Many of our adult behaviours are shaped by hidden rules we learned in childhood—unspoken strategies we developed to feel safe, accepted, or loved. These patterns often run beneath our awareness, influencing how we relate, respond to stress, and make decisions. By exploring your unique childhood blueprint, you can uncover the roots of these behaviours and begin to choose new ways of being that align with who you truly want to be.
True mental health is about resilience, not avoidance. Real peace comes from inner strength, not external control. Counselling helps build emotional regulation, assertive communication, and self-trust.
This article discusses mindfulness, its benefits for stress reduction, emotional regulation, and focus, along with practical techniques like breath awareness, body scans, mindful walking, and eating. It highlights the importance of integrating mindfulness into daily life for overall well-being, supported by research.
Therapy helps children express emotions, develop coping skills, and improve behaviour. Gestalt play therapy, based on Violet Oaklander’s work, uses play to foster self-awareness and emotional growth. Most children show progress within 12 to 20 sessions, with parental support playing a key role in lasting positive change.
Balancing multiple jobs is a reality for many South Africans, but it often comes at the cost of mental and physical well-being. Juggling different roles can lead to exhaustion, stress, and work-life imbalance. Research shows that job overload and work-family conflict negatively impact overall health and performance. To navigate this, setting firm boundaries, prioritising self-care, and seeking support are essential. Small, mindful adjustments can help prevent burnout and create a more sustainable routine. If the pressure becomes overwhelming, reaching out for professional guidance can make all the difference.
Independent sleep fosters emotional resilience, cognitive growth, and school readiness. Quality sleep enhances learning and self-regulation, while dependence on external cues can hinder development. By establishing routines and self-soothing techniques, parents can help children sleep independently, building confidence for school and life.
Recovering from infidelity is never a simple yes-or-no decision. While some experts believe in walking away, others argue that healing is possible—if both partners commit to rebuilding the relationship. Key factors include ending the affair, acknowledging the pain inflicted, and ensuring that infidelity was not used to cause harm. This article explores when a relationship can be salvaged, when it may be better to leave, and the complexities of the healing process.
Emotional regulation is a crucial skill for maintaining balance in life, ensuring that our emotions do not overwhelm or disrupt our daily functioning. Many struggle with processing their emotions, mistaking it for regulation, but the two are distinct. Regulation involves managing the intensity and expression of emotions, while processing means understanding their source and meaning. By developing emotional regulation skills, we can navigate challenges without relying on unhelpful coping mechanisms. Learn practical strategies, from pausing before reacting to engaging in self-compassion, to enhance your ability to regulate emotions effectively.
For 13 years, we’ve lived the unique rhythm of expat life—a journey filled with challenges, growth, and endless adjustments. In this series, I share personal stories about navigating life as an expat family, the sacrifices we’ve made, the rewards we’ve reaped, and the lessons learned along the way. Join me as I delve into the complexities of living abroad, from building support systems to finding resilience in the face of constant change.
In a world where stress and anxiety have become part of daily life, children are not immune to these challenges. As a parent, your role in helping your child manage these emotions is crucial. This article offers ten practical strategies to support your child, from encouraging open communication and practicing mindfulness to limiting screen time and fostering creativity. By creating a positive home environment and modeling healthy coping mechanisms, you can empower your child to navigate stress effectively.
January brings fresh starts and lofty resolutions, but it can also unleash the "New Year Beast"—a mix of post-holiday letdown, pressure, and self-doubt. By embracing self-awareness, setting flexible intentions, and prioritizing self-care, you can tame this beast and start the year with balance and positivity.
Divorce is a life-altering event that brings emotional and psychological challenges, impacting individuals and families alike. Post-divorce counselling offers a supportive space for healing, personal growth, and fostering resilience, helping individuals navigate this transition and rebuild their lives.
Explore how to create meaningful New Year's resolutions that reflect your true desires, values, and goals. This article guides you in ensuring your resolutions are authentic and achievable.
As Valentine's Day approaches, the air is filled with messages of romantic love and affection. However, amidst the celebrations of couples and partnerships, it's important to remember the profound value of self-love and the joy of embracing solitude. In this article, we'll explore the concept of loneliness, why it's essential to cultivate a positive relationship with yourself, and the benefits of finding joy in your own company.
Attachment styles are not genetically inherited, however they often pass down from parents to their children. Unfortunately parenting is not formally taught, and thus individuals tend to do what they learned from their own parenting experiences
We all experience some sort of loss in our lives. The experience is different for everyone. It is so easy for some of us to forget what that pain was like and for others, they never forget.
Similar to the Love Languages, a framework developed by Gary Chapman to explain the way in which people give and receive love, each one of us also has a preferred Apology Language. This means that we all have an unconscious preference as to how we like to express or receive an apology.
In our diverse world, it is essential for mental health professionals to recognize and embrace the concept of neurodiversity. Neurodivergent individuals, who have unique neurological differences such as autism, ADHD, or other conditions, require a counselling approach that understands and respects their specific needs. By adopting a person-centred and inclusive approach, counsellors can provide effective support and empower neurodivergent individuals to navigate life's challenges with confidence and resilience.
What is the significance of coping mechanisms in managing life's challenges, and how can individuals effectively utilise coping strategies to promote their mental and emotional well-being?
Although loss is a universal experience, there are considerable differences in how people grieve- this is especially true with teenagers. Although teenagers are aware of the emotional impact and long term implications of losing someone close to them, their reactions to death are often very intense.
Why do we downplay the fact that men also struggle with their mental health? Or is it because we are so accustomed to men being strong leaders and role models, being tough and not showing any emotion, because ‘boys don’t cry’, right? Why do we put so much emphasis on mental health being something that only women experience, meanwhile men are suffering in silence.
To achieve emotional and psychological well-being, some therapeutic philosophies view the inner child as a distinct element of the self that needs to be recognized, loved, and healed.
We have all heard the saying... "You can't pour from an empty cup", but how many of us actually follow the process of filling up our own cups? In order to be our best for ourselves and for those whom we interact with, self-care is of the utmost importance.
A boundary is the rules and limits that you create within various relationships and contexts. These are a list of things that you either accept or don’t, to help you create relationships where you feel respect and comfort. To create boundaries, you will have to explore and know your values. Your values are the key guide to creating boundaries so it is imperative to know your core values before embarking on this journey.
Vulnerability is the ability to expose our innermost selves, revealing our fears, doubts, insecurities, and weaknesses to others.
