I recently attended a series of training sessions hosted by Macmillan Cancer Support. Not only did I expand my knowledge of cancer, as a cancer counselling specialist, but I was also very privileged to be amongst, cancer patient, course participants who courageously shared their cancer journey experiences.
When I enquired about their views reagrding counselling it was heartening to hear them all describe how invaluable counselling had proven during their most difficult stages.
Encouragingly Recent Studies also support this view indicating Better Health Due To Cancer Counselling
Friday, 22 July 2011
Tuesday, 28 June 2011
Dyslexia
I was very sad and disheartened to read the recent article ‘Dyslexic Boy failed by the system’ below in the Evening Standard:
"A mother claims today that her 10-year-old son has been left with a reading age of four after being failed by his school, teachers and council.
Like most dyslexics the boy is gifted artistically and has a photographic memory. But he is also "severely dyslexic" and has progressed "just one month in five years" after being refused the extra help he needs".
Judging by his quote below sounds like Winston Churchill a fellow dyslexic had a similar experience at school:
"I was, on the whole, considerably discouraged by my school days. It was not pleasant to feel oneself so completely outclassed and left behind at the beginning of the race."
My views in a nutshell
My philosophy is that all people have an enormous capacity for living creatively, lovingly and joyfully which is often untapped or repressed in our society. This tragic story is a typical example of a gifted individual failed by system!!!!
As a Consultant Integrative Psychotherapist specialising in counselling for dyslexic clients, I witness first hand how these gifted children often develop into under confident adults. Why do Education Ministers and Policymakers continue to develop policies not taking into account that, like everyone, these children are unique and so have a preferred learning style? Through identifying learning styles, you are able to capitalise on an individual’s strengths and improve self-advocacy skills. School education methods, particular to an individual allow that individual to learn best. Knowing and understanding our learning style helps us to learn more effectively.
There is also direct relationship between education and health — better educated individuals have more positive health outcomes.
Despite this, the good news is that if dyslexics are natural self starters, have strong encouraging role models and live in a thriving home environment they can achieve very successful careers as adults.
Famous people with the gift of dyslexia include:
Sir Richard Branson
Pablo Picasso
Leonardo Da Vinci
Andy Warhol
Keanu Reeves
Kiera Knightley
Dr. Peter Lovatt
Dr. James Lovelock
Albert Einstein
Thomas Edison
George Patton
Nigel Kennedy
John Lennon
A few book recommendations:
The Gift of Dyslexia
Practical Strategies for Living with Dyslexia
Dyslexia: A Parents' Survival Guide
Tom's Special Talent – Dyslexia
The Dyslexic Adult in a Non-dyslexic World
The Dyslexic Adult: Interventions and Outcomes - An Evidence-based Approach
Some Organisations
Xtraordinary People
British Dyslexia Association
Dyslexia Action
Springboard for children
White Space
The Dyslexia SpLD Trust
"A mother claims today that her 10-year-old son has been left with a reading age of four after being failed by his school, teachers and council.
Like most dyslexics the boy is gifted artistically and has a photographic memory. But he is also "severely dyslexic" and has progressed "just one month in five years" after being refused the extra help he needs".
Judging by his quote below sounds like Winston Churchill a fellow dyslexic had a similar experience at school:
"I was, on the whole, considerably discouraged by my school days. It was not pleasant to feel oneself so completely outclassed and left behind at the beginning of the race."
My views in a nutshell
My philosophy is that all people have an enormous capacity for living creatively, lovingly and joyfully which is often untapped or repressed in our society. This tragic story is a typical example of a gifted individual failed by system!!!!
As a Consultant Integrative Psychotherapist specialising in counselling for dyslexic clients, I witness first hand how these gifted children often develop into under confident adults. Why do Education Ministers and Policymakers continue to develop policies not taking into account that, like everyone, these children are unique and so have a preferred learning style? Through identifying learning styles, you are able to capitalise on an individual’s strengths and improve self-advocacy skills. School education methods, particular to an individual allow that individual to learn best. Knowing and understanding our learning style helps us to learn more effectively.
There is also direct relationship between education and health — better educated individuals have more positive health outcomes.
