Insights

Understanding attachment styles through counselling

We are all heavily influenced by our experiences in childhood. Our relationship with our primary caregivers, usually (but not always), our parents, has a significant impact on how we see ourselves, how we express our needs, manage our emotions and form attachments...
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Mental Health Awareness Week – why community is key for children and young people

The week of 12th to 18th May marks national Mental Health Awareness Week. The initiative is organised by the Mental Health Foundation and has been running since 2001. This year’s theme is community, which focuses on the importance of creating connections and...
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What young people need to know about stress

April marks Stress Awareness Month, a national initiative that has been going for over 30 years.  Now run by the Stress Management Society, a non-profit organisation established in 2003, this year’s theme is #LeadWithLove which is based around the ideas of kindness...
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Children’s Mental Health Week – emotional regulation

The week of 3rd to 9th February marks the 11th annual  Children’s Mental Health week organised by mental health charity Place2Be. The aim of the initiative is to raise awareness of the mental health issues and challenges that young people face, helping children,...
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How well are you listening to your child?

In recognition of Parent Mental Health Day on 30th January, we look at ways to help open up positive communication between parents and their children.   ‘No one ever listens to me!’ ‘Mum just tells me what to do, she doesn’t bother to find out what I want.’ ‘If I try...
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The importance of early intervention to support boys’ mental health

November marks Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, which aims to reduce the stigma around seeking support for mental health issues, as well as raising awareness of how problems with mental health can affect men and boys. Initiatives such as these are hugely important...
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Tips for helping children and young people get a better night’s sleep

As discussed in a recent article, good quality sleep is a crucial factor in the mental, emotional and physical wellbeing of children and young people. Before taking action, it’s important to try and identify what is causing the problem which could be due a range of...
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The importance of sleep in children’s mental health and wellbeing

Sleep is something that we often take for granted, but it’s an incredibly important factor in children’s and young people’s good mental health, as well as their physical wellbeing.  Getting the right amount of sleep can help children to: Improve their concentration...
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Helping children and young people manage bereavement

Death is part of the natural order of things, but this can be a hard concept for us to accept – and even more so for children or young people who often struggle with understanding as well as acceptance. How well a child is able to manage, process and come to terms...
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Recognising burnout in young people

The derogatory term ‘snowflake’ is applied all too often to our young people. True, this generation of adolescents haven’t had to go to war or deal with rationing. They are often driven to places that their parents may have cycled or walked to, and most of our young...
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