Re Mind
For comments and queries please email the editor at: winstonpreece@nsmind. Issue 3, March 2016
Inside this issue:
Client Work
2-3 Interview with Julie Brunt
"Let it be" by Poppy J (age 16)
4
What’s Happening Locally: Stoke Recovery Service
5
Ask a Counsellor: John Mac
6
Staff Graduations
7
How to: Sleep
8
Resources: Emoodji & Mindzone Mud Run
9
What is Mindzone?
10 Mental Health Taskforce
Registered Charity Number 700788 83 Marsh St Stoke-on-Trent Staffordshire ST1 5HN
Lover’s Lane is filled, with dust and cobwebs from the past. It leaves me with this painful cut from the shattered glass. Leave me be and I’ll be fine, I will be able to find my way. We’ll meet again my dearest friend. Somewhere Someday.
T: 01782 262100 F: 01782 262212 E: reception@nsmind.org.uk W: nsmind.org.uk North Staffs Mind is a charity and we rely on donations to help continue our work.
Poem (above) & "Doodle of Halsey: Singer & Songwriter"(right) by Laura S (age 13)
1
Please contact us to find out how you can provide support.
Interview with Julie Brunt: Training and Development Manager North Staffs Mind (NSM) has a long standing tradition delivering external and internal training. To build on this, in April 2015 Julie Brunt was appointed to the new role of Training and Development Manager. After almost a year in the role, I sat down with Julie to discuss how she has been getting on.
Moreover, through permitting me to take up this role as a commitment to developing people, I also feel valued!
What does the role involve?
What training courses have been delivered so far?
The role looks at how training fits into NSM's mission, aims and objectives. This involves asking: where do we need to be in terms of what's happening in society at large? What direction are we heading in? And how do we make sure that NSM's workforce can be supported and skilled appropriately? What motivates you? From a young age, I've always had a drive and commitment to develop people. I also get a buzz from sharing knowledge. This started with teaching, and when I met limits with that, I moved to counselling. After over ten years of counselling, this idea of training people really excited me - it felt like it could make a difference. Sharing knowledge in this context really gives me a buzz, and I also enjoy the instant feedback. This is the case whether it's the training I've delivered, or the training I've sourced for other people. What's the importance of this role? Ultimately, the role is about valuing people; it values the staff who benefit from the training, and as a by-product of that, the training values our clients as well.
"From a young age, I've always had a drive and commitment to developing people. I also get a buzz from sharing knowledge."
The role is also important in that it brings a focus to training in a more structured and coherent way, allowing for more economic efficiency.
Fast Trauma and Phobia Cure On 1st and 2nd of October, a training on specific techniques for Fast Trauma and Phobia Cure was delivered for NSM staff, especially for those working in Domestic Violence and Parents in Mind. These services have a high proportion of people who have experienced trauma, and so this training was introduced to meet the current demands of society. A learner stated: “The theory was excellent. This was all brand new information and it was taught in such a way that I was really able to grasp the ideas. I found it really enjoyable.�
"Ultimately, the role is about valuing people"
Supervision Training On 24th November, Robin Shohet was invited to deliver Supervision Training for supervisors working with NSM's counselling staff. While there has always been plenty of training for counsellors, there was been far less for supervisors. Although NSM has offered internal training for supervisors twice in the past two years, finding someone outside the organisation gave a fresh perspective.
2
Interview with Julie Brunt: Training and Development Manager The day was a huge success, with one learner stating: “Robin’s way of working was right up my street. His manner and way of being was wonderful and I found the whole day very thought provoking. Thank you to Robin and to North Staffs Mind for arranging it.”
in this area, NSM's Befriending and Counselling teams have expressed a lot of interest as well. NSM's initiative to buy expertise in these fields further underlines its commitment to broadening people’s skills.
"as the role becomes more embedded, it means a greater sense of purpose, drive and direction for workforce development within NSM and beyond."
How do you feel about the role looking forward? NSM will be looking to organise similar events in the future. Resource Based Therapy On 29th and 30th October, training on Resource Based Therapy was delivered for Younger Mind counsellors. This was introduced to upskill counsellor techniques in response to the increasing pressure on services to deliver time limited therapy. Since the four day training was too expensive to buy for all staff, NSM paid for two staff members, who then delivered a condensed version of the training for everybody else. This was a creative response to a limited training budget.
I feel it's exciting because as the role becomes more embedded, it means a greater sense of purpose, drive and direction for workforce development within NSM and beyond.
