Category: Self Help

Anxiety, Health, Neurodiversity, Self Help, Wellbeing7 Comments

Deep Breathing

Change Therapy

Breathing exercises are a powerful way to manage Stress. One particular method that is becoming more popular worldwide is Deep Breathing. There are many benefits of practicing in this way of which I will explain shortly, so please stay with me. Do you ever stop what you are doing and think exclusively about breathing? It is an automatic function, where we breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide. Breathing is a conscious and a sub-conscious process. When you think about it, breathing is one of the most important and powerful resources you can tap into, as it is the … Continue reading Deep Breathing

Mental Health, Neurological, Psychology, Self Help, Wellbeing9 Comments

Be smarter for a longer life.

Change Therapy

Andrew Lim and colleagues at Toronto University carried out tests on 3000 ‘older’ participants at different times of the year to assess cognitive functioning, measuring thinking and concentration skills, as well as physiological tests to look for early signs of Alzheimer’s disease. The outcome was that people who tested in Summer and early Autumn obtained significantly higher scores, than those tested in Winter and Spring. “There may be value in increasing dementia-related clinical resources in the winter and early spring when symptoms are likely to be most pronounced,” the authors say. “By shedding light on the mechanisms underlying the seasonal … Continue reading Be smarter for a longer life.

Bird Therapy, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Nature, Self Help, Wellbeing18 Comments

Watching Birds – The Jackdaw

clivebennett796

The post is about the jackdaw, a sociable and agile bird found in diverse environments. Known for its unique eye communication and acrobatic skills, it thrives in windy conditions. The author shares insights on the bird’s playful nature and social interactions, emphasizing its impressive evening displays and mindful observation experiences. Continue reading Watching Birds – The Jackdaw

Acceptance, Mental Health, Neurological, Psychology, Self Help, Wellbeing21 Comments

Understanding Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Change Therapy

Abraham Maslow was a psychologist in the twentieth century who pioneered the humanistic approach to psychology. He is best known for his hierarchy of needs. Maslow believed that human wants/needs may be structured into a hierarchy, in order to better understand what motivates people. This hierarchy includes everything from basic needs like food and water to more complex ideals like self-fulfilment. When a lower need is met, the following needs in the hierarchy become our centre of attention, according to Maslow. These are the five categories of needs according to Maslow: Physiological Physiological needs – these are biological need for … Continue reading Understanding Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Bird Therapy, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Nature, Self Help, Wellbeing15 Comments

Watching Birds – The Starling

clivebennett796

This piece explores the therapeutic benefits of birdwatching, particularly focusing on starlings. It highlights how observing birds fosters a connection to nature and alleviates stress, serving as a complementary practice to mental health care. The article celebrates starlings’ beauty, especially their winter aerial displays known as murmurations, encouraging outdoor engagement. Continue reading Watching Birds – The Starling

Diabetes, general health, Health, Mental Health, Neurological, Self Help, Wellbeing7 Comments

Take a Device-Free break

Change Therapy

How electronic focussed are you? We live in a world that revolves around devices like smartphones, tablets and laptops. Having access to electronic devices that stream information to you 24/7 is not healthy for your Mental Health and Wellbeing as a whole. At the touch of a button, you have access to enormous amounts of data on every conceivable subject, including video, photos and audio to reinforce that knowledge. Perhaps it is the attraction of instant updates to your favourite person or event, and the need to be ‘in the know’, to stay on par with your peers which means … Continue reading Take a Device-Free break

Anxiety, Bird Therapy, Mental Health, Nature, Self Help, Wellbeing8 Comments

Birdsong for Wellbeing

Change Therapy

Looking to improve your overall wellbeing, please read on and learn about the positive relationship between birdsong and helping to decrease anxiety and negative thoughts. When was the last time you stopped what you were doing to observe and listen to our feathered friends? No matter where you are in the world, we share our space with over 50 billion birds, consisting of 11,000 species. How can birds help improve our Mental Health and Wellbeing? Well, listening to birdsong is an option. It promotes a sense of freedom, and re-balancing your life; imagining being up there in the trees, singing … Continue reading Birdsong for Wellbeing

Meditation, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Self Help, Wellbeing4 Comments

