Welcome to the Westmeria Counselling blog, where our counsellors and expert contributors share valuable insights about the challenges that matter most, from managing anxiety to coping with loss.
Each month, we publish thoughtful articles designed to offer guidance and practical tools for emotional well-being. Whether you’re currently in counselling or looking for ways to support your mental health, we hope you find these blogs helpful and reassuring.
Self-Injury by Vikki F
To mark Self-Injury Action Day I thought that I would write an article explaining what self-injury is, how you can help your loved ones if they use self-injury to cope with difficult emotions and how those that self-injure can help themselves to live with, decrease or...
Crafting and your mental health by Laura V
January can be difficult for a lot of people. The long nights and short grey days can make it more difficult to get out and connect with people. But equally, this makes January the perfect time to enjoy the many mental health benefits of taking up a new hobby or...
Harmony Within: Unveiling the Mental Health Benefits of Yoga
By Shelly K We hear a lot about the physical benefits of yoga like increased flexibility and strength, improved blood flow and stronger joints but what about mental health.Daily life can often take a toll on mental well-being and more people are seeking holistic...
A link between stress and poor mental health?
By Elizabeth S. Stress itself is not considered a mental health problem, so it can often get overlooked when thinking about contributors to poor mental health. It’s true, stress is a normal part of everyday life and serves to protect us from danger and even with the...
‘Change’ By Natalie K
Living in the U.K often means a change of weather and quite often without warning but what if seasons of change is something much bigger? September and January are full of new starts for many people, starting new jobs, new schools, college, house moves, relationships,...
A Smile In The Mind – Jonathan P
Earlier in the summer, along the banks of the Thames on London’s South Bank, an outdoor gallery space exhibited 50 large-scale portraits displaying the smiling faces of 50 different people. People of all genders. People of all ages. People with their families. People...
Self-Help Mental Health While You Wait
By Katya J P Being put on a waiting list for counselling can feel frustrating and difficult, so preparing yourself for the counselling process can be one way of helping your mental health before you even set foot in the therapy room. One of the topics that will come...
Healthy Body, Healthy Mind, By Anna G
I’ve long been a great believer and advocate for a healthy body leading to a healthy mind and watching the recent Stutz documentary by Jonah Hill on Netflix, re-enforced this further. The film chronicles the life and career of psychiatrist Dr Phil Stutz, Hill's...
Are you sober curious?
If you have ever wondered whether taking a break from alcohol might have a positive impact on your life, then you are not alone. It would be hard to miss the greater prominence of low and no alcohol drinks options available in supermarkets, bars, restaurants, and even...
Support for parents during your child’s exam season
By Claire B Most of us will remember what it was like to sit our exams at secondary school; some of us will have taken them in our stride, whereas for others they will have been a time of worry and stress. For those parents with children currently in Years 10 to 13,...
What to expect when you start talking about mental health
The other day, on the radio, I heard someone say that when you start acknowledging problems and seeking help with your mental health you can lose friends. It is true. The insight gained from working with mental health professionals can make you re-examine your...
‘Bipolar Awareness’ by Richard L
On March 30th, it is World Bipolar Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness about bipolar disorder and the impact it has on individuals and their loved ones. Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition characterized by significant mood swings and changes in energy...
Meditation Techniques by Natalie Kirton
Many of us deal with Anxiety and overthinking, there is no set way to handle these thoughts, feelings, and the inherent behaviours we produce in response but many cultures, individuals, and schools of thought often look to meditation in addition to other techniques to...
Cost of Living: Effect on the Nation’s Mental Health
Written by our Keith Prance of Rehab and Recovery, Cost of Living: Effect on the Nation’s Mental Health blog details the mental health impact of the cost-of-living crisis. Read here
Have yourself a mindful little Christmas…
By K. Jezzard- Puyraud There are two sides to Christmas. There is the one that is full of warmth, fabulous presents and a roast with all the trimmings. Then there is the one with frosty in-laws, thoughtless gifts and someone locking themselves in the bathroom for a...
What is self-compassion?
By Debbie Vaile Self-compassion can be misconceived as being self-indulgent or self-pitying. However, compassion is defined as to ‘suffer with.’ We show empathy in our understanding of whatever difficulties others may be going through. Compassion is, by definition,...
London Marathon Blog By Anita E
The London Marathon 2022. It is difficult to explain what it feels like to run the London Marathon. It is a gift and a privilege rolled into one. The place this year was a deferred place from 2020 and while training back in January 2020 I suffered a terrible slipped...
Challenging the labels of neurodiversity – Different not less
Many of my neurodivergent clients arrive to their first session, weight down by anxiety, depression and low self-esteem, having experienced discrimination, bullying andthe feeling of never fitting in. They have been told they are lazy, stupid and uncaring. They are...
Mindfulness & Meditation for Mental Health By Emma Carey
How often do we look up from our busy lives and consciously live in the present, moment to moment? My own answer to that nine years ago was, rarely, if ever. I suffered from physical illnesses, anxiety, depression, and panic attacks. It was like being trapped in a...
Exploring Holistic Treatments: Reflexology
Blog by Helen Kitcher The most common thing that people say to me when I tell them that I have trained as a Reflexologist is, ‘Isn’t touching someone’s feet a bit gross?’ I always have the same answer: as a Reflexologist I do not see feet; I see a connection portal...