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                                  'Life Scripts' are stories that we tell ourselves as we try to understand what is going on in our lives. They are like a narration to self and are the way we tell stories about our own lives, in our own minds. These could be stories from the past, the present and/or the future. These stories or life scripts, help us feel safer in life because they make our lives seem predictable and constant with a set of fixed rules- 'things always go this way.' However, these 'life scripts' can sometimes be very damaging to our sense of self, to our relationships and to our ability to reach a sense of purpose and meaning in our lives. To prevent further damage, a therapist will work with their client to examine the life script the client relies on to understand their life. And then to create new scripts that help them move forward, positively to the future  A few examples of 'Life Scripts' could include: "None of my partners have

  'Every block of stone has a statue inside it, and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it.' Michelangelo. On 30th Street in Boulder, Colorado, there is a sculpture of a man chiseling himself out of a block of stone. His head, torso, arms, and thighs have already been carved from the stone. His right hand holds a hammer above his head ready to strike a chisel he grasps in his left hand. He is forming his right knee. The sculpture represents both the present state and potential of a self-made, self-actualised person. To reach our human potential the hammer and chisel will need to be used often and with diverse levels of precision and purpose. Some of us will place the hammer and chisel on the ground and declare ourselves, 'finished' while others will keep the tools close to them, ready to perfect their sculpture, change aspects of their sculpture, make it more beautiful, sincere, authentic. Some of us will see the block of stone as motionless while to others it re

  Growth and change can feel uncomfortable, so you 'stay small.' Other people might not understand a 'new you' so you 'stay small.' If you 'stay small' you will continue to fit in, you can keep plodding along. All pervasive conforming keeps you small and can lock you into a self-image you may not like.  Humans are pack animals and as such we tend to move with the herd, go with the flow. This can be detrimental to our mental health. Do you feel locked into conformity?  For example, do you have to dress a certain way to succeed in your job? Is this way of dressing denying your creativity? Are you slowly being moulded into a person you don't really want to be? Is your relationship in a rut? Are you stuck in a routine? Are you conforming to a relationship stereotype? Have you found yourself in a job which is stifling your core character? Are you in accounts when you would be better suited to the art department? Are you afraid to change? Do you wonder whe

The Tooth Fairy. Oil on canvas.  Celia Turner. A little while ago I found myself sitting in the dentist's waiting room. I don't mind visiting the dentist, in fact I quite enjoy it, so different is the experience compared to when I was a child. Back then it was such a gruesome affair, brutal even, compared to modern day dentistry   I remember the waiting room of yesteryear, extremely uncomfortable rickety chairs, peeling paint and pictures of gnarled old trees adorned the walls. My brothers and I would make up stories about those trees, anything to keep our minds from Mr Paddyachy, he of the white coat and cruel intentions. In the surgery of modern times there are no pictures or peeling paint. On the wall is a flat screen television. Sky News is on all the time. We, the patients, are treated to scenes of utter devastation, tiny babies being pulled from the aftermath of an earthquake, dusty faces, and bewildered eyes stare at us from the ruins. We see a shot of a bedroom

                                                    Looking after your mental health                                                                       Key Stages YOUNG ADULTS.                                          Pressures for young adults include: Starting a new job (or not) Settling into a relationship (or not) Moving away from the family home (or not) These issues can all pose problems for the young adult. It is important to realise that not experiencing,  hoped-for transitions can be just as much of a problem for young adults as the transitions themselves. Romantic and career successes may prove harder to achieve than they had hoped or anticipated. New responsibilities can also be trying for some young adults. One client of mine told me he was terrified at the prospect of paying bills. A different client told me she was starting to despair that 'time was running out' for her to 'find the one and fall in love.' A young adult may go through s