One participant stated: “All of it was really interesting, useful and affirming. It has encouraged me to be true to myself.” Head Injuries In March 2016, Headway UK will be delivering training to NSM staff. This is in response to the Housing Team who have been seeing a rise in referrals for people experiencing a head injury. Although the Housing team have been asking for support
3
What’s Happening Locally: Stoke Recovery Service Interview Vicky Lomas is Service Manager and involved in the Development, Monitoring and Management of the Stoke Recovery Service. What is the Stoke Recovery Service? It is a newly commissioned service which is aimed at people who have experienced addiction from various substances and have made the decision to enter a recovery based lifestyle. The service aims to promote a healthy living and inclusive recovery programme to aid the development of independent living skills, confidence, personal growth and fun activities which will have a positive impact on their recovery capital and long term success. What type of services do you offer? We offer a timetable of activities available through a membership with the service, this entails some support groups, personal development groups, fishing, cycling, relaxation, life skills, computer skills, interview techniques. We tailor the support based on the needs and requests of the people using the service, so the timetable has some regular aspects but we will have regular extras added onto the timetable following service user consultation.
Why was the service established and when? The Service started November 2015. It was part of the commissioned services following research done that highlighted the need for more visible recovery across StokeOn-Trent. Who can use the service? People who have experienced substance misuse and have made the decision to abstain from their drug of choice. We also offer support for affected others.
"The service aims to promote a healthy living and inclusive recovery programme"
How can people access the service? If they are currently accessing support through Life Line for their substance misuse, they can speak to their key worker or they can contact us directly on 01782 956119.
"We tailor the support based on the needs and requests of the people using the service"
4
Ask a Counsellor: John Mac John has been a counsellor at North Staffs Mind for eight years. He works with both adults and young people. How would you define counselling? I think counselling is subject to whoever is sitting in front of me. It could be just not fixing them and giving them a space to just be themselves. It could involve being an advocate. I help people make the system work for them. I’ve guided people through life situations, including employment, social services, the care system, any system, really. We live in a capitalist system and no one knows how to navigate that other than the capitalists, and I’m one of them! Sometimes counselling involves offering the client the tools for their own realisation, so as to initiate a shift in their beliefs which have been keeping them stuck.
what’s going on inside them. Following that I did a Masters in Counselling Psychology at Keele University, although it didn’t really gel with me. How has your practice changed over time? After an experience on a meditation retreat, I found that the need to know disappeared. I used to have a desperate need to know, so when working with clients, I needed to know how to fix them, and what to do, because there’s a safety in that. When I lost the need to know, I began to trust whatever came into my mind, which felt appropriate, so my client response became more natural. So my practice has changed not through what I’m doing, but how I’m doing it.
What do you think is the most important ingredient for therapeutic progress? For the practitioner to be aware of their present state. Because if you’re not aware of your present state, you’re not aware of how you’re relating with your client. And then you’re on autopilot. What do you value in your role as a counsellor? The privilege of being invited into my clients’ inner experience. It’s the deepest human contact. How would you like to grow in your practice? My growth as a human, and that will show in my practice. As I get a greater insight into the spiritual side of life, my ego becomes more transparent, and it’s always easier to get on with people who have a thinner ego!
What is your therapeutic training? I started doing NeuroLinguistic Programming (NLP) training for my own personal relaxation, and when I found it worked, I used it for manipulation in sales. Once I sold my business, I was a school governor, and I worked with some of the kids in a therapeutic capacity and got some nice results. We did journey work or metaphorical stories. This involves taking a child through another child’s story which is similar to their own, and they’ll go in the body and feel the emotions, and get ways of explicating
"We did journey work or metaphorical stories. This involves taking a child through another child’s story which is similar to their own" 5
Staff Graduations Congratulations to Dave Cadman and Phil Barnish for their recent graduations. Phil gained an MA in Counselling Studies. Dave gained a BA in Integrative Counselling and a Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Phil Barnish - I decided to begin the MA in Counselling Studies at Chester University in 2009 after previously spending 3 years at college qualifying as a counsellor via the Certificate and Diploma route. All was going smoothly for the first two years completing assignments until things were suddenly interrupted by the birth of my daughter in 2011. I then made the decision to take a few years off from my studies in order to enjoy time with my new baby daughter before completing my dissertation on the experiences of being a placement counsellor within a school whilst working for an external agency.
Mind. My office had now become my daughter’s bedroom and I had to work wherever I could find a space that wasn't occupied with baby stuff. However, I finally completed the dissertation and though I'm glad it's behind me now, I feel a sense of achievement and also an appreciation of the experience I gained. I also have a beautiful little daughter who I can't quite believe is now almost five. I would also like to thank North Staffs Mind, my wife and mum, as without their support, I wouldn't have been able to complete the process.
Getting back into the studying mindset after this break was at times a grind, as I was now working full time at North Staffs
Phil (right) in full gown at his graduation - “I finally completed the dissertation and though I'm glad it's behind me now, I feel a sense of achievement and also an appreciation of the experience I gained.”