Despite this, the good news is that if dyslexics are natural self starters, have strong encouraging role models and live in a thriving home environment they can achieve very successful careers as adults.
Famous people with the gift of dyslexia include:
Sir Richard Branson
Pablo Picasso
Leonardo Da Vinci
Andy Warhol
Keanu Reeves
Kiera Knightley
Dr. Peter Lovatt
Dr. James Lovelock
Albert Einstein
Thomas Edison
George Patton
Nigel Kennedy
John Lennon
A few book recommendations:
The Gift of Dyslexia
Practical Strategies for Living with Dyslexia
Dyslexia: A Parents' Survival Guide
Tom's Special Talent – Dyslexia
The Dyslexic Adult in a Non-dyslexic World
The Dyslexic Adult: Interventions and Outcomes - An Evidence-based Approach
Some Organisations
Xtraordinary People
British Dyslexia Association
Dyslexia Action
Springboard for children
White Space
The Dyslexia SpLD Trust
Sunday, 10 October 2010
Mike Leigh Another Year Film Premiere
Only eight days until I attend the Another Year Film Premiere and once again meet the delightful Mike Leigh!!!
Nominated for the Palme d'Or award award at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival, a brilliant ensemble and resonant script make Another Year one of Mike Leigh's best films.
The film unfolds over four seasons, an accumulation of encounters and largely minor events that emphasize Leigh’s ingenuity in taking the essence of daily life and transforming it into something resonant and meaningful. Not too dissimilar, to the skills used by psychotherapists, like myself, to interpret their clients’ experiences and narratives in the consultation room. Following an "accumulation of encounters" I was rather excitedly chauffeur driven to the Another Year film set to advise Mike and his cast on the authenticity of this remarkable film narrative involving counselling in September 2009. See http://www.bfi.org.uk/lff/news/1192
Nominated for the Palme d'Or award award at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival, a brilliant ensemble and resonant script make Another Year one of Mike Leigh's best films.
The film unfolds over four seasons, an accumulation of encounters and largely minor events that emphasize Leigh’s ingenuity in taking the essence of daily life and transforming it into something resonant and meaningful. Not too dissimilar, to the skills used by psychotherapists, like myself, to interpret their clients’ experiences and narratives in the consultation room. Following an "accumulation of encounters" I was rather excitedly chauffeur driven to the Another Year film set to advise Mike and his cast on the authenticity of this remarkable film narrative involving counselling in September 2009. See http://www.bfi.org.uk/lff/news/1192
Saturday, 18 September 2010
Self esteem
What is self-esteem?
Some people think that self-esteem means confidence - and confidence comes into it - but it's rather more than that.
There are any number of apparently confident people who can do marvellous things but who have poor self-esteem.
Many people in the public eye fall into this category. Actors, comedians and singers in particular can glow with assurance on stage, yet off-stage feel desperately insecure.
Think of the late Princess of Wales or Marilyn Monroe and you'll see that public adulation is no guarantee of self-belief.
The word 'esteem' comes from a Latin word that means 'to estimate'. Self-esteem is how you estimate yourself.
To do that, you need to ask yourself certain questions.
Do I like myself?
Do I think I'm a good human being?
Am I someone deserving of love?
Do I deserve happiness?
Do I feel deep down that I'm an okay person?
People with low self-esteem find it hard to answer yes to these questions. Perhaps you are one of them. If so, what can you do?
How can you improve your self-esteem?
You can begin by accepting that you are certainly not alone. Masses of people have this problem.
Secondly, take on board the fact you are a wonderful, special person - and there is no one quite like you.
Not only are your fingerprints and DNA different from everyone else's (unless you have an identical twin), but your mind and how it thinks and operates is totally your own.This means that out of six billion people in the world, you are a one-off. So if nature has bothered to make you unique, don't you feel you should accept that you're important, and that you have as much right as anyone else to be on this planet?
You have other rights, too. One of them is the right to make mistakes. Don't forget that 'to err is human' and most of us learn through getting things wrong before we get them right.
Furthermore, we have the right to respect ourselves - and to be respected. Finally, and perhaps most important of all, we have the right to say yes or no for ourselves.
