Mind & Body Works Articles

In this section, our therapists at Mind & Body provide informative articles on their area of speciality.

If you are looking for articles relating to a particular issue or treatment type, you can narrow your search using the menus below.

Self-Esteem and Psychotherapy


Article author: Deirdre Staveley

Low Self-Esteem and how Psychotherapy can Help

Self-esteem incorporates all the self words, self-concept, self-worth and self-image. It conjures up all the ideas we have about ourselves and what we think others think of us (O`Donnchada, 2000). It reflects a person`s overall evaluation or appraisal of his or her own self-worth. Our earliest experiences are internalised - they become part of who we are and how we interact with others. These early patterns set the stage for all the things we have to deal with for the rest of our lives. Therefore, we can recognise the importance of laying down the foundations and the structures to develop a healthy self-esteem, to enable us to move through life with a fluidity and ease. Self- esteem is the personal judgement of worthiness that is expressed in the attitudes the individual holds towards himself according to Coopersmith (1967), who considers parenting style to be the most important determinant of self-esteem. The central dimensions of parenting needed to promote self-esteem in the child are the acceptance of the child, setting clearly defined limits for the child`s behaviour, allowing individual expression and respecting the child`s unique personality and point of view. A sense of identity is an essential part of helping the child to develop as a separate and individual person, a sense of who he/she is and a confidence in his/her identity. By allowing the child to develop as an individual, we are allowing the child`s self- worth to grow and develop. Read more...

Counselling for Bereavement, Loss, and Grief


Article author: Kathleen Gibbons

Suicide

This issue of Suicide has become a tragic one for Irish society, which has seen a fourfold rise In suicide numbers over the last 20 years. In 1980, 216 people in Ireland suicided whereas in 1998 the figure had risen to 514. 25% of all deaths in the age range 15 to 24 were recorded as suicide, and 23% of deaths occurring in the age group 25 to 34 recorded the same cause (The Irish Assoc of Suicidology). As a society we must question and attempt to understand why our young people are choosing suicide as the most viable option to address their problems.

Suicide and Counselling and Psychotherapy

Clearly therefore in the midst of what can only be referred to as an epidemic, the role of the counsellor or psychotherapist is very important in dealing with this very contemporary issue. Identification of suicidal intentions can be difficult to assess. Considering the prevalence of this issue amongst our population, preparedness to recognise, confront, and deal with suicidal thoughts as a tangible issue must be a priority for all and the process of Therapy can provide a safe and supportive setting in which to explore these ideations.

Suicide and Social Change

“Countries that have an increasing suicide rate in young people, are also going through significant social change” (Aware). If the range of social change experienced in Ireland over the last 40 years has a correlating effect on the numbers of our population suiciding, then our society is faced with a very real challenge. Society needs to address the issues raised by the social change, and effect strategies for enabling people to feel empowered rather than disabled in the face of such change. Being able to perceive a viable future is a fundamental right of every person. Read more...

What is your Attachment Style ?


Article author: Mary Kavanagh

Early Infant attachment experiences and how adult relationships are ruled by them.

Attachment is the first and most important relationship in a person’s life. When the developing child doesn’t receive good-enough parenting  growing up, for example, in  the alcoholic or substance abuse family, with a depressed mother, separation, abandonment, psychotic parents, the physically, emotionally or sexually abused, neglected or scape-goated child, that child becomes emotionally disturbed. Attachment can be described as the relationship or bond that forms between the infant and the caregiver (usually the mother). Adult relationships are ruled by the same experiences of that infant /mother relationship. The different types of attachment are:

  • Secure
  • Insecure (detached/Avoidant)
  • Insecure (resistant/ambivalent)
  • Insecure (disorganized/disoriented).

Secure Attachment

Secure attachment is when there is a warm, nurturing, loving, secure relationship between infant and caregiver. The caregiver is emotionally available to the child. The infant’s needs are met on every level, for example, feeding, soothing, caring and loving. This enables the child to grow emotionally and socially, and separate out from the caregiver, carrying these experiences into healthy adult relationships. They have more intimate relationships.  They also find it easy get close to others and are comfortable depending on them and  having others depend  on them.  They have deep meaningful relationships and do not worry about being abandoned and are not worried about someone getting to close to them. Read more...

Trauma and it's Effects


Article author: Frances Collins

‘Trauma does not have to be a life sentence’ (Peter Levine).

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What is Trauma?

Trauma as used in the modern context is an often misused term. People can refer to ‘traumatic experiences’ which although extremely stressful are not traumatic in the true sense of the word. When I refer to trauma in this article I am referring to ‘the often debilitating symptoms that many people suffer from in the aftermath of perceived life-threatening or overwhelming experiences’ (Levine).

While it is true that all traumatic events are stressful, not all stressful events are traumatic. No two people are alike and trauma can affect individuals in different ways depending on a number of factors. These include:

• Genetic make-up
• History of trauma
• Family dynamics

What is clear is that human beings are born with an innate ability to triumph over trauma. However, certain types of early childhood trauma can severely diminish our ability to cope and be fully functioning as adults.

Effects of Trauma

The effects of unresolved trauma can be devastating. Later in this article I will look at some of the symptoms that traumatised people can suffer from. We become traumatised when our ability to respond to a perceived threat is in some way overwhelmed. Trauma can lead to gradual undermining of our self-esteem, self-confidence, feelings of well-being and connection to life. Our choices become limited as we avoid certain feelings, people and situations and places. This severely curtails our options leading to a reduction in freedom and independence and a loss of vitality.

Causes of Trauma

Trauma does not have to stem from a major catastrophe. Some common triggering events include: Read more...

Managing Anger !


