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TherapeuticThread
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Our Charitable Work
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All BTC/HTC Practitioners commit at least 25% of their time to the provision of low-cost and no-cost therapy. Any surplus generated from our mainstream work is ploughed back into our charitable services. You can help someone in your community access the support they need by contributing using the button below.
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Can't donate? Spread the word! If you're enjoying our newsletter, send it to your friends and get them to subscribe. Or if you know someone who might be looking to start therapy, send them our way.
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This Week
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Hi folks. We hope you are enjoying the warmer weather.
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This week we have a written piece by Ryan Pratt, all about his own experiences with Generalised Anxiety Disorder. You can also find below our mental health news picks for the week, including a particularly interesting look at Better Help, the counselling app taking the world by storm.
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You'll find there are some great events coming up these next few weeks! And we introduce you to Julie Allen, our new practitioner bringing Coaching to Brighton and Hastings.
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As it's still Pride Month, we also have a couple of cultural recommendation from the team. So please read on, share and let us know what you think. Take care!
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Finding Purpose: beating GAD one bin bag at a time
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A few words from Operating Officer Ryan Pratt
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Have you ever felt nervous about delivering a presentation? Worried about meeting new people and making a good first impression? Fretting over an upcoming health scan and feeling troubled whilst waiting for the results? Most of us have experienced that type of anxiety before. Unfortunately for some people, anxiety can grow into something all-consuming, bringing about the need to withdraw to the point where seeking help becomes seemingly impossible. Speaking as somebody who has found themselves in this position, disaster felt like it was lurking around every metaphorical corner.
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When anxiety becomes a dominant feeling, it is recognised as General Anxiety Disorder (GAD for short). Whilst I was struggling, fear and worry would keep me locked indoors, and I’d lean on any excuse I possibly could to ensure I’d never have to leave the house to avoid everybody else’s gaze. It felt like everyone had access to a window that could peer into my mind, showcasing all my insecurities and self-doubt.
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That was the passive side of my anxiety. When faced with an active situation such as having a conversation with somebody I didn’t already deeply trust, I simply couldn’t find words; vocabulary floated around my mind like word-soup. This, of course, only led me further down the path of worry and avoidance. It was the most isolated and trapped I had ever felt in my life.
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Through working with my therapist, and a CBT coach before that, I identified some ways I could begin to reframe my interactions with public spaces and worrying, and one day, hope to live an ordinary life. (Spoiler alert, I’m happy to say I now live my life with only an acceptable amount of anxiety over things you’d expect to be anxious about.)
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The key thing that was put forward to me was ‘purpose’. The idea that I had every right to be out in the world which, of course, I did. This manifested as taking the bins out to the end of the road. The first few times it was terrifying, but I took solace in the fact I’d soon be back in my perceived bubble of safety. This developed into going for walks but using headphones. This served as both a notice to the world that I was unavailable for a chat and allowed me to listen to my favourite podcasts as a distraction to my thoughts, serving the ultimate aim of being more comfortable around other people.
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These were only initial steps in a long journey, but they enabled me to create foundations I could build upon with my therapist and through self-learning, to the point where I was able to share my experiences of anxiety with friends and family. The first stages were the hardest, and it took plenty of effort and commitment to overcome the constant feeling of dread.
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GAD affects around 8 million people in the UK at any one time so it’s quite likely that somebody you know, if not yourself, might be experiencing some of the associated symptoms. It's also just as likely that they aren’t reaching out at all and perhaps even the opposite, withdrawing. The people who sent me messages of support and showed patience and understanding were the same people I felt comfortable opening up to when I was ready. If you’re concerned about somebody, they may not reply straight away but the support they feel from knowing you’re there for them could be a catalyst for taking the first steps toward getting help.
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Mental Health in the News
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Events Calendar
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Feed the Fit Studio in Brighton are hosting a free workshop all about the science behind mental health and exercise. Led by their coach Lauren who will be sharing her own story, as well as practical tips for incorporating physical activity into your routine.
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Feed the Fit fitness studio, Brighton.
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Josh Connolly will be talking about his new book "It's Them, Not You" at this Seed Talks event. According to Eventbrite, this talk with equip you with a deeper understanding of toxic family dynamics, validate your experience and provide the tools you need to deal with emotionally immature parents and family members.
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Wednesday 17th July, 7pm.
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Brighthelm Centre, Brighton.
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Getting creative can be a great way of looking after your wellbeing. Produce a guided abstract mixed media piece with painter Ali Kilby. This two-hour workshop on abstract painting is for anyone who wants to have a go at tapping into your own thoughts and freely produce some abstract art, without overthinking the process.
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HAS x Hypha Studios, Priory Meadow, Hastings.
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TransSober, local Brighton-based charity are holding a launch party for their new exhibition, celebrating the intersection between Trans+ and sober communities. As well as the art, there will be music, poetry, dance, comedy performances and more, that highlight the unique experiences of being both trans + and sober.
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The Ledward Centre, Brighton
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Practitioner Spotlight
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Meet the newest member of our team here in Hastings, Julie Allen. Unlike the rest of our practitioners, who are mostly counsellors and psychotherapists, Julie is a qualified Coach.
"I grew up in a village near Glasgow but I’ve lived outside Scotland for most of my life. I visit my family there often. I taught English in Spain and Japan, I worked in London for over twenty years and I’ve been living in St Leonards on Sea since 2017. I love the live music scene in Hastings and I love literature, gardening and walking by the sea.
When I first started coaching 1-1 and witnessed a client gaining an insight into their challenge - their eyes opening wide, their face flushed with emotion and a huge smile on their face, I thought Wow! This coaching thing is powerful! To do work that has such a positive impact on someone’s life is a thrill and a privilege.
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I tend to coach people with workplace challenges but as work impacts many other aspects of our lives, my coaching work does too.
In the past, friends and colleagues often confided in me and told me I’m a good listener but without a doubt, coaching has made me a better listener. People feel the difference when you really pay attention to them and one result of that is that all conversations become much more interesting. I love that."
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Book your Initial Consultation
Hastings Therapy Centre and Brighton Therapy Centre have vacancies for therapy throughout the week. We offer individual, relationship and group therapies.
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We also have a number of low-cost appointments available, which are free to book in Hastings until the end of June!
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Book your consultation now:
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"I was stuck in a cycle of depression and group therapy helped in gaining more awareness and getting out of that cycle."
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Have Your Say
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Let us know what you would like to see in our Newsletter!
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Follow us on Social Media
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See what us and our community are discussing on our social media pages and join the conversation!
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Meet our Practitioners
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Browse the practitioners who offer therapeutic services from a range of modalities and specialities
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Meet our Employed Team
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Meet the friendly team behind BTC and HTC who will help you find the help you may need
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Meet our Trustees
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Meet our trustees who offer their valued experience and knowledge to support our charity
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2nd Floor, 17 Havelock Road
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Charity Number: 1150032 | Company Number: 07791021
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