Put behaviour in perspective
It's not healthy to condemn ourselves because of one aspect of our behaviour.Sometimes we feel we are 'no good' because we have failed an exam or lost a job, or we have been unkind or because we are having an affair.
All of us have many aspects to our personalities, and our current behaviour is just one of those aspects.
Try not to believe that the whole of you is hopeless, unkind or a failure, when really it is just one part of your behaviour that may - or may not - be these things.
Halt destructive thoughts
Many people with poor self-esteem think they're not very important and their views carry no weight. Is this you?
If so, try to stop these destructive thoughts because if you go around believing them, you'll encourage other people to believe them too. Instead, start thinking of yourself as someone who has rights, opinions and ideas that are just as valid as anyone else's. This will help you to improve your self-esteem.
Techniques to improve self-esteem
Low self esteem feeds on negative thoughts so Don't indulge in self criticism. Why are you waging war against yourself? Get to know your negative self talk and silence your inner judge/inner critic.
You can choose to please yourself It is good to you care about other's feelings but aren't your needs just as important? Don't neglect yourself!
Don't try to be like someone else. This leads to lack of self worth and confidence. You are unique and you cannot be someone else. Strive to improve but don't criticise yourself for not being as successful, beautiful, slim or as popular as someone else.
Take life and yourself less seriously. Failure just means you are not successful YET.
Everybody fails before succeeding, don't look on it as failure but as a means to learning. Perhaps you just need a change of direction. Problems make you stronger if you strive to overcome them.
Self worth, confidence and assuredness increase when you Focus on your needs and desires. You deserve to live life as you want. This is not selfishness as what you want doesn't hurt others or prevent them from living life on their terms.
Focus on your successes. Lack of confidence feeds on your feelings of failure and inadequacy. Remember the truly successful things you have done in your life. Reward yourself when you do succeed
Use visualisation to help you achieve your dreams and increase your self esteem!
Focus on your strengths. Use them. You will succeed if you are true to yourself.
Work at achieving your goals. If you do this your confidence will increase and you will feel positive.
Accept yourself for who you are. Learn to accept the things that you cannot change and focus on the positive things about yourself. If you have a mental or physical disability, learn to accept the fact that you cannot change it, and focus on the positive aspects of yourself such as your personality, your ability to be a good friend, and your ability to love and care for others.
Associate with people who are positive and supportive. If you surround yourself with negative people, your feeling will tend to be negative. Positive, supportive friends can help to raise your self-esteem by providing a nurturing environment for you.
Focus on your positive qualities - honesty, creativeness, unselfishness, helpfulness, communication skills, and your ability to care for the welfare of others.
Learn to forgive yourself when you do not accomplish all that you set out to. Everyone falls short sometimes, but rather than focusing on the negative aspects, learn to readjust your goals so that you have a better chance of meeting them. Almost any negative experience can be turned into a positive experience with the right attitude.
10-minute technique
People with poor self-esteem often fail to give themselves enough time and space. So find 10 minutes every day to be alone, and to just sit and do nothing. Some people find it helpful to close their eyes and imagine a country scene or the sight and sound of waves gently lapping against the shore.
During this 10 minutes, allow yourself to feel peaceful and happy. Enjoy this time. It is yours - and yours alone.
Accentuate the positive
Often we make ourselves unhappy because we go over and over mistakes we have made. But we can improve our self-esteem if we re-think the things we believe we have done wrong or badly.
For example, one of my clients has to give presentations at work. He used to mentally beat himself up after every one and stew over tiny errors. Now he writes an account of each presentation shortly after he's given it. He writes about all the things that went well.
He doesn't need to write about the bad things - they will stick in his memory and he will try hard not to repeat them - but he will forget the good things unless he writes them down.
So when you have a bad day, or something goes wrong in your relationship or at work, write an account of what went right with that episode, not what went wrong.
The results will surprise you - and improve how you see yourself.
List 50 things you like about yourself
If you're seriously lacking in self-esteem this could take weeks, but persevere.
You can write down your characteristics.
You can include things about your looks.
You can even write about the things you do. For example, you may buy a copy of The Big Issue on a day when you're short of money, or you may help an elderly woman in the supermarket when you're rushing to get your own shopping done.
When you have reached your 50 good things, keep the list somewhere you can see it all the time.
