Lesley Gent Counselling

05/07/2021

I realise I have been very quiet on my business page. The truth of it being that all of us (therapists included) have had our challenges over the last year. I have been taking extra training over the last year and am able to offer remote counselling via video call and telephone as well as seeing clients face-to-face. Some clients are happy to meet face-to-face again (Covid-safe environment), but if that is not you, then you can still access support.
I have noticed that as the world has been opening up a little more each day, individuals that were 'holding it together' are now finding they need some support to offload some of what they have been 'holding'. So if that is you, or someone you know, maybe some therapeutic support could make all the difference.

05/11/2020

In these challenging, uncertain times please take care of yourselves. Your mental and physical wellbeing is so important. Please do not be afraid to reach out for support. We all need help at times.........
Many counsellors are moving their services online. Directories can be easily accessed via various websites, that include; psychologytoday.com, counselling-directory.org.uk, bacp.co.uk, nationalcounsellingsociety.org........to name a few.

14/10/2020

I watched this video interview today, with Gail Porter. In it, she speaks about her experiences in life and most recently the infamy she has found through discussion of her own mental health. I am so passionate about mental health and feel very privileged that I get to work within such a compassionate environment and industry (is that the right word?).To quote Gail “there are good people out there.......don’t be afraid to ask for help”
For those of you who can afford to access private therapy have a look on the following sites: https://www.bacp.co.uk/, https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb and https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/ to name a few.
There are other sites you can access immediately for support, which include; https://www.samaritans.org/, https://www.kooth.com/ and https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/drugs-and-treatments/talking-therapy-and-counselling/about-talking-therapies/.
Your local GP and NHS will also have information on mental health support services.
Mental health is important to look after. We all suffer at times. Help yourself or someone you know to look after their mental health. Reach out.........it may make all the difference.

https://youtu.be/w-9wCFBI-no

I had the honour of speaking with Gail Porter about her incredible life and the struggles she has had to face around her mental health and dealing with traum...

03/07/2020

I originally saw the “3 Stages of Pandemic Response” toward the beginning of lockdown. It was being shared over various forums and the response to it was daunting for me. Individuals would confidently report that they were definitely in either ‘Acceptance’ or ‘Growth’; I found I was more often in ‘Survival’, with an occasional visit to ‘Acceptance’. Did this mean I was somehow not coping as well as others? Or were others perhaps unwilling to admit they were struggling? At times clients have assumed that, as a therapist, I must be ‘sorted’; never getting anything wrong, knowing how to respond at all times and never shouting. The reality is - I am human like everyone else and just as fallible.

Like many others I have had to learn to balance a different way of being; homeschooling, working from home, increased vigilance and thoughts of safety on a daily basis etc. Stress has increased and freedoms have been reduced. Add this to any issues that may have been present to begin with (or new ones that come along), it is understandable that many of us are finding that although we may have adapted at the start, things are more difficult as time moves forward. And the ‘not knowing’ of how the future will look can be scary and unsettling. And although restrictions are now easing, I am finding that many are feeling more anxious at the prospect of ‘returning to normal’.

I have been struck by how quickly habits have changed and how we can adapt to a different way of being in a short space of time; and how, equally, the ending of these new ‘safer’ ways of being is proving frightening and very hard to do, for many. I am lucky that, within my profession, there are endless layers of support; some mandatory, some by choice. I am also lucky that I have been able to adapt to a new way of working with my clients. I can work remotely via telephone and video calls, until it is safe to meet face-to-face once again. Be kind and patient with yourselves. If you need support for whatever reason, please reach out. Just because you may not be in the ‘Growth’ phase, does not mean that you are failing.

04/04/2020

I got a new book today - “The Boy, the mole, the fox and the horse” by Charlie Mackesy.
I saw it months ago and secretly hoped someone would get it me for Christmas........Today it came in the post. And although no one did buy it for me, I am glad I bought it and it seems so serendipitous that I finally got around to buying it now........in these unsettling times. It seems I can open the book anywhere and the words and beautiful artistry speak volumes to me........offer me comfort.

We are all in uncertain times and those issues we had before all this began, are still there too. It just feels ‘more’ at times; maybe even sometimes, a little bit too much. Wise friends have said over the years “trust in the universe” and at times of struggle, I have doubted those words, not really understanding.......feeling that was too wishy-washy for me.

