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Throwback to last week’s @bbctheoneshow when I c

Throwback to last week’s @bbctheoneshow when I chatted to Matt Allwright for a feature on #StressAwareness 🧠

In our fast-paced, over-stimulating, always-on world, it is unsurprising that 74% of UK adults report they have felt so stressed at some point they felt overwhelmed or unable to cope.

Recognising the difference between healthy stress and long-term ‘perma-stress’ (living in a constant state of heightened adrenaline) is integral to taking responsibility for our wellbeing.

Key to cultivating resilience is not avoiding stress altogether, nor pushing through and then collapsing on a beach for 2 weeks, but in setting a sustainable pace, managing expectations around productivity, and consciously creating moments of rest and self-regulation.

#stress #stressmanagement #stressreduction #stressrelief #stressawarenessmonth #stressrelease #stressreliever #stressful #anxiety #anxietysupport #depression #mentalhealthawareness #therapistsofinstagram #theoneshow #bbc #anxietyhelp #stresssupport #therapytools #psychotherapy #therapyworks #psychotherapist #counselling #counsellingpsychology

🎥 Great to sit with journalist and presenter @m

🎥 Great to sit with journalist and presenter @mattallwright yesterday for @bbctheoneshow as part of raising awareness for #stressawarenessmonth.

According to UK statistics 74% of adults have felt so stressed at some point they felt overwhelmed or unable to cope*. And yet, a BACP survey this February documented that only 11% sought professional counselling/psychotherapy for #stress support.

It seems that many of us have come to tolerate high stress as part of our everyday lives, despite medical research estimating that as much as 90% of illness and disease is stress-related.

Key to managing our stress levels is understanding that our brains are better suited for Saber-tooth tigers than smartphones, social media and sales targets.

Primitively wired to look for perceived ‘threat’, our modern-day, fast-paced, constantly-switched-on lives can overstimulate our nervous system, leading to long term perma-stress and generalised anxiety.

So whilst you may logically know that not making the project deadline isn’t going to physically kill you, your Saber-tooth tiger brain floods your body with adrenaline and cortisol as if it actually will!

Learning how to consciously recognise the symptoms of stress…

❗️Irritability / on edge
❗️Headaches & blurred vision
❗️Increased heart rate & sweating
❗️Digestion & IBS issues
❗️Racing thoughts
❗️Anxious & Depressive episodes

…can help us to make positive interventions that focus on self-regulation. This may look like:

✅ Seeking professional support
✅ Regular exercise / movement
✅ Mindfulness activities
✅ Realistic productivity levels
✅ Communicating expectations
✅ Breaks - little and often

Tune in this evening to BBC One at 7pm to see the full feature 🎬

*Data from Mental Health Foundation report

Celebrated this Easter with a new 🐣 on the way,

Celebrated this Easter with a new 🐣 on the way, and a new chapter on the horizon.

I’ve debated for a while whether I share my news on here…

Traditionally within the profession, it is controversial (or at least heavily frowned upon) for therapists to self disclose or share their personal life with clients or a public platform.

Of course it goes without saying that protecting therapeutic boundaries and client space remains absolutely sacred. At the same time, I have also learnt that holding the ‘human first, therapist second’ alliance alongside, has helped deepen connection and humanise the therapeutic relationship.

In truth, it has been a vulnerable experience sharing the news with my clients. I was mindful that fertility, pregnancy and parenthood evokes different feelings for each person, depending on their own unique life experience, desires and choices.

I’ve been both moved and at times surprised by what’s come into the room and therapeutic dynamic. Even acknowledging that there is another being in the room (within me) still feels a bit abstract.

And I’ve also been reminded of the value of leaning into the awkward, messy and delicate dance of emotion and conversation. Not just with the news itself, but what it means to navigate a break from my private practice and either a pause or ending with clients.

Some days I look forward to some time out (whilst not time off!), other days I feel an anticipatory loss - of my own identity as a therapist and coach and knowing that I will miss my clients. Each therapeutic relationship is meaningful for me too.

I know I’m very much not alone in my experience, many people grapple with career, maternity leave, parenthood etc…yet it still feels like something only I can figure out as I go along.

I’m still in practice up until the end of June, before I plan to go on Mat Leave from July.

So here I am, or here we are…6 months on a journey together (though my journey to motherhood began long before), curious to see what unfolds and doing my best to lean in and surrender to all the changes I’m experiencing.

Charlotte 💚

✨This is why I am so passionate about mentalheal

✨This is why I am so passionate about mentalhealth and the power of self-awareness.

Contrary to many people's projections, therapy isn't 'complaining about your problems', 'wallowing in woe-unto-me' or 'playing victim'.

Therapy, when the client commits to doing the inner work, is a truly transformative process of becoming conscious;

🧠 of understanding how we all have a blueprint from our early childhood and past events that shape our thoughts, beliefs and behaviours

👥 of recognising the impact of history on our perception of current reality - at home, in work, in relationships with others, and in the relationship to ourself

🎭 of cultivating compassionate curiosity, being able to 'sit with' our feelings rather than project them on others

✨ and ultimately take responsibility of our life and true potential.

