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.
Most of us know what it feels like to lose a loved one to a terminal illness. Grief is unpredictable and loss can feel like white noise or earth-shattering pain. Living with a parent, partner or child diagnosed with a terminal illness literally rips the ground from beneath our feet. Knowing how, but not how much longer, can take us on a journey of acceptance, denial, depression, indescribable fear and complete dissociation from the current reality. Loss, no matter the circumstances, is life altering.
These simple five steps can help promote positive feelings about the self and may improve overall mood and mental wellbeing. This in turn may see an improvement in overall wellbeing with a more positive outlook on this journey of life.
. In our lives, a loss, such as the death of a loved one, serves as the pebble in our pond. When we lose something or someone significant to us, the grieving process does not end with the mourning of that singular loss. Rather, the singular loss triggers a chain of events known as secondary losses, which often cause us to feel as if we've lost everything and that the sorrow will never end.
Let's be honest, deciding to see a therapist is not something that comes easily to everyone. To truly benefit from the process, one must be willing to be honest and completely open with their therapist as well as themselves. As a result, you will often find yourself revealing things about your experiences and your thoughts that you would not normally share with your friends or family, let alone a complete stranger.
Imagine if you will, your counsellor as a blind car guard. He is an old man, with the years lined on his face. Even though he cannot see into your soul, he had the clearest and brightest blue eyes you’ve ever seen.
We have been living in a changed world for nearly 2 years. The Covid-19 pandemic has been around for 2 years and has changed our lives in many ways. During this pandemic, we have suffered major losses such as the loss of family and friends, however, we have also suffered a wave of other losses.
TRIGGER WARNING: CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE | Sexual abuse victimizes a person, and the partner can play a crucial role in the recovery and healing process of the abused. The love and support of a partner, friends, and family, can encourage the process of healing. It is crucial for those surrounding the abused, to understand the mixed signals they convey daily. The abused can; in many instances, turn to their loved ones for help, but in the wink of an eye, turn against them.
Different people react differently to traumatic experiences and also deal with these situations differently. For some, an event might cause a lot of emotional turmoil, and intervention is needed for that person to start their way on the road to recovery. For others, that same event might only cause minor frustrations and they can easily move on with their lives.
Everyone in our lives can need a caring, non-judgmental, and empathetic room at some point in their lives. When the time comes, the relationship you already have will serve as a basis for constructing this "container" in which you keep space for the other individual. If you accept the challenge, your desire to be of service to the other person will be the first building block for holding that sacred space.
Ons as beraders, sielkundiges, maatskaplike werkers en terapeute het een van die grootste voorregte; om saam met iemand deur hul emosies, hul vrese en onsekerhede te werk en te wandel ten einde die lig aan die anderkant van die tonnel saam te ontdek of te kan ontgin, maar dit is ook ‘n ontsaglike verantwoordelikheid. Die gene wat hul lewens aan hierdie beroepe wei sal almal weet – hierdie is ‘n uitputtende roeping. Om daagliks, uur na uur saam met iemand deur hul diepste seer, hul donkerste vrese en hul grootste teleurstellings te werk, eis sy tol.
The counsellor-client and loved-one-to-loved-one relationships are fundamentally different. Following are 6 differences between a counselor and a friend, and how both parties may support you in a different manner.
I often get asked the question "Why should I go to counselling" as if there is a textbook, one size fits all answer. There is no straightforward way to sum up the importance of counselling, because in my eyes the benefits of counselling is personal in nature and therefore, infinite.
What are your perceptions on self-care? Is it something you willingly accept as necessary, or do you (like so many of us) tend to resist the thought or find that life doesn’t always grant such a luxury as ‘self-care’?
