In the journey of life, we all face unique challenges that shape our experiences and how we interact with the world. For autistic individuals, these challenges can be particularly complex, often requiring specialised support to navigate. Counselling is one such support mechanism that can make a profound difference in the lives of autistic clients. By fostering understanding, providing coping strategies, and creating a safe space for expression, counselling helps autistic individuals feel better about themselves and feel more confident in a society that isn’t always that accommodating for neurodivergent individuals.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition that affects individuals in various ways, impacting social interactions, communication, and behaviour. For many individuals diagnosed with autism, navigating the world can present unique challenges. However, with the right support and understanding and, the right environments individuals with autism can thrive and lead fulfilling lives. In this blog, we'll explore the role of counselling in helping individuals with autism and their families navigate the challenges they may face.

In the fast-paced and often challenging journey of life, many of us encounter moments where our confidence and self-esteem may waver. Whether facing personal struggles, professional challenges, or the complexities of relationships, the impact on our mental well-being can be profound. This blog delves into the transformative power of counselling, exploring how seeking guidance can significantly enhance confidence and self-esteem.

Burnout is a state of mental, emotional and physical exhaustion. It happens when you are in a stressful environment for a prolonged period of time. Most commonly experienced when you are in a job with high levels of workload, stress and pressure, possibly unrealistic targets, challenging colleagues/patients/clients, or even just hating your job - the list is endless.

What is ADHD? To those who don’t know ADHD stands for it is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. It is a chronic disorder present from birth and characterised by inappropriate levels of attention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. A neurodevelopmental condition, not a mental health condition and also not influenced by environment or behaviour. People with ADHD often experience the condition quite differently from one another and this can be because each individual’s condition is a little varied but also because there are the 3 different types.

Depression is a low mood that lasts for weeks or months and can affect day to day functioning. It can affect any one of us at any time in our lives. Symptoms include sadness, hopelessness, frustration, loss of interest and an overall dismal outlook on each day ahead. Feelings that come with it can be anything from guilt, shame, anger, anxiety, tiredness, irritability, tearfulness, emptiness, deep sadness etc and most importantly you can’t just decide to stop feeling depressed.

What are boundaries?
Personal boundaries are the limits and rules we set for ourselves within a variety of different settings and relationships. Boundaries are essential to having strong and healthy relationships. Having healthy boundaries means establishing your limitations and clearly expressing them.

I write this blog as I believe its not about me selling myself as your Counsellor (as tempting as that is!) but about me helping to ensure you find the right Counsellor for you. Not everyone is a perfect fit, after all we are human and we make decisions on people within the first few seconds of meeting someone.

Is there a relationship between food and my mental health?Simple answer is Yes! Our diet doesn’t just affect our physical health, it can also affect our mental health and our general wellbeing. The research shows there is a relationship between our diet and mental health. Eating well can help you to feel better, with just a few small changes in your day to day eating habits. Food is more than just something to fill us up when we are hungry. It is the fuel to give us energy, it can be medicinal to help healing, and supplies nutrients our bodies need to function. So, it is hugely important that we give our body what it needs.

When you meet someone with NPD for the first time in a relationship for example, it’s likely they will be highly romantic, sweep you off your feet and you will be deep in the honeymoon phase. That said, very very slowly they will start to make jokes, make fun of you (but it’s just banter right?) but then the jokes turn into belittling and name calling which ever so gradually reduce your self-worth, self-esteem and confidence down to below zero.

Loneliness, ….Alone, ……Social isolation…. something as 2020 hit I think we all felt at some point. However, there are differences between each of these words which is explore below. “I feel like I don’t have any meaningful relationships” “I feel like I don’t really exist” “I feel like no-one needs me” are just some common thoughts of someone feeling loneliness or alone.

What is Imposter Syndrome?
Imposter syndrome is an intriguing phenomenon which I encounter regularly in the therapy room, at work, with friends, family and even with those we would never think could experience it, such as famous actors, authors, or our heroes/role models. It seems to be something we are all or have all experienced at some point. Whether it is as a good mum, a high-power director or manager, a student doing their PhD, or an employee starting a new job. The list is endless. Do any of us walk around thinking “I’m the real deal?” “What if they spot that I don’t belong?”. “What if they find out I’m not good enough?”, “What if they realise, I’m a fraud?”, “What if they find me out?”

What is bullying
Bullying is a form of unacceptable and aggressive behaviour which causes an individual to be in some form of distress, suffering or upset and this occurs often in places such as school or work place. When someone mentions bullying, what do you initially think? Playground bullying? I think a very high percentage of us can remember some form of bullying in our childhood whether it be by a teacher, a fellow class mate, family member or even someone you didn’t really know.

This blog is about how important it is today that mens mental health matters. It looks into the influences and pressures men have in society today. And a personal view on men in the therapy room of Aberdeen Bespoke Counselling.

What springs to mind when I say anger? Rage? Aggression? Red? Pain? Emotion? Fear? Intensity? Boiling over? Dangerous? Threatening? That previously would certainly have been some of the words that would have sprung to my mind if we played word association!

In my blog today I write about self-disclosure. What it is, how it can be viewed, my opinion of self-disclosure and most interestingly Irvin Yalom’s opinions of self-disclosure (whom I admire the most in the counselling world!). Irvin Yalom is an American existential psychiatrist who is emeritus professor of psychiatry at Stanford University, as well as an author of numerous well-known fiction and nonfiction books.

I focus on self-disclosure in the context of when, how, how much and what a counsellor can/should disclose about themselves to their client.

Is life good, but there just feels like something is missing?
This writer and her life-changing book ‘Running on Empty’ opened my eyes to a whole new way to consider what some clients have lived through and the reasons they now feel the way they do as adults.
It was a jaw dropping moment when I read this book. She described things I knew and had previously analysed in detail but the book brought it all together

Neurodiverse sounds like such a complex term. But it’s- quite the opposite - it’s simply an umbrella term which covers Autism, ADHD, ADD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Tourettes and more. We use the term ‘normal’ in different parts of our lives, relationships and families, but we are slowly coming to the realisation there is no ‘normal’ or ‘right’ way for the brain to function.

When I say people pleasing what do you think? Nice, easy going person, accommodating, or do you think pushover, take advantage of, take and not give? Many view people pleasing in a variety of ways, however I write about it today as a gentle warning for those people pleasers out there.

This blog is about an article on Dissosociative Indentity Disorder which used to be called multiple personality disorder.