A study at Newcastle University has found that immersive virtual reality programs can be used as therapy tools to treat phobias in children with autism. Having used virtual environments to try and conquer their phobias, nearly 45% of children in the study were free from these phobias six months after the study ended, suggesting this […]
Continue ReadingMental Health in Rural Communities
Posted on by Chrissie Tizzard
If you’re lucky enough to live in the countryside, you’ll know it can literally be a breath of fresh air; that’s why there are so many television programs, books and travel stories about getting away from town life and heading to the fields, the mountains, the woods, or the quieter parts of our coastline in […]
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Papal Visit: Praying for Forgiveness Falls Short
Posted on by Chrissie Tizzard
As a consultant psychologist, I am stunned to see the Holy Father Pope Francis asking for God’s forgiveness for the atrocities that the Catholic Church has carried out through countless decades. Forgiveness comes, so religious scripture tells us, from repentance. Repentance is about making good the harm that has been done. More important repentance means […]
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De-bunking the Myths About Seeing a Psychologist
Posted on by Chrissie Tizzard
Deciding to see a psychologist is a positive step forward for your wellbeing and mental health, but it may take you a while to make that initial contact. That’s because there are so many popular myths about what a psychologist is like, how their sessions will work, and what you will get out of seeing […]
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How to Combat Impostor Syndrome
Posted on by Chrissie Tizzard
Impostor syndrome is not a recognised psychiatric disorder in its own right, but is acknowledged by psychologists and psychiatrists as a legitimate issue for many people – sometimes (but not always) contributing to a mental health condition such as anxiety. When someone says they ‘feel like a fraud’, or their attitude suggests they feel that […]
Continue ReadingWhat is Learned Helplessness?
Posted on by Chrissie Tizzard
Feeling helpless and hopeless can be very common with mental health issues, but when your past experiences fuel your sense of helplessness, and make you think you can never avoid certain behavioural patterns or outcomes, you may be affected by ‘learned helplessness’. So, what is learned helplessness and how can we treat it? Learned helplessness […]
Continue ReadingWhat is a Panic Attack, and How Can You Treat It?
Posted on by Chrissie Tizzard
In 2013, people in the UK experienced 8.2 million cases of anxiety; whilst anxiety is upsetting and debilitating in itself, a panic attack sees this anxiety come to a head. Panic attacks are an intense and sudden onset of anxiety, lasting minutes at a time and leaving the sufferer debilitated. Many celebrities, including presenter Fearne […]
Continue ReadingTerror Levels and Anxiety in Children
Posted on by Chrissie Tizzard
The results of a recent YouGov survey have revealed that a third of children in the South East aged 5 to 18 worry about a possible terror attack. 35% of parents interviewed have said this fear is causing anxiety in their children. The YouGov survey, which saw more than 1800 parents included nationally, was commissioned […]
Continue ReadingEasy Back to School Tips
Posted on by Chrissie Tizzard
The back to school routine can be a little stressful for some children. Change is often positive, but it is a journey into the unknown. Anxiety reduces in all of us when new things or places become familiar, so the feeling of butterflies in the tummy at the beginning of term is a good example […]
Continue ReadingChronic illness has secrets
Posted on by Chrissie Tizzard
Chronic illness has secrets Chronic illness has secrets. These secrets often don’t get aired by the daylight. Most people with a chronic illness or rare disease struggle with daily life. Those struggles are usually hidden from the world. Popular psychology says that a positive attitude helps matters. It is true, being optimistic does help many things. Let us be honest though. The British bull dog spirit […]
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