Marilyn Allen Therapeutic Counselling & Wellbeing

Self Care is essential if you are a therapist. Therapists can be affected by Compassion Fatigue (Secondary Trauma) or Vicarious Trauma. Feelings of burn out, irritability, hopelessness, feeling powerless and disillusioned can be detrimental for a Therapist. Take care of yourself. You can help your clients more when you have looked after your self. Good supervision, self care, well-being activities, networking with colleagues, stress busting activities to release endorphins could help. Let your health be your wealth.

Autumn is the time for renewal. It is an example of how beautiful change can be. The falling leaves, bare trees, the drop in temperature and the change of clothen.However, after  beautiful summer of positivity, autumn can feel a bit dreary and slow. If you need  pick me up, be aware that good nutrition is important. This does not mean a "low calorie" diet - it means nourishing your body  with natural ingredients (organic if possible) which will increase your vitality and keep you energised to generate heat in your body. Your serotonin is made in your gut so what you eat  contributes to your mood - meaning, anxiety, depression and brain fogginess or being happy, feeling motivated and contented.Also, get the remnants of the vitamin D in the sun rays as it supports hormone production which helps control your auto-immune  and stress response.Take up a hobby  and include a bit of physical exercise. Do things to make you feel healthy and happy.A few sessions of talking therapy might also help support you make sense of how your body is responding to the weather change. Take care of your self. You cannot live any where else apart from in your body. A healthy mind supports a healthy body. Let your health be your wealth!

Photo Credit: Forestry Commission Scotland

Adolescents, though may not demonstrate, are sensitive to stress, for instance, environmental stress and physical stress. When the family is going through issues,  bereavement, relationship rupture, peer issues etc children tend to pick up the stress yet some put on a brave face so as not to cause more stress for their care givers. If this is not addressed, it could trigger depression.

Depression could be down to

– genetic causes (predisposition to depression), – biological – physical changes in the body – psycho-social causes – bullying, manipulation, financial issues etc

Symptoms can be

– persistent impairment: when symptoms are everyday for at least two weeks – severity impairment: when the sufferer is immobilised by the symptoms – functional impairment: when the sufferer is not able to carry on with day to day functions/routines

For instance: – tummy aches – loss of interest in most social activities – unmotivated – clinging – irritability – self esteem issues – sadness – inability to regulate affect e.g. irrational thoughts – sleep issues – detachment – possible self sabotage e.g. self medication, self harm – food issues – anxiety

Unhelpful things to say

– you are being too sensitive – this is just a phase – get a grip – you are over reacting – what now? – I know how you feel…

Some Treatments

It is important to treat depression to reduce the rate of relapse throughout adolescence and in adulthood. It might help to identify stressors so that treatment is more effective

– biological treatments – medication – psychological treatments – individual/group/family therapy – cultural/social treatments – school/community/family/ friends intervening

Do you feel your child needs help? contact us for a brief chat about your child’s needs www.marilynallen.co.uk

Photo Credit: Kings College/Campfire Convention

Mufson l. & K. Pollak Dorta D. Moreau, M.M. Weissman 2011 Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depressed Adolescents, 2nd Edn Guilford Press Toner J.B & C.A.B. Freeland 2006 Depression, A Teen’s Guide To Survive and Thrive. Magination Press Treisman K. 2006 Working with Relational and Developmental Trauma in Children and Adolescents. Routledge

Food for Thought? 10 quick things to do to  feed your brain - 1. Water.2. Berries.3. Polyunsaturated fats with Omega 3 and DHA like salmon, fatty fish like trout, seeds, nuts.4. Cut out processed foods which contain unhealthy fats, sugars and additives like preservatives.5. Dark leafy vegetables rich in minerals, vitamins and taste delicious.6. Foods and drinks containing Tumeric.7. Wait for this - Dark  Chocolate!8. Eggs.9. Oranges.10. Drink Green Tea.  PhotoCredit: Yasmin Bin

Loss/Bereavement can evoke very deep emotions in the sufferer. Such emotions can include: - being easily irritated

- feeling lonely or alone- going very deep into your own thoughts and having an existential crisis

- feeling anxious

- having confused feelings

- being scared

- sometimes relief that what you have lost is finally gone

- loss or increase of appetite

- lack of focus