wellspring, Author at Wellspring Therapy & Training

Dealing with disappointment

January 13, 2021 By wellspring

We find ourselves here again, not only navigating another lockdown and the way it impacts our lives, but managing the disappointment that we have returned to this place, again, after all we did last time.

Disappointment means literally “to undo the appointment’ and most of us were ready for more, not less, appointments! Last year, many people mourned the loss of social interaction, a key component of connection and meaning in our lives. And were looking forward to a return to sociability over Christmas and into 2021. For others the losses have been deeper. Whichever way we look at the new lockdown it is challenging to not feel some sense of disappointment to be here all over again.

Expectations are key… expectations of normality have changed again! What is normal for you is personal and the loss is personal, as well as collective for friends, family and communities.

We do need to mourn those lost opportunities and give respect to our feelings of disappointment that our immediate future has changed. However large or small those impacts are, they are real to us.

But setting up a permanent home and living in the gap between expectation and reality accentuates disappointment, frustration and sadness. Spending some time with the reality of the here and now allows for adaption and creative, flexible solutions for change.

Taking the pressure off, and working out what helped last time and doing more of it can help. So can asking others for their help.

Collectively we can shift our gaze from disappointment to change, as “this too shall pass.”

Here are a few ideas for inspiration:

This Too Shall Pass by Julia Samuel
Feel better live more podcast with Julia Samuel No.123

Written by Alex Brook-Dobson

See our Resources page for more support and links.

Our building is currently closed for face-to-face counselling until further notice. But we are still offering sessions over the phone or through Zoom. Please note that we have a reduced capacity at the moment. We are therefore only able to offer counselling to people based in Yorkshire, including those working online. If you would like to refer yourself for counselling, please use the link at the bottom of our Therapy page.

My Counselling Sessions during COVID

December 21, 2020 By wellspring

COVID has impacted the mental health of many young people in UK.

According to GOV UK’s research and analysis of mental health amongst children and young people, there is evidence to suggest that the pandemic has negatively affected the mental health and wellbeing of many young people with existing mental health conditions. (Although it is not yet possible to make a full, meaningful comparison to recent pre-March 2020 measures.) (1)

**One of our youth clients, Charlotte*, told us about the difficulties she’s faced. And how counselling has helped her through 2020.**

“During Covid-19 my counselling sessions moved onto Zoom. When everything else stopped, this was the one thing that continued. That one hour per week felt safe and familiar whilst everything else was chaotic.

My mum worked on the front line during Covid. There were nights when I felt really scared about what might happen. She knew I was worried, but I felt I could share my feelings more openly with my counsellor. I felt like my mum already had enough worries on her plate. These sessions helped me to cope.

I knew I could tell my counsellor what I was feeling and it would not upset her. These sessions helped me understand things better. I have learnt how to relax and about what things I can do to help me keep on top of everything. Since the counselling sessions I have been more able to cope with my school work, I have been able to talk more freely, I have stopped self-harming, had fewer panic attacks, and have started taking better care of myself. I am feeling much more optimistic about my future.”

If you would like to help us support more people like Charlotte, you can set up a regular donation over on our Donate Page. Thank you.

And if you are interested in exploring the possibility of counselling for yourself, please find out more about the Counselling Services we offer here.

* Name changed to protect privacy.

1. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-mental-health-and-wellbeing-surveillance-report/7-children-and-young-people

Vacancy: Children & Young People’s Counsellor

December 17, 2020 By wellspring

We are looking to recruit a Children & Young People’s Counsellor to provide individual, long and short-term counselling for children and young people aged 4-18 at Wellspring House. This post has been funded by BBC Children in Need and is an exciting opportunity to join a supportive and dedicated team.

Wellspring aims to be an affordable provision for families who might not be able to afford a full-cost professional counselling service. If you are looking to make a real difference in the lives of children in the Harrogate district, then this role could be for you!

The position will be based at Wellspring House (Starbeck, Harrogate) and will be for 18 hours per week, to be worked over 3 days outside of school hours, term time only. Job sharing will be considered.

For more details, please see the Job Description and Person Specification. To request an application form please email jobs@wellspringtherapy.co.uk .

The deadline for applications is midnight on 1 February 2021.
Interviews will be held the week beginning 8 February 2021.

If you have any questions about the role, please call the office on 01423 881 881 and ask for Sarah James.

Route One to Wellness

November 23, 2020 By wellspring

Route One to Wellness is an innovative new collaboration between four mental health and wellbeing charities in Harrogate District. We’re excited to announce that Wellspring is one of the Route One partners!

The aim of this partnership is to help local residents who are experiencing mental health problems. Together we want to make sure they get the best support they can in order to stay well in the community. The other partners we’ll be working alongside are Orb Community Arts, Harrogate Mind and Claro Enterprises.

We are now getting welcome additional funding through the National Lottery and the Government Coronavirus Community Support Fund to deliver vital remote and accessible services as the pandemic stretches into autumn and winter. This work will see the Route One partnership working more closely together with local GP practices and with health & social care, to ensure those who need it get the right support, in the right place and at the right time.

Thank you to the National Lottery and the government for providing this support at such a crucial time. We hope to share more updates about this partnership in the near future. And we look forward to working together with these local charities to deliver excellent holistic care

If you would like to help Wellspring support more people in our community experiencing mental health problems, you can set up a regular donation over on our Donate Page. Thank you.

Interview with Harrogate Informer

October 23, 2020 By wellspring

Laura spoke to Harrogate Informer a couple of weeks ago about how Wellspring have managed to navigate their way through Lockdown and adjusted to the ongoing reality of Covid-19 this year.

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Thank you so much for all the ways you support the work of Wellspring.