Health & care

So what are boundaries? And why are they important? Personal boundaries are guidelines, limits, rules that an individual creates to identify permissible ways for other people to behave towards them. Setting limits for acceptable behaviour from those around you. Because personal boundaries are unique to each person (and can often be invisible) they can be easily and often crossed (sometimes unbeknownst to the person crossing them). It can mean making what is implicit, explicit so that others’ know what is acceptable for you. Personal boundaries are informed by our values and beliefs and are directly linked to our self esteem. Weak Personal Boundaries can leave you feeling vulnerable, taken for granted and frustrated. It can often be the case that we shift our own boundaries to fit different relationships. Healthy boundaries keep people together in a healthy way by keeping out the destructive elements (such as abuse, cruelty or manipulation). Boundaries can be: Material – Lending things,...

Online therapy comes under different names like teletherapy or telemental health and although it seems quite recent to many it has been in situ for many years. I have always wondered if I could achieve that same level of ‘containment’, ‘holding’ and’ treatment’ for my clients through the medium of Zoom/Skype.  I am glad to say I have been pleasantly surprised at how well this new medium is working, not just as a support for but also as a space for some really deep work. While I had already built up a relationship with most of my clients previous to our online work, I have taken on new clients whose only experience of therapy is through technology. Whether online or in person, the first port of call is to assess where this individual is in their process and to determine if I am the best fit for them. As I move forward in my practice, I have had to find ways to transfer all of the fundamentals I use in in-person work to the online platform. I feel breaking down the different parts o...

NIR is a non-invasive laser treatment designed to stimulate collagen production and tighten lax skin, and is very effective when used to treat the signs of ageing on the lower face, jawline and neck, usually in conjunction with Laser Lift. It can also be used on the body, such as the stomach, cellulite areas, backs of arms and inner thighs, but is not suitable for treatment around the eyes or forehead, or for sensitive skin. Light near the infrared spectrum is used to briefly elevate the temperature of the skin, deeply penetrating it. This produces microscopic thermal injury to the tissues in the dermis, which contracts existing elastin fibres, and stimulates the formation of new, thicker, uniformly aligned collagen. Typically, a course of six treatments is recommended, at fortnightly intervals. Thereafter a programme of one treatment every four months will maintain the benefits. There may be some variation in your prescribed treatment plan, depending on the severity of your condition....

Anybody can benefit from Psychotherapy, which does not necessarily mean they have some problem. Perhaps, it is like having a personal trainer for their mental health. It is vital to get the right therapist for you . The internet is your backyard, do your research. You can virtually kiss many frogs.  Turn your stumbling blocks into stepping stones by bringing any fears you have about starting therapy and other issues into the sessions. They are invaluable for the work. It is becoming normal for people, including our friends and family, to be in Psychotherapy . TV shows such as ‘The Sopranos’ and ‘In Treatment’ have lessened the mystique of the shrink. However, there can still be a perception of a stigma attached to it, fuelling secrecy, shame, and guilt.  Recently, clients have been finding solace in beginning therapy and exploring heightened anxiety and boredom, both products of the Covid-19 Pandemic. Words such as prison and tunnel are used to convey feelings of stuckness and...