Article author: Catherine Gibson

One of the commonest difficulties that people present in therapy is that they find it hard to manage feelings of anger. Part of the difficulty is that in Irish society anger is seen as a “not okay” response – particularly for women - something to be sat on and suppressed. But even when we can do that, the anger is still there: so, what can we do about it?

Causes of anger

Angry responses can be triggered by many different causes, but among the most common are our expectations of others or of ourselves, some kind of threat (imagined or real), stress, fear of or actual failure, or even something as simple as tiredness. Alcohol and some medications can predispose us to be angry by affecting our mood.

Approaches to managing anger

To begin with, one of the most useful things we can do is check out our attitude to anger – our beliefs about anger as an emotion: Is it always wrong? Am I a bad person for feeling angry? Is it ever okay to be angry? And so on. Then, we can try to find the most usual trigger(s) of our anger. With this information, we are well on our way to finding a way to manage anger when it happens.
It is important to remember that anger as such is neutral, neither good nor bad. In fact, in some instances it has saved people’s lives by giving them an adrenalin rush that powered their escape from danger. As well, it gives people energy to make things happen, to bring about important changes in society or their own lives even when these are resisted by other people. Read more...

How Can Psychotherapy Help Children


Article author: Nessa Muller

How can psychotherapy help children?

Many children need support in dealing with school stress such as homework, examination anxiety, bullying or peer pressure. Others need help to discuss their feelings about family issues such as the death of a family member, illness, moving house, divorce, or traumatic events in the family.
In some cases, it is unclear what causes a child to suddenly seem withdrawn, worried, stress, sulky, or tearful or aggressive. To paraphrase Winnicott: Behaviour is communication (Phillips, A., 2007, p.50, 139, 146). The child communicates to the environment that not all is well. Through his behaviour the young person communicates that he finds it difficult to understand or cope with the demands of everyday life.
Signs that a child may benefit from seeing a psychotherapist include: Read more...

CBT Cognitive Behavioural Therapy - The Quick Fix ??


Article author: Thomas Larkin

CBT - A Quick Fix ??

When a crisis hits us in our lives we naturally want it to end as soon as possible. We may look into psychotherapy and counselling and see that it takes a bit of time. Then we see that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) takes 6 – 8 sessions and it’s an easy choice. Or we have done some psychotherapy but want to be fixed quicker so CBT is an easy choice.
We can come to CBT wanting a one-line ‘magic bullet’ phrase or piece of advice that will undo all our problems. We don’t want the answers to have to do with our behaviour, our body or our feelings, just be cognitive. Those areas are off limits. Our back story can also be off limits ie how we got into this situation. The more that is out of bounds and off limits, the more any solution will be purely partial and won’t last very long. What we are DOING is avoiding. Trying to fix only one aspect of ourselves is like putting a small boat on a big ocean, when the ocean rears up the boat gets smashed and the ocean reasserts itself. In other words, the size and power of the mind and its patterns reasserts itself. Read more...

Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACoA)


Article author: Celine Maurer

What is Alcoholism ?

Alcoholism is commonly referred to as 'the family disease' because it is just as damaging to family members as it is to the alcoholic. An alcoholic can totally disrupt family life and cause harmful effects that can last a lifetime. Families in which there is an alcohol problem become dysfunctional families who create behavioural structures in which its members avoid, rationalise or cover up problems and carefully guard or deny secrets. Growing up under parental alcoholism is a chaotic and unpredictable rollercoaster of inconsistency.

Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOA)

The phrase adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs) refers to those individuals who were adversely impacted by familial alcoholism. Once children become adults, the effects of alcoholism on families continue to impact their lives.
Adult children of alcoholics are at risk for an assortment of psychological, social and emotional problems. The most prominent factor is a negative self-image and feelings of worthlessness and failure; many adult children of alcoholics do not attribute said troubles, feelings and thoughts to growing up in an alcoholic household (Parsons, 2003). Furthermore, many of them have problems of depression, aggression or impulsive behaviour. Some studies have shown that ACOAs have problems with abuse of different psychoactive substances and difficulty in establishing healthy relationships with others (Berger, 1993, p.67).
In addition, adult children of alcoholics often retain their childhood patterns. The super-responsible child may grow into an adult who demands perfectionism. The child who is the family’s scapegoat may have legal or financial troubles throughout life. The child who used to adjust to anything may be passive and withdrawn as an adult. And the family clown may grow up to be entertaining, but irresponsible.  Read more...

Coping with Social Anxiety


Article author: Edel Malone

Social Anxiety

Many people get nervous or self conscious at times, like public speaking or going on a date but social anxiety becomes a problem when it interferes with you going to places or spending time with people because of what you fear might happen. Social anxiety involves fear of certain social situations - especially situations that are unfamiliar
or in which you feel you will be watched or evaluated by others. These social situations may be so scary to you that you get anxious just thinking about them or you may go to great lengths to avoid them. Underlying social anxiety is the fear of being scrutinized, judged or embarrassed in public. You may be afraid that people will think badly of you or that you won’t measure up in comparison to others.

Situations that may trigger social anxiety:

 - Meeting new people
 -  Being the centre of attention
 - Being watched while doing something
 - Making small talk
 - Public speaking
 - Performing
 - Being teased or criticised
 - Talking with "important" people or authority figures
 -  Being called on in class
 - Going on a date
 - Making phone calls
 - Using public bathrooms
 - Taking exams
 - Eating or drinking in public
 - Speaking in a meeting
 - Attending parties or social gatherings

Some physical symptoms you might experience:

Palpitations, trembling, sweating, tense muscles, twitching muscles, dry throat, blushing, dizziness, sinking feeling in the stomach or an overwhelming feeling of wanting to escape.

You might feel, think or do: Read more...