Blog
Featured
Coronavirus: Coping with worries about money
Financial concerns are affecting a lot of us at the moment. Some people will have lost their jobs due to coronavirus, or…
Coronavirus: Coping with grief and loss
Many of us have experienced losses of one kind or another during the coronavirus pandemic. The structure and routine of our…
Preparing for the end of therapy
CBT is a short-term therapy which aims to help you become your own therapist. For most people treatment lasts a few months,…
Anxiety
What does anxiety feel like?
Weâve looked at the symptoms of anxiety in a previous blog, including the common physical and emotional feelings that tend…
5 tips for managing health anxiety
People with health anxiety find themselves worrying a lot about getting ill, or that they might already be ill. In particular,…
Social anxiety and phone calls
Would you rather do just about anything than pick up the phone? Do you put calls off for as long as possible? Does your heart…
Overthinking
Most of us are prone to overthinking at times. We might go over and over something in our mind, or wrestle for days with…
Breathing exercises for anxiety
When weâre feeling anxious, our breathing is one of the things that can be impacted very quickly. Anxiety triggers a number…
How to deal with social anxiety
Lots of us experience shyness or a lack of confidence in social situations. Social anxiety disorder is more extreme than…
Understanding the different types of anxiety, and whatâs behind them
Most of us experience anxiety at one time or another. It can be very useful; boosting our performance when we have a challenge…
How to manage anxiety when you're driving
Feeling anxious while youâre driving a car, or travelling as a passenger in a car, is common if youâve had a previous bad…
What are the symptoms of an anxiety attack?
Anxiety is a normal emotion that we all experience from time to time, for example before an exam, a driving test, job interview…
Nadiya Hussain uses CBT to treat anxiety
Nadiya Hussain explores using CBT to treat her anxiety in BBC documentary, Anxiety and Me âAnxiety is probably one of the…
What it means to have anxiety
If your heart beats through your chest and breathing becomes shallow, chances are you face a challenging situation. A sense…
Coping with Anxiety at University
With many young people recently starting university, Iesoâs Clinical Lead, Sarah Bateup, discusses how students can be affected…
Sleep
How CBT can help you get a better night's sleep
In our previous blogs about sleep, weâve looked at why sleep difficulties can happen(sleep-and-mental-health), and how theyâre…
10 tips for a better night's sleep
10 tips for a better nightâs sleep We spend up to a third of our lives asleep! Itâs really important for both our physical…
Sleep and mental health
We all have restless nights now and again. Things like stress, the temperature in our bedroom and something weâve eaten or…
Online CBT
Preparing for the end of therapy
CBT is a short-term therapy which aims to help you become your own therapist. For most people treatment lasts a few months,…
After your first session of CBT
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is known for being a short-term, action based treatment, and this might lead some patients…
Homework
One element of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) thatâs a crucial part of treatment, but which wonât necessarily feature…
Questionnaires
Whether youâre having cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) face-to-face, online or over the phone, youâll be asked to fill…
What to expect from your first CBT appointment
If youâve decided to sign up for online CBT, you might find yourself wondering what will happen during your first session.…
The benefits of online CBT
In an earlier blog we busted a few common myths around how effective written therapy is, and explored the benefits of communicating…
How can I tell if I need therapy?
In recent months thereâs been a focus on our physical health, which isnât surprising. However, the coronavirus pandemic has…
Coronavirus FAQs: making sense of how you feel
The word âunprecedentedâ is used a lot at the moment, but itâs true that weâre all experiencing something weâve never been…
How CBT can help you get a better night's sleep
In our previous blogs about sleep, weâve looked at why sleep difficulties can happen(sleep-and-mental-health), and how theyâre…
What's involved in doing CBT?
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) differs from what some people might classically think of when they picture therapy. Whereas…
What is a CBT formulation?
If youâve been looking into cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), you may well have seen the word formulation being used and…
How is CBT fast-acting?
