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Healing Hands Counselling logo. It reads; Healing Hands Counselling, connecting & empowering.
Sasha says, “Stop feeling stuck & put in the practice”
Blog 002
Photo description: Sasha with purple hair standing in front of a white background.
My old Sensi (karate teacher) always said, “if you get hit it’s your fault!” Essentially, he was saying, you know an attack is going to come so it’s your responsibility, to use what I have taught you to defend and protect yourself. Therapy is a bit like that. Right now in your life you know that you will face challenges, and it is your duty to use what you now know to take care of yourself. I use my expertise and time, creating toolkits with various clinical interventions. This could be recommended physical exercises, worksheets or just tasks. I then guide my clients through how to use them and evaluate their usefulness. I can give you all the tools that you want yet, mastery comes when you- the client, uses them appropriately. This definitely takes practice both in the counselling session and out there-in your day-to-day life! For survivors of CSA this practice can be excruciatingly difficult.
Photo description: Man in a grey shirt, looks thoughtful and stressed-places his head on his hands.
Decades of shame can bring up very strong feelings of failure, low self-worth or even humiliation. It is my role to notice when these emotive states pop up as a psychological defence. Mental defences occur in order to protect the wounded inner child but inadvertently , they block the adult you from moving forward in your life. Ruminating on what you have been through, will not enable you to go back and change that past event! It can absolutely impact how you behave now. Life has its ups and downs so how do you know if you are handling a challenge or need professional help? If you feel stuck for a long period of time, notice depressive symptoms, start suffering from anxiety again then chances are you need professional support. Take a look at some of the classic warning signs below.
Photo description: two volunteers prepare crafting resources.
Volunteering either formally or informally allows you to give back to the community and can be, a vital opportunity to be more active (Li & Ferraro 2005, Jenkinson et.al 2013). Creaven, Healy & Coward (2017) suggest that one of the reasons why volunteering reduces depression is due to connecting with others. A sense of belonging or positive experiences being with others, can be an intrinsic reward from volunteering. Volunteers often see a reduction in stress because of this and can even see a reduction of anxiety from knowing they will see their peers each week. Voluntary roles don’t have to just be about helping people there are quite a few roles that enable you to work with animals or nature e.g. volunteering at a pet shelter or an allotment. Ultimately what you don’t get paid for in cash you get paid for in kind-meaning your mental health & wellbeing can greatly benefit from helping others. I get lots of opportunities to give back because of where I live and work. I continue to volunteer for a community group ‘Don’t Forget Dementia’ and I love helping out. This month we have organised a ‘come dine with me event’ where children eat free, and adults get a two-course meal for £10. It takes place on 29th November. Early bird tickets (before 18th November) are selling fast so be sure to get yours here.
Photo description: Come Dine for Dementia poster- image of a set table. It reads; good food, great company and creating memories, whilst raising awareness for dementia! November 29th 2024, 6- 9 pm. Myatts Field North Centre SW9 6FZ. RSVP to RSVP to Natoya 07411378808 or Rolanda 07947618178. Early bird tickets £10 before November 18th, £15 after, Children go free.