Next comes the harder part. Try to record one more new thing you like about yourself every day for the rest of your life.
Getting and giving criticism One of the areas that people with low self-esteem have greatest difficulty with is criticism - giving as well as receiving it. Both can be extraordinarily difficult.
Some individuals are demolished by criticism, but it's something we can't avoid.
Criticism is often unfair, and when it is we need to counter it by calmly putting our own case across. But some criticism is justified, and when we're sensible we can learn from it.
How to deal with criticism
Often when we're criticised, we're so hurt that we start excusing ourselves and rebutting what's being said without really listening to it.
Listen to criticism without interrupting.
If there are aspects to the criticism that are valid, begin by agreeing with those points.
If parts are unclear, ask for clarification.
If you realise you were wrong, say so and apologise.
If criticism is wrong or unfair, smile and say: 'I'm afraid I don't agree with you.'
It takes a lot of practice to feel and act this way.
How to give criticism
People with poor-self esteem find it hard to dish out criticism. Many avoid promotion because they can't face the prospect of being in authority and having to criticise others.
So how can you learn to criticise when you have to?
Keep calm. Make your criticism at an appropriate time. Don't wait until you're so fed up, you're furious - you're bound to make a mess of it.
Take some deep breaths, then try a technique called the 'criticism sandwich'. This means you say something nice, then insert the criticism, then end with another positive.
Make sure you only criticise the behaviour, not the person.
An example would be: 'Your work is usually great, but it's not quite right today. I'll have to ask you to re-do that report. I know it's unlike you to get things wrong, so don't worry.'
Say I not you
You might notice that people who are fair when they criticise tend to use the word 'I' rather than the word 'you.' This is because the word I shows you're in control and that you've thought about what you're saying.
All too frequently we don't say anything initially, which is when we should address the problem. Instead, we bottle it up until we explode. Then we use the words 'you', 'you're' and 'your' all the time.
We say: 'You're incompetent; you've missed the point; your work isn't up to scratch.'
These phrases sound angry and accusatory. They also show that we're not in control. And after uttering them, we generally feel worse about ourselves and our self-esteem plummets.
How to say no
These tips are just as handy when it comes to standing up for yourself. They're useful when you want to say no without feeling guilty. Just keep calm and use the word I.
Say: 'I won't be coming to that party with you.' Or: 'I'm afraid I can't make it to tea on Saturday because I need to go shopping.' Or: 'I'm sorry, I can't work late tonight, but if you need me to, I can stay tomorrow.'
People with poor self-esteem are always getting talked into doing things they don't want to do. It must stop if you want to value yourself more.
Some people think that self-esteem means confidence - and confidence comes into it - but it's rather more than that.
There are any number of apparently confident people who can do marvellous things but who have poor self-esteem.
Many people in the public eye fall into this category. Actors, comedians and singers in particular can glow with assurance on stage, yet off-stage feel desperately insecure.
Think of the late Princess of Wales or Marilyn Monroe and you'll see that public adulation is no guarantee of self-belief.
The word 'esteem' comes from a Latin word that means 'to estimate'. Self-esteem is how you estimate yourself.
To do that, you need to ask yourself certain questions.
Do I like myself?
Do I think I'm a good human being?
Am I someone deserving of love?
Do I deserve happiness?
Do I feel deep down that I'm an okay person?
People with low self-esteem find it hard to answer yes to these questions. Perhaps you are one of them. If so, what can you do?
How can you improve your self-esteem?
You can begin by accepting that you are certainly not alone. Masses of people have this problem.
Secondly, take on board the fact you are a wonderful, special person - and there is no one quite like you.
Not only are your fingerprints and DNA different from everyone else's (unless you have an identical twin), but your mind and how it thinks and operates is totally your own.This means that out of six billion people in the world, you are a one-off. So if nature has bothered to make you unique, don't you feel you should accept that you're important, and that you have as much right as anyone else to be on this planet?
You have other rights, too. One of them is the right to make mistakes. Don't forget that 'to err is human' and most of us learn through getting things wrong before we get them right.
Furthermore, we have the right to respect ourselves - and to be respected. Finally, and perhaps most important of all, we have the right to say yes or no for ourselves.