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a form of treatment that can help patients achieve positive results and start feeling…
Covid-19
Coronavirus: Coping with worries about money
Financial concerns are affecting a lot of us at the moment. Some people will have lost their jobs due to coronavirus, or…
Coronavirus: Coping with grief and loss
Many of us have experienced losses of one kind or another during the coronavirus pandemic. The structure and routine of our…
Preparing to go back to school
The thought of going back to school after the summer break has always brought up mixed feelings. Moving up to a new class…
How do you feel about leaving lockdown?
If youâre a bit nervous about lockdown easing, or apprehensive at the thought of starting to go out more, you wonât be alone.…
Returning to work as lockdown eases
If youâve been furloughed or working from home, your employer may have contacted you about going back to work, in line with…
Menâs Health Week 2020: Protect your mental health during COVID-19
Almost one fifth of men say their mental health has got worse since the start of the coronavirus outbreak, according to research…
Coping with exam stress
We all feel a certain amount of stress about taking exams, but the coronavirus has brought a lot of changes that might be…
Coronavirus FAQs: making sense of how you feel
The word âunprecedentedâ is used a lot at the moment, but itâs true that weâre all experiencing something weâve never been…
How to cope with low mood in lockdown
Itâs undeniable that our lives have been turned upside down by the coronavirus outbreak. Work life, home life, social lifeâŠtheyâve…
Coping in a time of uncertainty and disruption with the coronavirus outbreak
Many of us will currently be feeling anxious, on edge and down about the coronavirus outbreak. This is understandable, as…
Our position on COVID-19: Supporting our partners and patients with easily accessible…
We're open, we're building our online therapy capacity, and we're here to support the NHS in any way we can, over the coming…
Stress
Coping with exam stress
We all feel a certain amount of stress about taking exams, but the coronavirus has brought a lot of changes that might be…
Managing stress at work
Pressure on workers in many organisations has risen in recent years, especially in public services. Rising demands and tighter…
5 signs you might be experiencing chronic stress
Chronic stress is when someone has been suffering from the physical and mental effects of excessive pressure and strain over…
The importance of stress awareness
Three quarters of respondents to a 2018 study carried out by the Mental Health Foundation said theyâd experienced stress…
How does CBT help stress?
âIâm stressed!â is something most of us have said at one time or another when weâre feeling under strain. But what does âstressâ…
Entrepreneurs and stress
The number of entrepreneurs, sole traders and SMEs is on the rise, in fact according to the Department of Business, Innovation…
Tips for managing stress
If you have recognised that you might be struggling with stress, there are things you can do to help you manage, from lifestyle…
Spotting the signs of stress
Stress is something we hear about a lot and it is generally accepted as a normal part of busy lives. Many of us feel like…
What is stress?
It's Mental Health Awareness Week, and this year's theme is focusing on stress. We talk about stress a lot, but what is…
Depression
How to help someone with depression
If you have a friend or family member who is depressed â or who you think might be depressed â itâs natural to want to help…
How to support a loved one suffering from depression
Watching someone you love suffer from depression is upsetting; their pain can sometimes become your pain. Often, family and…
Depression Awareness Week: Donât keep depression under your hat
Itâs Depression Awareness Week and this year focuses on challenging the stigma that many people with depression experience. Depression…
Workplace
Returning to work as lockdown eases
If youâve been furloughed or working from home, your employer may have contacted you about going back to work, in line with…
Managing stress at work
Pressure on workers in many organisations has risen in recent years, especially in public services. Rising demands and tighter…
Entrepreneurs and stress
The number of entrepreneurs, sole traders and SMEs is on the rise, in fact according to the Department of Business, Innovation…
Would you know where to go for mental health support in your workplace?
