The Typical Counselling Room A Safe Place To Talk
Seeing a qualified counsellor for the first time without knowing what to expect can make us a little nervous. Lack of knowledge can also lead to misconceptions about counsellors, leading some to shun the counselling room for fear of judgement, or for concerns about breaches of confidentiality. What do trained counsellors do, what happens in…
Where To Find Emergency Counselling in Australia
Australians have free and confidential counselling services available over the phone, online as a chat and by email for those struggling with mental health issues, suicidal thoughts, personal problems, relationships or family problems. The types of calls received can range from urgent crisis calls to the less urgent matters. However all calls matter. Counselling services…
Are You Ok Dragging Those Burdens Around?
The tendency to hide our vulnerabilities when we’ve been emotionally wounded is instinctive for most of us. As an emotional teen, I thought crying was a sign of weakness. There was a time when a stranger spotted me crying. She asked, “Are you ok?” What a shock!
Debilitating Aspects Of Living With An Anxiety Disorder
Anxiety can be extremely debilitating and difficult to live with if left untreated. Psychologist, speaker and best selling author Harriet Lerner Ph.D. writes about the debilitating effects of anxiety in her article titled “The top 9 Reasons Why I hate Anxiety’
Counselling – A Healing Journey of Connection
Seeking counselling help doesn’t mean we no longer believe in Christ and the healing power of God. Many Christians interpret seeking help from external sources as “not having enough faith.” However, equipping ourselves and the church with knowledge is an act of grace for the relief of those needing emotional support. Knowledge can save lives. Hosea…
13 Tips For Resolving Family Feuds
Do you miss out on family birthdays? Do you turn away and cringe when you see that family member on the other side of the room or do you avoid being where they are altogether? Is your family split in two because of disagreements? Or are you simply just not talking to someone in your…
Despair, Depression & Brokenness Made Me Doubt My Faith
As a Christian, Melinda Vanry has lived with depression, bipolar disorder and social anxiety. It was through those trials that she began to doubt God, and through those very same trials she also uncovered a foundational truth that has strengthened her faith for years to come. “God can be glorified in and through a believer’s…
Reasons Why Mental Health Matters To Christians
Having a disorder can be debilitating, affecting the way a person functions, the way they feel and think. Sadly, relationships and a person’s walk with God can be affected due to the state of their mental health. Thus, we can't afford to neglect our mental health.
Is Your Emotional Support Person A Narcissist?
We all want someone trustworthy to confide in. However, narcissists are not the kind of people we want to open up to. Here's how to tell if your emotional support person has NPD.
Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment Of Bipolar Disorder
When we think about Bipolar Disorder we tend to think of it as one type of mental illness when in fact there are a few variations. Bipolar disorders (manic-depressive disorders) are classified as a ‘chronic mental health condition’ characterised by periods of low mood such as depression as well as periods of mania, or extreme…
When To Stop Talking To The Dog & Get Counselling
Taking care of pets can be therapeutic, but in no way should that replace the need to open up to someone about our problems. As a child I felt a great sense of relief after talking to my dog about my woes. He was a great listener. He didn’t answer back, he didn’t judge me,…
Common Symptoms Of Anxiety & The Bizarre
There are classic psychological and physical symptoms of anxiety that are well known to most of us. However, there are also those rare and bizarre symptoms we don’t often hear about. Below you’ll find those common or classic symptoms affecting others physically and psychologically. Also we take a look at the lesser known manifestations of…
Self-Harm – Why Do They Hurt Themselves?
Self-harm can begin as a means to control feelings of extreme psychological distress or deep emotional pain, and it refers to people who deliberately hurt their bodies by cutting, pinching, burning, biting, picking skin or sores, stabbing, bruising or punching oneself for an immediate sense of relief. These actions are not usually carried out for…
The Journey Towards Self Awareness
Self-awareness plays a key role in building good relationships by allowing us to know our strengths, our weaknesses, what we like, what we dislike and where our boundaries are. Self-awareness also enables us to relate to others. In the ‘The Journey Towards Self Awareness‘ author Ben Dainton carefully maps out a time where he experienced…
Do you Know Someone with Narcissistic Personality Disorder?
Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) as with other personality disorders, has long term effects on people’s thoughts, emotions and behaviours affecting all areas of life. NPD is associated with socially destructive behaviours that have a negative impact on relationships and work life. NPD is part of the range of personality disorders with intense and unstable symptoms…
Change Negative Thinking Patterns That Ruin Your Life
Change negative thinking patterns and self talk that can ruin your life. Learn how to change those inner slogans that you repeat to yourself.
Developing Resilience For Facing Our Depression Giants
Resilience training can help those with depression by strengthening their ability to deal with adversity. Today we have a holistic understanding of mental health and depression. There’s a combination of medication, psychological therapy, social support, nutrition, exercise and spiritual care to help treat depression. One such treatment is resilience training through Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)…
Self-Care After Something Tragic Happens In Our Lives.
The shock and pain of a serious emotional upset is undoubtedly quite difficult to deal with that can be described as a ‘psychological trauma’. Grief and bereavement is a normal part of being human to help us process and deal with our heavy loss or trauma. While we are processing our pain it’s important that…
The Positive Effects of Kindness On Our Mental Health
Making others feel good with kindness can be really rewarding by making us feel great about our actions as Christians for doing the right thing. Practicing kindness also has a profound effect our own mental & physiological health, helping us to become happier and compassionate towards others. Being kind to others has been known to…
Simple Ways To Energise Our Minds & Bodies For Work
Looking after ourselves when our brain cogs are trying to regain momentum after returning to work from a holiday break is essential for enegising our minds and bodies.
Unplugging to Recharge our Batteries in Quiet Stillness
Recently I came across an article on Psychology Today describing how our technologically advanced young people are experiencing ‘Nomophobia,’ a word to describe the fear they are experiencing of going without their mobile phones. Our kids today don’t know what life is like without one. The workforce is so technologically advanced that we are being…
How To Talk to Your Child About Your Mental Illness
Parents who have a mental illness often wonder if they should talk to their children about it or if they should avoid the subject all together. Some of us are even terrified about discussing it with our kids. However, one important point to consider is that when we don’t explain things to children they begin to…
Photography Keeps Me Focused Outside Of Myself
A hobby such as photography, as Melinda Vanry has found, has helpd to keep the focus outside of herself with huge benefits to her mental health.
What is Seasonal Affective Disorder? (SAD)
Seasonal Affective Disorder also known as SAD, a form of recurrent major depression affecting some people during seasonal changes.