Dave Cadman - After qualifying as a Counsellor in 2009 I just wanted to gain as much practice and experience as possible. Over the past three years I’ve worked on a secondment into Healthy Minds (the local IAPT service). In 2013 I recognised a need to gain a more in depth theoretical understanding of Counselling. After two years of studying part time around my full time work commitments I completed the BA (Hons) in Integrative Counselling at Newman University Birmingham in 2015. Part of this study included research looking into the
experiences of Counsellors whilst using a language interpreter in a counselling session. After a well deserved holiday I hope to prepare this research for publication. In 2015 I had the opportunity to study at Cumbria University for the Advanced Practice in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Post Graduate Diploma at Cumbria University. It was a challenging course which took the majority of evenings and weekends in addition to work commitments at Healthy Minds.
One of the reasons why I love working for North Staffs Mind is the support you receive to develop both personally and professionally. I doubt I could have got through a challenging couple of years without the support of family, friends, and both colleagues and managers at North Staffs Mind and Healthy Minds. I’m happy I’ve finished studying (for now) and aim to focus on re-gaining aspects of my life that have had to be put on hold.
6
How to Sleep Insomnia is difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep for long enough to feel refreshed in the morning. It's a common problem thought to regularly affect one in three people in the UK. Persistent insomnia can have a significant impact on your mental health. It can limit what you're able to do during the day, affect your mood, and lead to relationship problems with friends, family and colleagues. There are a number of things you can try to get a good night's sleep. Here are some tips: 1) Keep it regular. Going to bed and waking up at roughly the same time helps programme your body to sleep better. 2) Create a restful sleeping environment. Keep it quiet and dark, and make sure your bed feels comfortable. Prepare yourself for sleep by winding down an hour before bed with a relaxing activity, such as reading, journaling or having a warm shower. Omit using technology during this period and avoid social media such as Facebook and Emails. You don't have to feel pressured to be available 24/7!
4) Don't overindulge before sleep. A really full stomach is uncomfortable and can keep you awake. If you eat a large meal for dinner, try to leave two hours between eating and sleeping. However, don't go to bed starving! If you're still hungry, have a small snack such as banana, porridge or toast. Try to avoid caffeinated foods such as chocolate, fizzy drinks and coffee. 5) Avoid naps. Especially during the afternoon. 6) Try a mindfulness exercise. This is about getting out of our heads and into the present moment. For example, if your thoughts are racing, bring your attention away from the noise in your head to what you can actually hear around you. Notice the breath just coming and going, or various sensations in the body. Do this with a gentle, kind attitude towards yourself.
7) If your thoughts are particularly distracting, it might help to write them down on paper - that way you can see them clearly and put them to one side for a while. If there is something you can do to resolve them, write down a plan for what you can do the next day. 8) Change your medication. If you're taking certain prescription drugs such as antidepressants, epilepsy medicines or steroid medication, it may be the case that they are affecting your sleep. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about adjusting the dosage, changing to another type of medication, or trying an alternative treatment or therapy. 9) Don't worry about it if you can't sleep. Worrying just creates more stress. Perhaps you're just not meant to be asleep. Avoid watching the clock. Get up and do something relaxing and enjoyable until you feel tired.
3) Take more exercise. Regular, moderate exercise such as walking or swimming helps relieve the day's strains and stresses. However, try to avoid too much exercise before going to bed as this might keep you awake. 7
Resources: Emoodji Emoodji is a mental health app made and funded by Mind. This is in response to recent surveys suggesting 92% of students stated they’ve experienced some kind of mental ill health during their studies. Users take a selfie or a photo, choose an emoji which matches their mood to put on their face, and send the image to their friends or keep it private. The app then shows how the user’s mood has fluctuated. It’s also packed with tips on how to deal with different aspects of university life, such as exam stress or being away from home for the first time. Although the app is geared for university students, anybody is welcome to use the app and many aspects of Emoodji, such as sharing how you’re feeling with others, or noticing what affects your mood, are beneficial for any audience. The app is available to download on iOS and Android.
MindZone Mud Run The Mindzone Team are getting muddy for the second year in a row at the JCB Mud Run 2016! Once again, we are raising money for the Mindzone Project! With a wonderful mix of Younger Mind staff, our young Ambassadors, and friends, there are twenty of us taking on the challenge and raising money to support our vital cause of protecting the emotional well-being of young people in Staffordshire. Please visit the JustGiving page to find out more information about Mindzone and feel free to donate to any of us on: www.justgiving.com/teams/YMAmbassadors Every little bit counts!! Thank you in advance for your kindness. - The Mindzone Team :)
8
What is MindZone? WHAT IS MINDZONE? Unique support and self-development service run by North Staffs Mind Free, safe, and confidential environment for young people in need of support Interactive and creative workshops around emotional well-being Refreshing, interactive, and growthpromoting Immediate drop-in one-to-one counselling service Learn about yourself, explore current issues, and get the support you need
WHO CAN ATTEND? Young People 11 to 18 years of age from the Stoke-on-Trent, North and South Staffordshire area.
