Grief, in general, is a response to loss. Grief can occur after a death, divorce, sickness or other significant loss such as a miscarriage or changes to one’s employment status. Grief often involves intense sadness, and sometimes feelings of shock, numbness or even denial and anger. Nonetheless, how people experience and manage grief can differ […]
It’s that time of year again….December! The new year is fast approaching and for many of us, December can be an extremely busy month, catching up with friends and family, and winding up with work for the year. For many, this time of year is associated with getaways and family holidays, however that may not […]
The one constant thing in our lives is change, as it is constant and inevitable. Change can come into our lives as a result of a crisis, as a result of choice or just by chance. In either situation, we are all faced with having to make a choice. The reality is we cannot avoid […]
Animal-assisted therapy, or AAT involves a situation where an animal is assisting a therapist to reach a specific goal with a client. Many animals can assist in a therapeutic environment, such as dogs, cats, horses, and even rabbits! Research has shown that there are many benefits to animal-assisted therapy. The most consistent improvements have been […]
Many people say that sleep is important and that we need to rest up, but why exactly is that so? What are the actual benefits of sleep, and what could go wrong when we don’t actually get a full night’s rest? A good night’s sleep doesn’t just lay in the amount of time that you […]
Grief is a natural response when facing a life limiting illness and the death of someone you love. Each person experiences grief in their own way. It can change from day to day and over time. There is no right or wrong way of coping with grief. Grief can feel overwhelming, and at specific times of the […]
Have you ever felt so angry that your stomach hurt and your head pounds? Well, I have. In a recent event, I felt disrespected and taken advantage of. My blood boiled, my anger arose, and disappointment set it. Sounds familiar? I realised the physical sensations that I was experiencing were a reflection of the internal […]
Learning that someone close to you has a potentially life impacting diagnosis, is a difficult experience. You may feel anxious, afraid or overwhelmed by your own emotions and wonder how you can help them during the times ahead. You may experience a sense of disbelief, denial and also a sense of grief. If you take […]
As we near the end of another year, we often start to think about our New Years’ resolutions. We reflect on the year that was and what we hope to achieve in 2020. We usually create goals related to work, family, health, holidays, money… which is all well and good however, we often drop the […]
For some families, having a diagnosis that explains their child’s speech, behavioural and emotional issues is a relief. However, for others, it may be a complete shock and a rather challenging issue to come to terms with. From a psychologist’s point of view (for me at least), a diagnosis is actually a positive turning point […]