Morning routine

Change Therapy

My favourite part of the day is the Morning, the earlier the better. It is usually anywhere from 6am to 7.30am, before the neighbourhood starts to get busy getting ready for their day ahead. There is a calm around my property, with the noise of the birds still singing their songs, and somehow the weather fronts feel far away; almost like there is a kind of bubble surrounding this particular part of my world. This feeling of security comes about through my daily practices of Meditation, two or three at different times of the day. I would like to share … Continue reading Morning routine

Anxiety, Health, Meditation, Mental Health, Self Help, Wellbeing1 Comment

Focused Meditation

Change Therapy

When we use a Focus Meditation, the object here is to concentrate on one object, for a short time, while immersing yourself in the experience. This helps give you a sense of calm, peace and for balance that can benefit your emotional well-being and your overall health This mediation invites you to tune into your environment by focusing on a simple object. You can use any object you wish. Perhaps an object close to you on your person, like a key, paper or phone?   A Focus Meditation is a great exercise to learn. Do you have 2 minutes to … Continue reading Focused Meditation

Anxiety, Diabetes, Health, Inspirational, Meditation, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Nature, Neurodiversity, Psychology, Self Help, Weight and Diet, Wellbeing8 Comments

Mindfulness Walks

Change Therapy

The work I do every day makes a difference to others – mostly, I hope, for the better. Take a break from your routine and practice slowing down during this unique Guided Mindfulness Session. I was the first therapist to offer Mindfulness Walks in this part of the UK and many others continue to follow my lead in this field, which began around the start of the 2003. There is a difference having someone who is a highly qualified Psychotherapist and Counsellor by your side. I have a Bachelor of Science degree, with Honours, in Psychology and Counselling, and I … Continue reading Mindfulness Walks

Anxiety, Health, Psychology, Self Help4 Comments

STOP method

Change Therapy

The STOP method is a useful tool for calming and relaxing your mind. You can teach yourself to stop what you are doing and take a moment, to breathe and observe your thoughts. Controlling your breathing when feeling anxious or overwhelmed in situations, will help you to feel calmer and more in control of your behaviour. Going a wee bit further, you could imagine a large red STOP sign just like the one pictured above and use this when thinking through what the acronym STOP actually represents in this form of practice. Use the STOP method if your feel like … Continue reading STOP method

Anxiety, Health, Meditation, Psychology, Self Help, Wellbeing1 Comment

Blood Test Phobia

Change Therapy

Personally, I used to find the experience of having a blood test quite uncomfortable, and at times found that the journey there could be unsettling to say the least. It has only been through using distraction techniques, like playing music or mindfulness meditation that have got me over the fear, and over time, it is became much easier. Blood tests at your medical practice can be quite uncomfortable to some, neither here nor there to others, but to around 20% of the population, a very nervy experience. It is the latter category that concerns me, and I include some suggestions … Continue reading Blood Test Phobia

Health, Mental Health, Psychology, Self Help, Wellbeing4 Comments

Wellbeing Dimensions

Change Therapy

Have you noticed the increase in the use of the words ‘Wellbeing, Good Mental Health and Wellness’ in the community? If improving our health means that we can have a more content life while living longer, and having less pain, I am all for it. There are exceptions however, to the use of these words or similar to describe what we must do to achieve our goals. Apparently, as demonstrated by some well-known companies below, the use of Wellbeing is taken out of context to sell their products.  These companies and many more worldwide, are saying ‘If you do this … Continue reading Wellbeing Dimensions

Acceptance, Anxiety, Health, Meditation, Mindfulness, Neurodiversity, Psychology, Self Help, Wellbeing2 Comments

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction

Change Therapy

“Mindfulness is about being fully awake in our lives. It is about perceiving the exquisite vividness of each moment. We also gain immediate access to our own powerful inner resources for insight, transformation and healing” – Jon Kabat-Zinn. Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction comes under the umbrella of Mindfulness Based Interventions (MBI’s) which are intended on helping people improve their health and wellbeing. Change Therapy delivers MBSR Certification courses – get in touch for more information, using this link. Intended to increase consciousness and encourage the connection between your body and mind, MBSR uses techniques that target negative subconscious thoughts, behaviours … Continue reading Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction

Acceptance, Inspirational, Psychology, Self Help2 Comments

Buddha and the angry man

Change Therapy

This is my interpretation of a profound life lesson about giving, protecting your personal strength and being selfless—especially so from negative individuals who can drain your energy if permitted. Buddha travelled for many days before coming to a tiny village to deliver a speech. There was a young man standing in the road, who was the only one nearby who wasn’t thrilled to see the Buddha. Buddha heard the young man yelling at him during his speech. Buddha ignored the situation and went on talking. The young man was even more enraged by this. He walked directly in front of … Continue reading Buddha and the angry man

Acceptance, Health, Psychology, Self Help, Wellbeing7 Comments

Jar of Life

Change Therapy

I came across this short story about prioritizing life which I want to share with you. It helps me throughout my life, as I often have to remind myself what is important in my world and needs more attention. Sometimes I can spend too much time on the less important things, when I should be looking after the main things like my health, partner and children. The story There was a philosophy professor who was giving a lecture to his students. In front of him, he had a big glass jar, a pile of rocks 2” in diameter, a bag … Continue reading Jar of Life

Acceptance, Inspirational, Self Help, Wellbeing5 Comments

Growing Up is Optional

Change Therapy

Every so often I come across an inspirational story, and as such, I would like to share this particular one with you, with the aim to hopefully brighten your day. This is a sweet tale of a senior college student. Her message that “Growing Old is Mandatory, Growing Up is Optional” is unique. Hopefully, we’ll live to a ripe old age as she did. Our professor greeted us on the first day of class and urged us to get to know someone we didn’t previously know. When a soft hand brushed my shoulder, I got to my feet to take … Continue reading Growing Up is Optional

Meditation, Mindfulness, Nature, Self Help2 Comments

Gratitude

Change Therapy

It’s Not Happiness That Brings Us Gratitude, It’s Gratitude That Brings Us Happiness. If you have food in your fridge, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world. If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed that the million who will not survive this week. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet and spare change in a dish, or moneybox somewhere, you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy. If you can attend a church meeting … Continue reading Gratitude

Health, Inspirational, Psychology, Self Help, Wellbeing1 Comment

Autobiography In 5 Short Chapters.

Change Therapy

Every so often I come across a gem of a story or poem that I want to share, in the hope that it will help someone to change their life for the better. This particular poem is timeless, and one that has helped many people that I know over the years. I hope that you enjoy this too. “Autobiography In Five Short Chapters” Chapter One I walk down the street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I fall in. I am lost … I am hopeless. It isn’t my fault. It takes forever to find a way out. … Continue reading Autobiography In 5 Short Chapters.

general health, Psychology, Self Help, WellbeingLeave a comment

Opinionated

Change Therapy

Have you had the experience of being in the company of a person who has a high opinion of themselves? The more they speak, the more you want to scream/run away or argue back. It may be someone you know who likes to take centre stage and get their opinion over with no regard for anyone else’s opinion in the room. Listening to someone who takes over, without giving opportunity for others to speak when talking about a subject can be annoying, as well as being threatening, as a high opinionated person gains more confidence the longer, they are permitted … Continue reading Opinionated

Anxiety, Health, Meditation, Mindfulness, Nature, Neurodiversity, Psychology, Self Help, Wellbeing2 Comments

Modern Art Gallery

Change Therapy

Working in collaboration with Get2gether, we arranged this month’s Mindfulness Walking therapy at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art in Edinburgh. There are two buildings,  named Modern One and Modern Two. Both buildings are impressive examples of neo-classical architecture, with Modern One designed by William Burn in 1825, housing the independent school John Watson’s. Modern Two was designed by Thomas Hamilton in 1831 and was known as the Dean Orphanage in 1833, then became an educational college until 1999 We gathered in mid-afternoon under a warm sun and walked around the grounds with guidance on how to be mindful … Continue reading Modern Art Gallery