WHEN IS MINDZONE? Weekly: Monday evenings: 5:00pm-8:00pm. WHERE IS MINDZONE? WRVS (Royal Voluntary Service) Staffordshire Hub, in Hanley (next to Iceland) at: 29 Charles Street, Stoke-on-Trent ST1 3JP
WANT MORE DETAILS? During these weekly workshops, we explore foundational concepts through our 'Dragon' workshops such as: thoughts, values, and beliefs relationships self-esteem and confidence anger and assertiveness ...with a focus on self-care. Our workshops are unique and creative, anxiety attachment bullying change creativity guilt and shame
judgement letting go mindfulness self-expression self-harm stress
generating fruitful discussions deemed helpful to young people. Some other examples of concepts we cover include (but are not limited to): Facebook: facebook.com/NSMindzone Instagram: #NSMindzone Twitter: @ymambassador WebApp: www.peaceofmind.help
9
Mental Health Taskforce
The Mental Health Taskforce’s report is a landmark moment in transforming mental health care in England. It demands urgent action to ensure that everyone gets the help they need, irrespective of their background or the communities they belong to. Mind supports the Taskforce’s recommendations. Now it’s down to the NHS and Government to get the job done. If delivered properly by 2020/21, the changes we want to see are: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
One million extra people provided with support for their mental health problem. 10 per cent fewer people take their own lives and everyone in a mental health crisis gets the right care, at the right time, in the right place, seven days a week and 24 hours a day. People’s mental health and physical health are treated equally - including people with severe mental health problems, pregnant women and new mums, and children and young people. All children and young people get the right mental health support, when and where they need it. Clear access and waiting time standards for mental health are in place so you know when you will get treatment. More people have access to the right talking therapy. Fewer people are sent miles away from home for mental health care – ultimately no one will have to travel for quality care. People who fall out of work due to their mental health are provided with personalised, effective and voluntary support to help them back to work. People who have had the worst experiences of accessing good quality mental health care, particularly people from Black and Minority Ethnic communities, get the help they need. Public attitudes to mental health have improved by a further 5 per cent.
Tell your MP to make sure the job gets done We need all MPs to join our calls for change and to make sure the NHS and other organisations get the job done. Ask your local MP to: • •
find out what CCGs (Clinical Commissioning Groups) in your constituency are doing to deliver the ambition in the Taskforce's recommendations ask a parliamentary question on how the Prime Minister will ensure the Taskforce recommendations are delivered and what oversight will be implemented.
To email your MP and spread the word, visit mind.org.uk/taskforce
10
Mental Taskforce
We highly value your feedback because it helps us continuously improve our newsletter and make it relevant to you. We would be really grateful if you could take a few short minutes to fill in this evaluation form. 1) What is your relationship to North Staffs Mind? Client/User ☐"
Staff/Volunteer ☐"
Friend/family of client/user ☐ "
Other (please specify) ☐
2) a) What did you like about the newsletter? Client Work ☐ " Interview with Julie Brunt ☐ What's Happening Locally: Stoke Recovery Service ☐ Ask a Counsellor: John Mac ☐ Staff Graduations ☐ How to: Sleep ☐ Resources: Emoodji ☐ Mindzone Mud Run ☐ What is Mindzone? ☐ Mental Health Task Force ☐ b) Why?
3) a) What did you least like about the newsletter? Client Work ☐ " Interview with Julie Brunt ☐ What's Happening Locally: Stoke Recovery Service ☐ Ask a Counsellor: John Mac ☐ Staff Graduations ☐ How to: Sleep ☐ Resources: Emoodji ☐ Mindzone Mud Run ☐ What is Mindzone? ☐ Mental Health Task Force ☐ b) Why? 4) What was most useful about the newsletter? Client Work ☐ " Interview with Julie Brunt ☐ What's Happening Locally: Stoke Recovery Service ☐ Ask a Counsellor: John Mac ☐ Staff Graduations ☐ How to: Sleep ☐ Resources: Emoodji ☐ Mindzone Mud Run ☐ What is Mindzone? ☐ Mental Health Task Force ☐ b) Why?
5) On a scale of 1-10, how much did you enjoy reading the newsletter? " "
"
1"
2"
3"
4"
5"
6"
7"
8"
Didn’t"
"
"
"
OK"
"
"
"
9"
10 Great
6) What else would you like to see in the newsletter/ How can it be improved?
Thank you for taking the time to complete this form. Please place it in the Comments Box in the waiting room.