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Heads Up We know that life can be challenging and sometimes those challenges can seem relentless. You might feel that you are all on your own with your problems, or you might feel like you are in a rut and not able to cope for much longer, or only cope by doing the things that don’t actually help – like eating more, or drinking more, or maybe hiding away from people. The good news is that you are not on your own and help is available - here at Health All Round - and If we can’t help with your particular issues, we can tell you about other good quality services available in Edinburgh (and there are lots of them!) We will help you to decide the best way forward when you register for our Heads Up service. Who can benefit? Anyone experiencing issues such as: Low mood / Depression Anxiety & Panic Insomnia Anger & irritability Difficulty maintaining relationships Long Covid Problems at work due to stress Signed off work with stress Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): Sometimes we have a tendency to think in ways that are not actually helpful to us. This can be particularly problematic if we have been going through a tough time in our lives. Sometimes we start to feel that we have no control over what happens to us and there is nothing we can do to make life better. CBT can help you to address these unhelpful thinking styles and take a more hopeful and positive approach to managing life. At Health All Round we offer a mix of group and one to one support which includes counselling and CBT. You will start with an initial assessment session and we will work with you to decide the best course of action to meet your particular needs. Counselling: You may be offered counselling as part of your Head's Up package of support. This will usually be offered after you have completed one or both of our CBT courses. Counselling is a one to one service to help you identify problematic issues and recognise your strengths and resources. This may include reflection on past events and your counsellor will support you through this process without judging you or telling you what you should or shouldn’t do. Counselling can help you to: Identify problematic issues Deal with difficult feelings and develop strategies to reduce risk Identify and develop effective coping skills for everyday life Manage relationships with others Understand and accept yourself as you are Develop self – compassion Move forward and do the things you want to do in life “It made a big difference to me emotionally. I feel in a much better place, it has increased my confidence to speak up.” “I have made huge strides towards becoming my own person as a whole. I feel normal again. Thank you.” “I try and look at things differently now, my counsellor helped me to do that. I try to be more positive, see a different perspective.” “I am able to complete things. I struggle with punctuality and dropping out of things. My counsellor worked with me on this & enabled me to complete the courses on offer.” Courses and Workshops: Managing Low Mood, Depression & Anxiety – A range of courses running throughout the year to help you develop a more balanced way of thinking about problems and issues and feel more able to manage life's more challenging times. We will help you identify and address unhelpful thinking styles that increase your anxiety, lower your mood and prevent you from doing the things you want to do in life. We understand that the idea of groups like this can be daunting, especially if you are already feeling very anxious. However courses are accompanied by one to one support and many people have benefitted from this approach over the years. Participants often say that, despite their initial anxiety, they find it really helpful meeting others with similar problems to themselves - they feel less isolated and relieved by the fact that they are not the only ones struggling to keep going and keep their heads up! Courses and workshops run in local community venues that are easy to access via public transport (see the What's On for details). There is no pressure to speak or share when you are in any of our groups, unless you are comfortable with the idea of doing that. “I have come on leaps and bounds. My GP believes I am ready to apply for jobs and I have an interview next week. My journey through depression and anxiety would not have improved without the Health All Round groups. The group, for me was far more beneficial than one to one sessions. I am now walking and exercising every day. I feel much stronger in body and soul. I feel like my old self.” “My life has got a more meaningful sense. I take every day these baby steps towards my new goals and I am heading in the right direction. Thank you so much for your help when I most needed it.” “My anxiety and stress levels have dropped dramatically. I am more aware and mindful of triggers and behaviours that cause my anxiety levels to increase.” “It’s been life changing. I’ve had counselling from four different services and it didn’t help. CBT has been challenging but I’ve felt the benefit immensely.”
Mindfulness and Ecotherapy: Mindfulness and ecotherapy are also available through the Head's Up programme. Mindfulness is the practice of being actively and purposefully aware of the present moment, with a sense of openess, kindness and non-reactivity. Recent scientific evidence has proven that regular practice of mindfulness can be beneficial for relieving stress, anxiety, depression and insomnia. It may also help to increase our ability to cope with life's challenges, reduce feelings of powerlessness and increase our sense of well being. Try this short ecotherapy meditation to help clear
your mind and tune in to your surroundings Ecotherapy is essentially mindfulness in nature. Our small and friendly groups will help you take a break from your worries by tuning in to the natural world, improving relaxation and promoting mental well being. “I would like to thank you Stephen for your hard work and
understanding. I now have a huge appreciation of my
surroundings, ie the wind, water, colour, smell, trees, and this
makes my daily walks more interesting and fulfilling. I simply
feel more at peace and happier all round.” "The two day mindfulness course was life changing for me. The hands on exercises and vital advice turned my life around and promoted self empowerment I have never felt before. A lot of my bad habits stopped happening and it was easier for me to manage them. I feel gently lifted from my past traumatic experiences, ready to face what's coming next." "The relaxation and body scanning activities were most beneficial and I liked how the facilitator respected our feedback and explained what it was we experienced physiologically." "I am extremely grateful for having the opportunity to guided, practical mindfulness with such an excellent tutor." How do I access Head's Up services? To register for Heads up services you can simply drop-in to Health All Round any Tuesday between 10am - 2pm (no appointment needed). You will be asked to complete an assessment of your needs and mental well being. Please allow an hour to register, and be aware that you may have a wait - but tea's coffee etc will be provided at no cost and we will look after you we promise! How much does it cost? There is no cost for the Heads Up courses or workshops but
donations are appreciated.
NB. If you are in debt or experiencing financial hardship please
speak to a member of the Heads Up team.
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