Anxiety, Health, Psychology, Self Help, Wellbeing6 Comments

Positive Psychology – Gratitude

Change Therapy

I would like to introduce a friend of mine, Hugo Bennett, a young man who has narrated this article for me. Such is the clarity and expression of his voice, in my opinion, the narration has enhanced this post 10 fold. Hugo is starting out in his career as a Narrator, and I fully support and wish him well in his journey, as I am sure many here will do too. His narration starts at the paragraph entitled: The benefits of practicing gratitude An important part of life when I practice Positive Psychology, is showing gratitude or thanks for everything … Continue reading Positive Psychology – Gratitude

Anxiety, Health, Self Help1 Comment

Affirmations for anxiety

Change Therapy

These affirmations for anxiety are for you if you struggle with anxious thoughts, nagging worries, or intense moments of fear. We know that constant stress and unease can zap your creative brain power and keep you stuck in life. Do you struggle with social anxiety, or generally battle chronic worry and tension in your everyday life? Social anxiety is very common but can feel debilitating if you live with this specific fear. After all, we live in a society where meeting and talking to people is a big part of work, training, and maintaining both platonic and romantic relationships. I … Continue reading Affirmations for anxiety

Anxiety, Health, Meditation, Mindfulness, Nature, Self Help, Weight and Diet, Wellbeing4 Comments

Walk & Talk March 2023

Change Therapy

Amisfield Walled Garden was our destination for my Walk and Talk therapy for groups. The garden and grounds of are part of the Amisfield House Estate, with the mansion built by the Earl of Wemyss in the 1750s. The garden is tended to by volunteers with the charity Amisfield Preservation Trust and is open to the public. It is early morning, and the sun is out, with a soft glow that is neither warm nor inviting, yet the world always seems more cheerier with this great solar giant so prominent in the sky. It is the anticipation of when the … Continue reading Walk & Talk March 2023

Anxiety, Health, Mindfulness, Psychology, Self Help, Weight and Diet, Wellbeing1 Comment

Body Shaming

Change Therapy

Body shaming is the action of making negative comments about one’s own or another person’s attractiveness or appearance. Body shaming leads to withdrawal, isolation, and is associated with depression, anxiety and a whole host of negative emotions, which have a serious impact on a person’s wellbeing. Why do people make critical comments about the shape or size of someone else’s body? This behaviour is witnessed in the playgrounds of schools and continues through time into the adult environments of work and leisure, where sarcastic remarks are still seen as ‘a bit of fun’, by many, including those in responsible positions … Continue reading Body Shaming

Health, Meditation, Mindfulness, Self Help, WellbeingLeave a comment

Anchoring

Change Therapy

A Mindfulness strategy called “Anchoring” can assist us in focusing our attention on the here and now. We may become unaware of our surroundings when we our feelings are overtaken by our emotions and thoughts. “Anchoring” involves pausing for a second to check in with ourselves. If you think of a boat that throws its anchor over the side, this stops the boat from floating away. Similarly with Mindfulness, we ‘Anchor our Awareness’, maintaining concentration on the present time. This is done by accepting these ‘other’ thoughts and allowing them to pass, and re-focus on our breathing. If we focus … Continue reading Anchoring

Health, Self Help, Wellbeing5 Comments

A positive start to 2023

Change Therapy

An important part of my life when I practice Positive Psychology, is showing gratitude or thanks for everything I am in touch with; my emotions, my being and social world that I am part of. Gratitude is something we can overlook and yet it offers such powerful benefits to our mental health. There are many benefits of expressing gratitude ranging from better physical health to improved mental alertness. Let me explain further. The word gratitude comes from the Latin word gratia, which means grace, graciousness or gratefulness (depending on the context). In some ways gratitude encompasses all of these meanings. … Continue reading A positive start to 2023

Anxiety, Health, Mindfulness, Psychology, Self Help, WellbeingLeave a comment

Calming anxiety quickly

Change Therapy

Anxiety. A word that I hear more and more of as each week passes by. Some people have common anxieties about the cost of living or the plethora of viruses circulating in the community. Some have anxieties concerning their own lives and how they can deal with things troubling them. There are self-help books, websites and experts all over the place that promise to help you deal with your anxiety, but what if you do not have ready access to a book, website or a professional to talk you through what to do in the moment that anxious thoughts appear … Continue reading Calming anxiety quickly