The depressed or anxious patient who comes to see their GP may be given the option of a prescription medication, but often very little else. Talking therapy is increasingly offered, however there is often a waiting list and at times there are challenges in finding the right fit for the person - and the small issue of whether it will be funded - either through GP provider services, employee service providers or ACC. A mildly depressed or anxious individual who isn’t at risk of self-harm or suicide doesn’t need crisis input, may not need long term psychotherapy or the type of intensive care that a Community Mental Health Centre (CHMC) would provide. They often don’t need to talk about their childhood and at times have no major trauma going on in their lives (past or present) but could really benefit from some practical strategies and support to improve their mood and well-being.

Incorporating many aspects of health, well-being and life coaching, mental health coaching addresses areas in your life which you might be struggling in - for example, stress, anxiety, addiction, depression, low mood or feelings of overwhelm.

Coaching in general is a strength & future based process, focusing on where an individual would like to be and helping to create steps on how to get there. Although your past is an important part of who you are - coaching is interested in where you are heading.

Mental health coaching also emphases building resilience with the aim or

We all have times in our lives when we struggle with an overactive mind - it won’t shut off at night, it’s stuck on an old memory or trying (over and over) to figure out a solution to a problem that may not be able to be solved. Sometimes it’s just re-hashing a hurtful or painful event over and over for no apparent good reason.

Sometimes our problem solving mind just needs to stop ‘trying to work it out’ so we can get some peace and quiet, get off to sleep, focus on what we need to do in the here and now or simply to allow some calm to help reduce an anxious state.

Below is a super simple and super effective way to interrupt negative repetitive thoughts and reduce ruminative thinking - those times when a thought continues to go around and around in your mind.

Lockdown has brought to life some interesting emotions for a lot of us. We’re at home, some of us aren’t working, we have less distractions and for some of us we have increased feelings of anxiety or other challenging emotions.

Food - is - let’s face it - a wonderful distraction.

And this can cause us to feel frustrated with our best laid plans to ‘eat well’ over lock-down.

Mindful eating can be a way of encouraging awareness of what you are eating and what emotions or feelings may be driving your desire to eat!

I remember hearing this once, and it stuck me a being incredibly profound and at the time incredibly humbling and kind. It was in relation to a work colleague, talking about another work colleague, who had lost their son via suicide. His comment was 'it could of happened to any one of us, any one of our children could have taken the same steps.... but for the Grace of God".

I have remembered this, and have used it on many occasion, quietly to myself. Although it stirs up a slight sense of guilt ("Thank God it is not me"), it also rouses an incredible sense of gratitude. How fortunate am I, to not be going through what this person is experiencing? How fortunate that I have shelter, a warm bed, a loving family? How fortunate am I that I have not experienced what this person is going through.

Are you particularly hard on yourself?

Are you always striving to achieve?

Do you hate failing?

Are you trying so hard all the time?

Are you tired - but continue to push through?

Do you work twice as hard at the gym (or elsewhere) because you feel you have to?

Are you constantly trying to prove to yourself or others your worth?

I have had a number of clients who have come to me after feeling that they haven’t made much progress in long-term therapy.

They come to me to try a different approach.

They have worked through a lot of their psychological issues and may have made some progress - but they still feel there is something holding them back.

I’ve heard on several occasions of people who have had months or years of psychological input who - once they try a different approach - find their mood finally lifts. For example, a young male who had over 12 months of psychological therapy added some omega 3 into his regime and within a couple of weeks noticed that he felt less irritable, less aggressive and calmer.

Self-care is essential for both mental and physical health. Self-care is "the practice of taking action to preserve or improve one's own health” and “the practice of taking an active role in protecting one's own well-being and happiness, in particular during periods of stress” (Oxford).

There appears to be some misconception that self-care is something of a luxury, an indulgence or ‘selfish’. However self-care (caring for oneself) is a necessary part of staying well. It involves basic things such as choosing the right food to eat, engaging in exercise, nurturing relationships, committing to forming good habits and paying your taxes on time, as well as sleeping in, getting a massage, speaking up or walking out.

The issue comes from what people interpret as self-care

Yesterday was world mental health day. The theme of this years mental health day was ‘suicide prevention’.

I struggle with this concept. Suicide prevention? What about preventing people from becoming depressed in the first place?

Depression isn’t simply ‘feeling sad’, or having issues coping with a loss - ie a normal part of grieving. Depression often comes on with no discerning reason, to those who on the outside appear to ‘have it all’. It’s complex, complicated and confusing.