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Welcome. If you, your family or your staff are suffering from mental health problems you do not need me to tell you that it is sometimes difficult to find solutions to the problems you face. On this site you will find descriptions of the kind of help that is available to you and some of the places that you might turn to. There are no magic answers but it is important that you know that different kinds of help are available and that you can turn the corner surprisingly quickly if you take action now. There are many different approaches and not one approach works for everyone. It is important that you know what you are wanting to achieve and also who can help you get there.

The NHS provides a number of services but sometimes the waiting lists can be long and there can be a tendency to think that 'one size fits all'. Everyone is different and it is important that you get the help that suits you.

Counselling is one approach and it is important that you understand what you are getting into when you approach a counsellor. Counselling is not a quick fix and is not about giving advice. It is about providing you with a safe and confidential space to reflect on your experiences, feelings and problems.

Psychotherapy is an approach that delves a bit deeper into what it is that is hurting you and getting you in touch with some of the unconscious processes that may be influencing your decisions and emotions, many of which are learned in earlier life and which can affect your relationships with people in the present.

There are some approaches that have more of a 'coaching' feel. This is where you would be guided through a process of identifying practical problems that need to be addressed, setting goals and then taking effective action to make sure you get the best results from your efforts. You may have heard of CBT or cognitive behavioural therapy in which there is a systematic review of your thinking patterns that have led to your present situation and opportunities are provided in order for you to challenge and change those patterns.

These are just some of the talking approaches available to you: there are many other approaches and it is important that you have clear expectations about what each approach can offer you both in the pro's and the con's. If you want practical here and now help then taking time reflecting on your experiences many feel frustrating. On the other hand if you are always someone who takes action and is usually successful then sometimes taking time out to take stock and consider where you are can lead to useful new insights and outcomes.

Being mindful means being aware. Awareness of emotions, motivations, thoughts, resources and impacts on other people as well as understanding how they all link as a system, means that you will have the best feedback available to you to help guide your progress. Without feedback in the form of sensation and experience you are driving blindly. Each of the approaches I have described above will help you to develop your awareness. This will lead to you taking better action and ultimately becoming more skillful at what life has to present you with. Mindful strategies was founded to help you, your family or your organisation develop mindfully in order to get more from your dealings with everything around you.

Look at some of the resources on this site and you it may help you to decide which approaches are most likely to help you. If you would like further advice regarding your choice then do not hesitate to contact me and I will do my best to point you in a direction that works for you.

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