Counselling Conversations with Julie

In today’s episode, we are exploring a topic that touches every aspect of our lives—Building Stronger Emotional Bonds. Whether it is with your partner, children, friends, or even yourself, emotional connections are the foundation of healthy, fulfilling relationships. We will uncover practical strategies to strengthen these bonds, discuss the role of communication and empathy, and explore how under...

In this episode, we are discussing a topic that’s more important than ever in our fast-paced world: The Wellbeing Benefits of Being Calm. Have you ever noticed how much better you feel when you are calm? It’s not just in your head—calmness profoundly affects your mental, emotional, and even physical health. From reducing stress and improving mental clarity to enhancing your resilience and overall...

In today’s episode, we are exploring a topic that affects us all—fear. Fear is a natural response, but it can have profound effects on both the mind and body. Together, we will uncover what fear is, how it manifests, and the ways it can shape our thoughts, emotions, and even our physical health. Most importantly, we will discuss practical strategies to manage fear and regain control when it feels...

In today’s episode, we are addressing a deeply personal and universal experience: *Grief and Loneliness*. Grief is a natural response to loss, but it often brings with it a profound sense of loneliness that can feel overwhelming. Whether you’re grieving the loss of a loved one, a relationship, or even a life transition, understanding this emotional journey is the first step toward healing. Togethe...

In today’s episode, we’re diving into a topic that touches all of us at some point: managing unmet expectations. Whether it is in relationships, career, or personal goals, unmet expectations can feel like roadblocks. But what if they’re actually stepping stones to growth and resilience? Together, we’ll uncover how to reframe these moments, embrace the lessons they offer, and build a stronger, more...

Understanding and Supporting Adolescent Mental Health is a podcast dedicated to exploring the unique challenges and opportunities in the mental health . landscape for adolescents. I am Julie Thomas, Director and therapist at Beyond the Surface Counselling, with over 30 years of experience helping families and children navigate through life's complexities. In this episode, we delve into critical to...

Welcome to "Surviving and Thriving During the School Holidays," a podcast dedicated to helping families navigate the ups and downs of school breaks with confidence and joy. In this podcast, we will explore practical tips, expert advice, and creative strategies to make the most of your time together, ensuring that both parents and children can enjoy a balanced, fulfilling holiday season. From manag...

In this episode, we are exploring a topic that is both challenging and incredibly rewarding: embracing discomfort for personal growth. It's natural to shy away from discomfort, but what if I told you that stepping into those uncomfortable spaces can lead to profound personal development and a deeper understanding of yourself? We will discuss why discomfort is a crucial part of the growth process,...

Today, we are focusing on a topic that resonates with many of us: feeling overwhelmed. In our fast-paced world, it's easy to feel like we're drowning in responsibilities, emotions, and expectations. Whether it's work, family, or personal struggles, the weight can sometimes feel unbearable. But remember, you're not alone, and there are effective strategies that may help you regain control and find...

n today’s episode we will delve into the heart of family dynamics and emotional well-being. We are exploring a topic that is fundamental to every parent's journey: understanding your child's emotions. As parents, we often find ourselves navigating the complex world of our children's feelings. From the joy of their first steps to the frustration of a tantrum, emotions play a crucial role in their d...

n this episode, we are diving into a topic that touches the core of our human experience: healing ruptures in relationships. Whether it is a misunderstanding with a friend, a conflict with a partner, or a rift within the family, relationship ruptures can be deeply painful and challenging to navigate. We will explore what causes these ruptures, the impact they have on our emotional well-being, and...

Often, we are our own harshest critics. We criticise, judge and tell ourselves the most negative thoughts and feelings. Self-limiting beliefs are judgments or opinions about our strengths and capabilities that prevent us from achieving our goals and being successful in our lives. They are toxic to our mental health and our own worst enemy. Thank you for joining me today. For more information pleas...

When you step into a mental health professional room, you are not walking through the door ‘alone’; in a sense, you bring your family with you. Have you ever wondered what makes some families more capable of moving through difficult times without fracturing under strain? Or how other families deal effectively with conflict? If your family needs professional advice, please reach out to a mental hea...

Grief is complicated and fluctuating, a painfully normal part of life and an experience universal to every one of us. Grief and loss feelings may never entirely disappear; however, we can learn to manage the pain. It is essential to understand grief and how to deal with the pain and sadness while remaining on a journey of growth and healing. Thank you for joining me today. For more information ple...

Studies show that our social connections with other people can have a profound effect on our well-being. Strong social connection is vital to our existence, it has a significant effect on our mood and psychological health. Engaging in socialness can be challenging if you are not feeling great, you may want to be left alone and may not feel like you can be bothered to make the effort to get out the...

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) is a term used to describe very stressful and traumatic events or circumstances that children may experience during their childhood. Adverse childhood experiences have been shown to impact individuals' development throughout life. Thank you for joining me today. For more information please click the link to check out more of what we are doing at Beyond The Surf...

Play is fun and vital to children’s healthy development; it has enormous psychological benefits. However, what happens when your family or child feels overwhelmed, stressed, or anxious? Challenges and distress look different for all families; they are as individual as you and your family. Using a structured problem-solving technique may help your child reframe their worries, it may also help you....

. Stress can affect the quality of our close relationships. When life and environments get stressful our partners may feel we are not invested in the relationship. This can lead to interfering with or worsening our relationship. Stressful situations such as financial, ill health, family dynamics, and work pressures are often the intruders in the relationships that may cause dissatisfaction. Thank...

Parents inevitably come to parenting counselling for many varied reasons. Parents may come to counselling through an event that has an evident and significant effect on their child. In other instances, the cause of your child’s change in mood, behaviour, and social or academic functioning is not evident. Becoming a parent of a child and knowing how to parent are two different things. Most parentin...

During the Olympics, there was a buzz around one of the male athletes knitting whilst in the stands. This episode provides the history and possible reasons this Olympian is one knit and purl from other athletes. Thank you for joining me today. For more information please click the link to check out more of what we are doing at Beyond The Surface Counselling https:// linktr.ee/beyondthesurfacecouns...

We often hear about authenticity in the media, about people being real or not. What is being authentic and is it a big deal if we are not authentic, is that going to be a problem? A big question, one we may grapple with on many occasions and why do we often conceal our authenticity and not be true to ourselves? References https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2019.109645 Thank you for joining me today. F...

Anxiety may cause a serious inability to function to our highest capacity. The intense worry and fear about everyday situations can elevate our heart rate, breathe more rapidly, perspire, and feel shaky, or tremble and we have a sense of impending danger or panic. Anxiety can be a normal feeling in stressful situations such as taking an exam, meeting new people or public speaking. However, anxiety...

Most people have experienced sleep struggles sometime in their lives. Insomnia is a disorder characterised by difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep or getting adequate restorative sleep, these can negatively affect our health and wellbeing. We often do not realise how important the health benefits of a good night's sleep are for us. Many important health-related things are being performed as w...

Traumatic experiences can overwhelm your neurological system, the nervous system includes the brain, spinal cord and a complex network of nerves. When your neurological system is overwhelmed, it can lead to heightened sensitivity affecting your ability to manage life experiences, emotions and actions for many years after trauma. So what is the window of tolerance you may be asking? The window of t...

Shame is a powerful and complex emotion that can have profound consequences on our mental and emotional wellbeing and can significantly impact our quality of life. Shame tends to deeply ingrain itself in our sense of self. Our sense of self is the perception we have of ourselves, the characteristics and traits that define us as individuals. When we lose our sense of self a gap is formed, a space i...