To be honest, I am not sure I understand any more now, than I did then. The difference is that I know, despite bad times, despite uncertainty, the world keeps on turning. It is up to us how we choose to react and respond. And it is a strength, not a weakness to ask for help. We are greater together than alone. Maybe “the universe” is what persuaded me to buy the book now?

02/04/2020

Vital tips for protecting our mental health right now. Something we're particularly struggling with at the moment is limiting the amount of news and information that we consume. It's one thing to know what's going on, but often we find that, actually, we aren't learning anything new, and the stuff that we're listening to/reading is causing huge anxiety. We can't control the situation we find ourselves in, but we can create the best environment possible for ourselves within this strange situation.
​📷 (on IG) with tips from the BBC
​
​
​Image description: Illustration titled: 'How to protect your mental health through coronavirus'. It depicts the top of a person's head, with closed eyes, and one tear. Above their head, the image is divided into sections, each dedicated to a different tip, with accompanying illustrations. The whole image is in shades of blue, pink, black and white. These are:
'​Avoid Burnout. Get fresh air, eat well, exercise' - Accompanied by illustrations of a person jogging, some fruit and a bee
​'Limit the news and be careful what you read' - Accompanied by an illustration of a person looking stressed surrounded by newspapers
​'Have breaks from social media and mute things which are triggering' - Accompanied by a person sitting on a giant phone as if it were a yoga mat, and meditating
​'Wash your hands...but not excessively' - Accompanied by an illustration of two hands with water falling from a tap
​'Stay connected with people' - Accompanied by a person chatting to someone else on a video call
​The artist of this image is (on IG) and the tips are from the BBC

05/03/2020

29/02/2020

The last day of February and the year seems to be hurtling along. Already this year there seem to be challenges abounding; some big, some small, some tragic and thankfully, some good moments in between. It is so easy to lose sight of these good moments when it feels you are surrounded by overwhelming challenges too.
Several years ago, when I was doing my training, we were asked to present a review on something we had read or watched. Something that had been useful to us, or opened our way of thinking, that we wanted to share with colleagues. I have never been a natural public speaker and this was a daunting and slightly terrifying ordeal for me.
I knew instantly what I wanted to talk about, but everyone else seemed to be presenting very grown up and intellectual items that I kept quiet and hid away until there was no avoiding it anymore. I picked a beautiful little book called 365 Gratefuls (https://images.app.goo.gl/AYup3ftTnzbM1Gev8).
The book was put together (using their own and others experiences) by an individual who was struggling with mental health and how they eventually found their way back to contentment, through practicing gratefulness. Having had my own challenges with mental ill health, this tiny, beautifully written and presented book was a reminder to look for the good in each day. Even in our darkest and most challenging moments, there is something there to remind us of better days that have been or are yet to come. We cannot stay in the darkness for ever.
Wishing you all.......moments to be grateful for...

13/01/2020

January can often be seen as THE bleakest month of the year. The darkness of the days can feel never ending and oppressive and yet it is the time of year we often undertake New Year resolutions. As if there is something wrong with us as a person and if we only stick to our resolutions we will be a better person, a nicer person, an improved version of ourself.
I haven’t set any resolutions at all this year.........I never stick to them anyway. And I have had a radical thought; what if I am actually OK as I am? What if I relaxed a little bit and accepted myself, just as I am? Would that be enough? After all, I am human, with all the flaws and imperfections that go along with that. What if we are ALL fundamentally ‘enough’ just as we are? Wouldn’t that be something? Maybe it is time to accept those slightly imperfect parts of ourselves..........

27/10/2019

It’s really handy to try to remember that we don’t all see the world in the same way. It doesn’t mean that there’s anything wrong with any of us........we’re just different!! ❤️💗

24/10/2019

Even as therapists we can have those imperfect, difficult times that seem to sap all your energies..........then something like this happens and reminds you that all is not bleak! 🙂

10/10/2019

For World Mental Health Day...........

The problem comes if you let the thoughts win. If you fail to see that you are not your thoughts, and you do not have to act on them, or let your thoughts make you feel ashamed when you have done nothing wrong.

https://harleytherapy.com/blog/posts/i-am-having-suicidal-thoughts-what-can-i-do

💜💜💜
*If you or someone else is in a crisis or immediate danger, call emergency services, go to your nearest A&E, or call the Samaritans on 116 123.