Sam Heald Counselling Services

10/09/2025

Cognition & Co - South African Psychology Student Network

10/09/2025

Interesting article especially now as we debate AI and its impact on the counselling space. What are your thoughts?
American Psychological Association

Unlike mental health professionals, chatbots are designed to keep you engaged—not necessarily to support your well-being.

Learn more about why ChatGPT shouldn't be your therapist: https://at.apa.org/a51dd1

07/09/2025

At The Teddy Bear Foundation, our work is grounded in one core belief: Sexual justice is a human right.

This means we fight for a world where every child and young person is safe, informed, and empowered to make choices about their bodies and health. This includes protecting the right of every pregnant learner to access education, healthcare, and support free from stigma and discrimination. The devastating HIV statistics for young women in SA show us exactly why this fight is so critical.

This World Sexual Health Day, we ask you to join us in making this right a reality.
* You can share this post to spread awareness.
* You can learn about bodily autonomy and consent.
* You can support our mission to protect South Africa's youth.

Together, we can build a future of justice, respect, and health for all, because every child deserves nothing less.

04/09/2025

September is su***de prevention awareness month. Death by su***de and experiencing feelings of wanting to die are not talked about. Much like the word cancer years ago, sucide continues an association of stigma and secrecy. Sucide is not just chosen by individuals with mental health struggles. Often it is seen to come out of the blue, as people and teens mask being ok.
Let’s spread awareness and normalise conversations about sucide and sucidality. A cry for help is not a means to manipulate, it is a scream in the darkness.
Credit
Credit Alliance of Hope for Su***de Loss Survivors

“September is National Su***de Prevention Awareness Month—a time when many organizations and media outlets share warning signs, resources, and inspirational messages. Some of those messages tell us that ‘Su***de is Preventable.’ Some organizations go as far as to say that ‘Su***de is 100% Preventable.’

“Su***de loss survivors tell me they view ‘prevention’ campaigns with mixed feelings. While everyone wants su***de to be preventable, many feel that assertion is unrealistic, or overly simplistic, because it is not at all in line with the reality of what they experienced. Many say that prevention messages leave them feeling guilty, upset and fearful of being judged—as if they ‘dropped the ball’ and hence their loved one died.

“Over time, I’ve realized how many loss survivors feel alone with these thoughts. They suffer in silence, reluctant to share their own experience in the face of large-scale campaigns led by mental health experts. And they don’t want to criticize a campaign that just might do some good.

“Recently, a survivor on the Alliance of Hope Forum asked other members for their thoughts on the ‘Su***de is Preventable’ campaign.’ The responses she received from other survivors reflected a variety of experiences and opinions. Here are just a few: ...” ~Ronnie Walker

(☟Read the full essay on our blog and share your thoughts) https://allianceofhope.org/what-we-learn-when-survivors-discuss-the-su***de-is-preventable-campaign/

***de ***deloss ***delosssurvivor ***delosssupport.

03/09/2025

The Depression Project

02/09/2025

This affects our tweens and teens.
Cyber bullying and sextortion is on the rise.
This may feel an uncomfortable or difficult conversation to have with your child. But it better than the severe psychological and emotional damage that not having the conversation can cause, when our children are coerced or targeted.
One way to approach it is this.
BefoPixie Pink - Victims' Advocatecture think…
Would I show this picture to my mum, aunty, granny, teacher? Would I mind if other people saw it?
You NEVER have to take, send or post a n**e or suggestive picture.
Thank you Pixie Pink - Victims' Advocate

Sextortion is on the rise, and it's important that parents and young people alike understand the importance of digital safety to prevent these crimes. Learn more about how to start the conversation here: https://parents.thorn.org/topics/sexting-n**es/

01/09/2025

Donna Ashworth

And so begins the season of letting go.

Consume and stockpile all of summer’s bounty as she waves farewell for another year. Thank her for generous warmth and abundance.

New month. New chapter. Let go.

And let’s go…

Donna

❤️

31/08/2025

Beautiful 🌈Josh Helfgott

Love isn’t confusing🙌🌈

30/08/2025

Saturday reminder ☺️
Donna Ashworth

A DAY IS NOT LOST

A day is not lost if you failed to tick off a list,
or a diet was broken.

A day is only lost if you forgot to say something kind to yourself, or another.

If you forgot to pause and search for a tiny spark of beauty amongst the drudgery,
glimmering like gold in the mud.

A day is only lost if you forgot that life, even in the worst of times, is still a gift.

A gift you so very much deserve to live through
and not just survive.

Donna Ashworth

This is included in my new fully illustrated book ‘Joy Chose You’
Available to pre order now

Art by one of my favourite artists Bettina Baldassari -.

28/08/2025

Psychotherapy Central

26/08/2025

So often we react to the behaviour but what if we looked for the unmet need.

Credit .and.montessori

Every “bad” behavior is an UNMET need 💛