you and make all kinds of grunt-like sounds. I will let you know in no uncertain terms that you can’t possibly understand any of what I’m going through. But I’m listening. I really am. It’s hard for me to see anything beyond the weeds that I am currently mired in. Help me scan out and focus on the long view. Remind me that this moment will pass.

5. Keep me safe.

Please remind me that drugs and driving don’t mix. Keep telling me that you will bail me out of any dangerous situation, no anger, no lectures, no questions asked. But also let me know over and over and over that you are there to listen, when I need you.

6. Be kind.

I will learn kindness from you and if you are relentless in your kindness to me, someday I will imitate that behavior. Don’t ever mock me, please and don’t be cruel. Humor me-I think I know everything. You probably did as well at my age. Let it go.

7. Show interest in the things I enjoy.

Some days I will choose to share my interests with you, and it will make me feel good if you validate those interests, by at least acting interested.

One day when the haze of adolescence lifts, you will find a confident, strong, competent, kind adult where a surly teenager once stood. In the meantime, buckle in for the ride.

and.. Please stick with me.

Love,

Your Teenager
....

By Helene Wingens
https://grownandflown.com/letter-from-teen-to-parents/

28/05/2021

This just has to be shared ❤️

22/04/2021

Don’t teach your children to win.
Teach them how to lose, without letting it affect their self-esteem.
Teach them how to help others lose well too.
Let them be the kid that waits behind to run with someone who can’t.
That kid will forge through life, mending, bonding, inspiring, creating yet maybe never winning a race.
That kid will have control of his own self-worth and not put it in the hands of so many variables.
That kid will have access to the peace that not requiring outside validation brings.
What a gift to one so young.
Don’t teach your children to win my friend, teach them to lose.
That’s the hardest lesson to learn.

Donna Ashworth
Book (https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08LRGWY74/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabt1_OYLVFbX4YR91V)