Put behaviour in perspective
It's not healthy to condemn ourselves because of one aspect of our behaviour.Sometimes we feel we are 'no good' because we have failed an exam or lost a job, or we have been unkind or because we are having an affair.
All of us have many aspects to our personalities, and our current behaviour is just one of those aspects.
Try not to believe that the whole of you is hopeless, unkind or a failure, when really it is just one part of your behaviour that may - or may not - be these things.
Halt destructive thoughts
Many people with poor self-esteem think they're not very important and their views carry no weight. Is this you?
If so, try to stop these destructive thoughts because if you go around believing them, you'll encourage other people to believe them too. Instead, start thinking of yourself as someone who has rights, opinions and ideas that are just as valid as anyone else's. This will help you to improve your self-esteem.
Techniques to improve self-esteem
Low self esteem feeds on negative thoughts so Don't indulge in self criticism. Why are you waging war against yourself? Get to know your negative self talk and silence your inner judge/inner critic.
You can choose to please yourself It is good to you care about other's feelings but aren't your needs just as important? Don't neglect yourself!
Don't try to be like someone else. This leads to lack of self worth and confidence. You are unique and you cannot be someone else. Strive to improve but don't criticise yourself for not being as successful, beautiful, slim or as popular as someone else.
Take life and yourself less seriously. Failure just means you are not successful YET.
Everybody fails before succeeding, don't look on it as failure but as a means to learning. Perhaps you just need a change of direction. Problems make you stronger if you strive to overcome them.
Self worth, confidence and assuredness increase when you Focus on your needs and desires. You deserve to live life as you want. This is not selfishness as what you want doesn't hurt others or prevent them from living life on their terms.
Focus on your successes. Lack of confidence feeds on your feelings of failure and inadequacy. Remember the truly successful things you have done in your life. Reward yourself when you do succeed
Use visualisation to help you achieve your dreams and increase your self esteem!
Focus on your strengths. Use them. You will succeed if you are true to yourself.
Work at achieving your goals. If you do this your confidence will increase and you will feel positive.
Accept yourself for who you are. Learn to accept the things that you cannot change and focus on the positive things about yourself. If you have a mental or physical disability, learn to accept the fact that you cannot change it, and focus on the positive aspects of yourself such as your personality, your ability to be a good friend, and your ability to love and care for others.
Associate with people who are positive and supportive. If you surround yourself with negative people, your feeling will tend to be negative. Positive, supportive friends can help to raise your self-esteem by providing a nurturing environment for you.
Focus on your positive qualities - honesty, creativeness, unselfishness, helpfulness, communication skills, and your ability to care for the welfare of others.
Learn to forgive yourself when you do not accomplish all that you set out to. Everyone falls short sometimes, but rather than focusing on the negative aspects, learn to readjust your goals so that you have a better chance of meeting them. Almost any negative experience can be turned into a positive experience with the right attitude.
10-minute technique
People with poor self-esteem often fail to give themselves enough time and space. So find 10 minutes every day to be alone, and to just sit and do nothing. Some people find it helpful to close their eyes and imagine a country scene or the sight and sound of waves gently lapping against the shore.
During this 10 minutes, allow yourself to feel peaceful and happy. Enjoy this time. It is yours - and yours alone.
Accentuate the positive
Often we make ourselves unhappy because we go over and over mistakes we have made. But we can improve our self-esteem if we re-think the things we believe we have done wrong or badly.
For example, one of my clients has to give presentations at work. He used to mentally beat himself up after every one and stew over tiny errors. Now he writes an account of each presentation shortly after he's given it. He writes about all the things that went well.
He doesn't need to write about the bad things - they will stick in his memory and he will try hard not to repeat them - but he will forget the good things unless he writes them down.
So when you have a bad day, or something goes wrong in your relationship or at work, write an account of what went right with that episode, not what went wrong.
The results will surprise you - and improve how you see yourself.
List 50 things you like about yourself
If you're seriously lacking in self-esteem this could take weeks, but persevere.
You can write down your characteristics.
You can include things about your looks.
You can even write about the things you do. For example, you may buy a copy of The Big Issue on a day when you're short of money, or you may help an elderly woman in the supermarket when you're rushing to get your own shopping done.