Rising numbers of employees face demotion, disciplinary action and even dismissal for disclosing a mental health issue to…
The six main causes of stress at work (and how to avoid them)
Stress is something that will likely affect all of us at some point in our lives. According to the Health and Safety Executive…
Perinatal
When dads feel down: coping with being a new father
Did you know that men can get postnatal depression (PND) as well as women? Fathers experience hormonal changes after theyâve…
Advice on coping with post-natal depression
When someone is pregnant, theyâre presented with a picture by the media and people around them of how life should be: a perfect…
Being a good enough mother
What is a good enough mother? So many of us beat ourselves up for not being a âgood enough mother.â The responsibility and…
The challenges of motherhood
There are many challenges in motherhood. Pregnancy and the post-natal period is one of the times in a womanâs life when she…
Postnatal Depression
Having a baby is a huge and life-changing event for every mother. During pregnancy, women will experience many emotional…
Motherâs Day and Mental Health
Being a mum is no easy feat â it takes a lot of sacrifice and hard work to care for and nurture children. Motherhood brings…
Here are some tips for coping with postnatal depression
However much you may have prepared and planned for a baby, no one can quite prepare you for what life will be like once it…
Students
Preparing to go back to school
The thought of going back to school after the summer break has always brought up mixed feelings. Moving up to a new class…
Waiting for results day: how to manage your mental health
Awaiting exam results can be stressful enough, without throwing lockdown into the mix! For this yearâs GCSE and A Level students,…
Coping with exam stress
We all feel a certain amount of stress about taking exams, but the coronavirus has brought a lot of changes that might be…
University Mental Health Day: How to support the student in your life
Studentsâ mental health has been prioritised by government organisations and the NHS in recent years. Events like University…
University mental health awareness day: How to start a conversation about your mental…
Despite the romantic image we often have of student life, for a lot of people university doesnât live up to those high expectations…
Recognising changes to your mental health at university
By the time you go to university, youâve some hopes and dreams to pack in your suitcase. Freedom beckons; your future awaits.…
Mental Health at University
University life is unique in many ways. Itâs probably the only time youâll enjoy the freedom of being able to wake up when…
Awareness Days
World Suicide Prevention Day 2020
The theme of World Suicide Prevention Day (10 September) is âworking together to prevent suicideâ. According to the World…
World Health Day 2020
The mission of this yearâs World Health Day (7th April) â decided long before the coronavirus crisis began â is more relevant…
The importance of stress awareness
Three quarters of respondents to a 2018 study carried out by the Mental Health Foundation said theyâd experienced stress…
When Mother's Day is a difficult time
For lots of people, Motherâs Day is a time to remember and appreciate their mums, and thank them for everything theyâve done.…
10 tips for a better night's sleep
10 tips for a better nightâs sleep We spend up to a third of our lives asleep! Itâs really important for both our physical…
University Mental Health Day: How to support the student in your life
Studentsâ mental health has been prioritised by government organisations and the NHS in recent years. Events like University…
Time to Talk
Mental health problems affect one in four of us. More people today are talking openly about their experiences of anxiety…
Beating Blue Monday
The idea of Blue Monday was created in 2005 by a holiday company, as part of a PR campaign. Purported to be âthe most depressing…
University mental health awareness day: How to start a conversation about your mental…
Despite the romantic image we often have of student life, for a lot of people university doesnât live up to those high expectations…
World Mental Health Day 2018: Young People and Mental Health in a Changing World
World Mental Health day was created by The World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) as a national awareness day, focused…
Mental Health Awareness Week: Relationships With Friends
Mental Health Awareness Week runs from 16th to 22nd of May. The Mental Health Foundation chooses a focus theme for Mental…
Mental Health Awareness Week: Family Relationships
The 16th to the 22nd of May is Mental Health Awareness Week. Every year the Mental Health Foundation chooses a theme for…
In an emergency Call 111 - if you urgently need medical help or advice but it is not a life threatening situation Call 999 - if you or anyone else is in immediate danger or harm Call the Samaritans 24 hours a day on 116 123