Understanding Mental Health Challenges
Depression, along with Anxiety and Stress are some of the more common mental health issues I deal with.
Not that one needs to wait for WA Mental Health Week to deal with mental health challenges. As it says on the website “Since 1967, WA Mental Health Week has been bringing Western Australian communities together to raise awareness and reduce the stigma of mental health and wellbeing.
Mental Health Week is a national celebration in October each year, which centres around World Mental Health Day on 10 October.”
Creating a Supportive Therapeutic Space
Part of my role as a psychologist is to seek to make the client comfortable enough to disclose their situation and other relevant information, to assist the client. (With information disclosed being confidential, except for rare and exceptional circumstances.)
Clients report that apart from being a “local”, offering out of hours (and online) bookings, they like that I have a bit of life experience, and my website, has a bit of an explanation of how I came to be a psychologist. (I also go to Bentley Medical Centre on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month.)
Clients report that it is good to talk with a professional a few steps removed from their own life.
We could also look at whether there are particular events or issues that preceded the current scenario that the client wants to explore or discuss.
That’s apart from what you may be able to do to seek to reduce your symptoms, we could for example engage in problem-solving, behavioural activation, and activity scheduling, where we look at what you’ve done in the past and found enjoyable.
This is apart from using Clinical Hypnotherapy, which I’ve used for a number of issues including, anxiety, dealing with troubling memories, smoking and various other conditions.
Tools and Approaches for Managing Depression and Anxiety
One tool I have developed, and use (or suggest to clients) is my “Weekly Balanced Life Chart” which is a bit like a (rough) schedule for the week, to seek to ensure you do things to keep a “balanced” life. With categories included as a way of scheduling activities. Although as I say nothing is “set in stone”, it is however a form of reminder to do things you have enjoyed in the past. It has various categories, like “Physical Health”, and “Contact with nature” along with various others. It has two versions the “Single”, and the “Coupled” version. (Downloadable from the website.)
How or what we do, will to a large exent be determined by the individual’s situation, or the “fickle finger of fate” (as per an old TV series around when I was growing up, describes it) as well as the clients preferences.
Taking the First Step
While there is no “magic wand” to resolve a client’s difficulties, WA Mental Health Week 2025, might be the time to make the first steps to deal with depression, anxiety and or other mental health challenges.
Bookings to see me can be made 24/7 via HealthEngine or via my Business Support Office on 1300 50 67 68 (Mon – Fri 8am – 5pm).