When you have reached your 50 good things, keep the list somewhere you can see it all the time.
Next comes the harder part. Try to record one more new thing you like about yourself every day for the rest of your life.
Getting and giving criticism One of the areas that people with low self-esteem have greatest difficulty with is criticism - giving as well as receiving it. Both can be extraordinarily difficult.
Some individuals are demolished by criticism, but it's something we can't avoid.
Criticism is often unfair, and when it is we need to counter it by calmly putting our own case across. But some criticism is justified, and when we're sensible we can learn from it.
How to deal with criticism
Often when we're criticised, we're so hurt that we start excusing ourselves and rebutting what's being said without really listening to it.
Listen to criticism without interrupting.
If there are aspects to the criticism that are valid, begin by agreeing with those points.
If parts are unclear, ask for clarification.
If you realise you were wrong, say so and apologise.
If criticism is wrong or unfair, smile and say: 'I'm afraid I don't agree with you.'
It takes a lot of practice to feel and act this way.
How to give criticism
People with poor-self esteem find it hard to dish out criticism. Many avoid promotion because they can't face the prospect of being in authority and having to criticise others.
So how can you learn to criticise when you have to?
Keep calm. Make your criticism at an appropriate time. Don't wait until you're so fed up, you're furious - you're bound to make a mess of it.
Take some deep breaths, then try a technique called the 'criticism sandwich'. This means you say something nice, then insert the criticism, then end with another positive.
Make sure you only criticise the behaviour, not the person.
An example would be: 'Your work is usually great, but it's not quite right today. I'll have to ask you to re-do that report. I know it's unlike you to get things wrong, so don't worry.'
Say I not you
You might notice that people who are fair when they criticise tend to use the word 'I' rather than the word 'you.' This is because the word I shows you're in control and that you've thought about what you're saying.
All too frequently we don't say anything initially, which is when we should address the problem. Instead, we bottle it up until we explode. Then we use the words 'you', 'you're' and 'your' all the time.
We say: 'You're incompetent; you've missed the point; your work isn't up to scratch.'
These phrases sound angry and accusatory. They also show that we're not in control. And after uttering them, we generally feel worse about ourselves and our self-esteem plummets.
How to say no
These tips are just as handy when it comes to standing up for yourself. They're useful when you want to say no without feeling guilty. Just keep calm and use the word I.
Say: 'I won't be coming to that party with you.' Or: 'I'm afraid I can't make it to tea on Saturday because I need to go shopping.' Or: 'I'm sorry, I can't work late tonight, but if you need me to, I can stay tomorrow.'
People with poor self-esteem are always getting talked into doing things they don't want to do. It must stop if you want to value yourself more.
Monday, 30 August 2010
Sorry I’ve been off line. I spent most of August camping in Muker, Swaledale. Breathtaking scenery and an absolute pleasure to wake up every morning listening to a trickling stream at the back of the tent not to mention an abundance of wet chocolate labradors, cream teas and home made savoury pies yum!!!
Also been reading the recently published screw work let’s play book by John Williams http://www.screwworkletsplay.com/. Highly inspirational especially for those of you considering escaping the corporate world, changing career path or entering the world of self employment. The book includes many interesting stories about people who have turned their passions into their living. It made me realise how enormously passionate and enthusiastic I am about the psychotherapy profession and how fortunate I am to have found my true vocation. I know this because my work as a psychotherapist and consultant is always a pleasure and never a chore hence why I’m writing this blog on Bank Holiday Monday. Get a life!!!!
Also been reading the recently published screw work let’s play book by John Williams http://www.screwworkletsplay.com/. Highly inspirational especially for those of you considering escaping the corporate world, changing career path or entering the world of self employment. The book includes many interesting stories about people who have turned their passions into their living. It made me realise how enormously passionate and enthusiastic I am about the psychotherapy profession and how fortunate I am to have found my true vocation. I know this because my work as a psychotherapist and consultant is always a pleasure and never a chore hence why I’m writing this blog on Bank Holiday Monday. Get a life!!!!
