A.L-Therapies

13/05/2024

Well, the months have passed and I apologise for the again lack of communication...I have put it in my diary for next time and whats funny is I need to remember to put the reminder in my diary but have no system to remind me of that task! As I write it is windy and rainy a far cry from a couple of days ago when the sun was shining and it probably bought a smile to peoples faces and todays weather? a frown?? We can either succumb to allow the weather to impact our mood or choose to rise above it, be intentional to think about what blessings might come with the rainy days .....one of mine is getting on with jobs IN the house that I would not want to do if its sunny outside...jobs outside are for the sunny days and vice versa....sounds obvious but actually it does motivate me to plan and get things done and not procrastinate. Maybe a challenge for any readers this month is to tackle to mundane / uninspiring indoor tasks when its raining, tick them off in a satisfying manner so when the sun comes out again you can really enjoy it knowing the indoor tasks are sorted! I know its not that black and white in life and not everyone likes the sunshine when its too hot.....but even a sunny day can be best used by planning ahead and being intentional.

23/02/2024

Well, another few months has passed and my good intentions for a monthly post has failed miserably again....OT wait...why think so negatively...its like people who say " isnt the weather miserable"...( if its raining!) How we define what we do, what we see and experience, what could be seen as a failure... can be the make or break of us trying again or feeling ok.

OK, I missed the deadline but my last two months or more haven't been a failure....reflecting on why I don't post as often as I thought I should is likely a combination of factors which I think we can apply to other areas of our life when we find things left undone:

Factors : 1. The level of importance it holds for me or others
2. The consequence if it doesn't happen
3. My motivation and what feeds it or squashes it
4. Its priority in the scheme of other things

Like the miserable weather statement ( which I always challenge if I hear it...." is it miserable or is i just wet and by the way I don't feel miserable because its wet!" My perceived failure at not fulfilling a plan in a timely manner can be re-phrased as:

I'm sorry...these last two month other events have occupied my mind and I guess I did not activate the organisational and motivational skills in a timely way to write something.... until now! so heres the blog / thought for the month or season!

Don"t make promises or have intentions to do things at a certain time or in a certain way when we know without a doubt that life can throw things at us and put a stop or delay in place....instead maybe approach life with an attitude of: If I manage to do this or that it will be great but I am going to be honest with myself and others that in life we are not in control of everything...and therefore there is no guarantee that I will manage to do what I want when I want to do....so I cant be disappointed if it doesn't happen....but I can celebrate if it does!

Look at nature this springtime and right now small buds are appearing, new growth is seen amongst the dead leaves and so much more....see the glistening of a rain drop hanging from a twig or leaf. Small things we often miss in nature and likewise we often miss celebrating the detail, the ordinary, the obvious....being able to breathe, wash, hold hands, sense cold and hot and rain!, phone a friend, hug ....and so much more of every day occupations of life we forget the beauty and importance of.

07/12/2023

Based in Devon near Plymouth, our occupational therapy services cater to all ages. We offer a free consultation to discuss your needs and optimize function despite illness or injury. Our nationwide services are fully insured and HCPC registered. Contact us today.

30/11/2023

Good intentions ( and when not written in diary ) clearly dont happen - my plan to post monthly....sory for anyone checking it out and seeing inactivity. The change in weather from mild to wet to sun and today cold and windy made me think of the unforeseen changes we can all sometimes face....could be a small ridiculous thing like a light bulb going out and none in the house to replace it so irritating especially if in a place we need light! or it could be a much greater change like our health changing or sudden loss of a loved one. Some changes are ones that we have to adapt to (not saying thats easy) but some are ones that can be helped if we take action ( such as going to the shop to stock up on the light bulb!) . A.L- Therapies helps people deal with changes such as reduced mobility, arthritis, loss of independence in tasks, coping with a young person who has autism and has anxiety, maybe stops going to school.....and so much more.

I would like to use this post to bring your attention to my husband who is a counsellor and offers support through counselling for a range of needs and to all ages....he has a background in care and also working in schools as a special needs teaching assistant. Sometimes children who are struggling in school may need their self esteem boosted, a new approach to learning, sometimes just acceptance for who they are.

I would encourage anyone who is struggling and may be helped by either of our services to get in touch for a free no obligation chat. Sometimes a little short term piece of help can make a long lasting and big difference in your life.

https://al-therapies.co.uk/

https://www.andrewlaidlawcounselling.com/

Based in Devon near Plymouth, our occupational therapy services cater to all ages. We offer a free consultation to discuss your needs and optimize function despite illness or injury. Our nationwide services are fully insured and HCPC registered. Contact us today.

05/09/2023

Life doesnt go to plan at times due to a lack of intentionality....thats me ! I had ideas of weekly posts and now 2 months later and no posts that idea seems to have fallen by the wayside! BUT if you have ever had an idea and then its not worked out don't give up....just give yourself permission to try and again and maybe do it differently....we are human and mistakes are part of lies journey.

Do I dare suggest I will add a post monthly ! Let try it and my plan begins with a note in my diary ! an appointment to keep that I need to see as important and worthwile....so watch this space !

31/07/2023

My page is being relaunched here with weekly thoughts from me. Please check out my web site ( also under construction)
https://al-therapies.co.uk/

06/01/2021

Education at home during Lockdown - tips to overcome the trauma of it! I am not an expert as an educator, but I am sharing from experience and knowledge from three platforms:
Firstly - Having home educated my children in previous years ( they were secondary school age - school yrs 9 to 11)
Secondly - Over 35 years as an Occupational Therapist with a significant number of those years working in child and adolescent mental health.
Thirdly - A christian ( what has that go to do with education you may ask...well God loves and is interested in everyones life and wellbeing. So as a christian I take all burdens and challenges to God in prayer ...he understands, guides helps.

If juggling different ages and you havent devices or enough devices to access internet or school based learning videos / live lessons please do not worry or fret....its ok to do the best you can with what you have! You can teach your child/ren valuable life lessons by how they see you handle stress and obstacles ...so take a deep breath and count to 10 and think outside of the box...

Tips -
Learn through play and doing so the fight or worry about accessing internet and laptops doesnt paralyse you.
Let your childs interests be a platform for learning as this will motivate them to be engaged...think how you can create english, maths and basic science learning opportunities from their interest.
Contact me for ideas...

Little- its better to have little simple goals that they achieve and can have a reward for than complicating tasks...remember that children need to move so give a home based breaktimes like they have in school.

Being home means you are not restricted to chair and desk learning...learning from lying on the floor can work too.
Participating in cooking, in board games, in indoor obstacle courses, in making junk models....can all include maths questions, english challenges, and science.

Be prepared and structure enough to keep a focus without being so rigid that if it fails you dont end up feeling you've failed.

Your sanity and mental health and that of your children come first...so the fresh air once a day exercise is vital and plan it to be fun and long enough to give everyone a good break from the indoor learning. Use if you have one your own garden for extra outdoor time.

Choice and ask- if your child/ren are of an age they have ideas of their own re what theme, subject and how they want to discover more about it, then allow choice within safe and practical boundaries.

Time - a school day at home is not the same as school - you can achieve a lot in a morning without needing to have all the afternoon stuffed with learning ...small chunks of 15 to 30 minutes and variety keeps the focus....
Be adventurous....use the internet and search for home educator sites for ideas - remember think out of the box and that learning is not restricted to pens, papers, desks and chairs !!

Using as many senses as possible helps learning...touch it, make it, smell it, see it, talk about it....hear it.....experience it....

You are not alone in the challenge.