This client was resigned to the fact that their depression was 'who they were', rather than a symptom trying to communicate a disconnect from their essential Self. I will never forget the lightbulb moment when they realised it could be different💡

And what makes me feel even prouder, is that this client wanted to write this testimonial to help others feel reassured that support is out there (and it isn't someone just repeatedly asking 'and how does that make you feel!').

Even when working with one person in the room, the ripple effects of becoming conscious spread far and wide 🌍

I’ve got a couple of spaces open for short-term focused therapy, before I go on a break in July. If you would like support, perhaps for a specific issue that you want to find freedom from, drop me a DM to find out more.

Charlotte 🙏🏼

#traumahealing #counselling #therapyworks #mentalhealthrecovery #therapistsofinstagram #innerchildhealing #transformationtuesday

It’s was pretty special to gather with a few of

It’s was pretty special to gather with a few of the @nycp_uk community for our in-person Brunch Meet Up in London yesterday 👏🏼

It’s strange how many of us have spent nearly 3 years connecting monthly on Zoom, and yet there is still a sense of newness to meeting in person (people are always taller than I imagine 😅).

The @nycp_uk is just over 900 strong now, which just shows that though younger counsellors and psychotherapists may be a minority within the industry (less than 18% under the age of 45), we are a growing generation of passionate professionals who want to connect and collaborate in service of championing mental health.

Considering how after just one interview together, Ali @tiliatherapy and I created the network in the midst of the pandemic, I am pretty proud of what it’s become.

Our next online gathering will be on Wednesday 19th April (details to be released soon!). Visit the @nycp_uk bio link to join our closed Facebook group 💛

#therapistsofinstagram #community #connection #mentalhealthprofessionals #networksupport

Connection, community and plenty of conscious cont

Connection, community and plenty of conscious content to digest last week after another fantastic Psychosynthesis Coaching Symposium in London. With a poignant opening keynote and presentation by Alexandra Hatfield and adrian machon, the day was abundant with workshops on:

✨ Dialogue between Sacred Feminine & Emergent Masculine
✨Art and Imagination in Coaching
✨Eco-psychosynthesis and;
✨Archetypal Feminine Leadership (to name a few)...

Not only were the talks and presentations thought-provoking, I was reminded of how special it is to connect with like-minded and soul-led professionals within the coaching field, dedicated to bringing brave conversations to life within leadership.

As always, great to meet new people as well as see a few familiar faces. Thank you to Psychosynthesis Coaching Limited and all who organised, hosted, presented and attended.

Looking forward to seeing what next year brings already! 👏🏼

Still feeling energised and encouraged by the incr

Still feeling energised and encouraged by the incredible turnout and topics at this years BACP Student Conference that took place on Saturday.

Not only was I impressed by how well the event was run, but I was even more heartened by the enthusiasm and willingness of the students to engage in challenging conversation and proactively seek to bridge the gap between training and building their career.

I was honoured to be a guest speaker this year, sharing my pathway of how I have built an ethical, sustainable and fulfilling career as a #psychotherapist and #coach.

The amount of feedback and comments received has been both wholesome and welcomed!

Thank you to all those who made the event what it was, including the team, exhibitors, students and fellow guest speakers 👏🏼

What a fantastic way to kick-start the week, prese

What a fantastic way to kick-start the week, presenting to 140 employees at @simplyhealthuk about the myth of 'Work-Life Balance' and how to move towards a 'Whole-Life' perspective.

Since the phase first arrived on the scene in the 1970-80's, the term Work-Life Balance has been put on a pedestal as the ultimate sweet-spot of unchanging stability to be strived for. Something that simply isn't achievable or realistic in our ever-evolving, adapting lives.

Rather than project ideals on a polarised split of Work vs Life, we are called for a more holistic perspective, that acknowledges how both our personal and professional lives have the capacity to meet our needs when identified and counter-balanced.

Together we explored:

📊 The Evolution & Myth of Work-Life Balance
🏡 Why #workingfromhome isn't the Golden Ticket
🖼 Realistic Reframe: Counter-Balancing
💡 Introducing a Whole-Life Perspective
🎡 The Wheel of Life as a Helpful Tool
🔎 Identifying Imbalance
✅ How to Implement Boundaries & Self Accountability

It was great to receive such positive feedback and hear how many people resonated with the new perspective. Thank you especially to @kamwellltd for the work they do to support these important messages, and to Luke Robinson for championing the subject matter within Simplyhealth!

#worklifebalance #workplacementalhealth #leadershipcoach #consciousbusiness #consciousleadership #workplacehealth #workplacewellbeing #mentalhealthawareness #employeementalhealth #employeesupport #employeewellnessprograms #psychotherapist #bestpractice #burnout #burnoutrecovery #burnoutprevention #wheeloflife #therapistsofinstagram #therapistlife #psychotherapistsofinstagram #mondaymotivation #mentalhealthatwork #careerdevelopment #personaldevelopment #consciousness #consciousliving #traumainformed

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