Friday, 30 July 2010
Work Life Balance
Work Life Balance
Work, life, kids and commitments - it's tough to juggle it all, leaving many of us feeling we haven't got the right work/life balance. Perhaps you're not getting enough time with your kids; you haven't even got the time to listen to your favourite tunes; or you want a new challenge in your life. You don't need to go the whole hog and jack in your job, although after thinking about it, you might decide to!
A few small changes can lead to big differences, banishing that fed up feeling and helping you to feel fulfilled.
The term work/life balance was first coined in the 1980s when people began to recognise that while work is an important part of life, it shouldn't dominate people's family and personal life, and that a happy worker is a productive worker.
The rising cost of living and an increasingly consumer society means that people are more driven to earn.
Supporting a family is more costly than ever with children becoming major consumers.
We work longer hours. UK workers work the longest hours in Europe, employers often insist their staff opt out of the Working Time Directive to work more than 48 hours a week and many companies have a culture of overtime.
Working patterns have changed as service industries have moved towards 24-hour services.
People travel further to get to work, and journey times have increased significantly.
More mothers go back to work and over two thirds of families now have both parents working outside the home which puts a strain on managing childcare.
This all combines to make many of us feel that our leisure time and interests have become a low priority. However, it is possible to change things and to take control back to get the right work life balance.
Strategies
Want to improve your work life balance?
Then consider these simple tips:
Remain confident in your abilities and your worth and realise that you have the power to change how you feel about your life.
Get away
Get qualified Get a new hobby
Change your job or your life
You may benefit from talking to a UKCP accredited psychotherapist outside your usual circle of friends and family. Psychotherapy and counselling are working relationships in which you are helped to explore and manage what is happening in your life. Key aims are to help you understand and control your anxieties and to find better ways of dealing with life’s continuing challenges. Examples include: integrative and cognitive behavioural therapy.
Work, life, kids and commitments - it's tough to juggle it all, leaving many of us feeling we haven't got the right work/life balance. Perhaps you're not getting enough time with your kids; you haven't even got the time to listen to your favourite tunes; or you want a new challenge in your life. You don't need to go the whole hog and jack in your job, although after thinking about it, you might decide to!
A few small changes can lead to big differences, banishing that fed up feeling and helping you to feel fulfilled.
The term work/life balance was first coined in the 1980s when people began to recognise that while work is an important part of life, it shouldn't dominate people's family and personal life, and that a happy worker is a productive worker.
The rising cost of living and an increasingly consumer society means that people are more driven to earn.
Supporting a family is more costly than ever with children becoming major consumers.
We work longer hours. UK workers work the longest hours in Europe, employers often insist their staff opt out of the Working Time Directive to work more than 48 hours a week and many companies have a culture of overtime.
Working patterns have changed as service industries have moved towards 24-hour services.
People travel further to get to work, and journey times have increased significantly.
More mothers go back to work and over two thirds of families now have both parents working outside the home which puts a strain on managing childcare.
This all combines to make many of us feel that our leisure time and interests have become a low priority. However, it is possible to change things and to take control back to get the right work life balance.
Strategies
Want to improve your work life balance?
Then consider these simple tips:
Remain confident in your abilities and your worth and realise that you have the power to change how you feel about your life.
Get away
Get qualified Get a new hobby
Change your job or your life
You may benefit from talking to a UKCP accredited psychotherapist outside your usual circle of friends and family. Psychotherapy and counselling are working relationships in which you are helped to explore and manage what is happening in your life. Key aims are to help you understand and control your anxieties and to find better ways of dealing with life’s continuing challenges. Examples include: integrative and cognitive behavioural therapy.
Benefits of Counselling and Psychotherapy
What benefits can you expect?
It can offer a supportive and caring relationship in which you can explore any issues at your own pace
It can help you see difficulties more objectively
It can build your self esteem
It can be a growing process whereby unwanted feelings can be changed
It can promote a better quality of life and health
You are accepted for who you are
Give you a greater sense of well being
Develop your capacity to make better choices
Increased personal success and contentment
It can offer a supportive and caring relationship in which you can explore any issues at your own pace
It can help you see difficulties more objectively
It can build your self esteem
It can be a growing process whereby unwanted feelings can be changed
It can promote a better quality of life and health
You are accepted for who you are
Give you a greater sense of well being
Develop your capacity to make better choices
Increased personal success and contentment
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