The Healing Power of the Gestalt Letter: A Tool for Emotional Clarity and Closure In counselling, we often carry stories, emotions, and memories that are left unresolved — words left unsaid, feelings that were never fully expressed, or relationships that ended without proper closure. One powerful tool that can help process these experiences is the Gestalt […]
Author: John Belchamber
Mindfulness Myths
Mindfulness Myths: Common Misconceptions About Being Present Mindfulness has become a buzzword in the world of mental health and wellbeing, often associated with meditation apps, yoga retreats, and serene Instagram feeds. But despite its growing popularity, there’s still a lot of confusion about what mindfulness actually is—and what it isn’t. As a counsellor, I regularly […]
The Happiness Trap by Dr. Russ Harris
Book Summary: The Happiness Trap by Dr. Russ Harris Why Struggling to Feel Happy Might Be Making Things Worse In today’s culture, we’re constantly bombarded with messages telling us we should always feel happy, confident, and positive. But what if this relentless pursuit of happiness is actually making us miserable? In The Happiness Trap, Dr. […]
Mental Health Warning Signs
Mental Health Warning Signs – What to Look Out For Mental health is just as important as physical health, yet recognising when something might be wrong can often be more difficult. Mental health challenges don’t always show up in obvious ways, and the signs can be subtle, especially at first. Being able to spot early […]
Understanding Coercive Control
Understanding Coercive Control: What It Is, How to Spot It, and What to Do If You’re Affected In recent years, greater awareness has grown around a form of abuse that often goes unnoticed—coercive control. Unlike physical violence, coercive control can be subtle, insidious, and deeply damaging. It’s a pattern of behaviours used to dominate, isolate, […]
Understanding Compassion Fatigue
Understanding Compassion Fatigue: Symptoms and Strategies for Overcoming It By John Belchamber | Sunny Coast Counselling In helping professions—like counselling, nursing, teaching, social work, or emergency response—there’s a shared thread of emotional investment. Over time, consistently supporting others through their trauma, pain, or crises can take a toll on your own wellbeing. This experience is […]
Encouraging Staff to Access EAP Services
How Business Managers Can Encourage Staff to Access EAP Services for Mental Wellbeing In today’s fast-paced and often high-pressure work environments, supporting the mental wellbeing of staff isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s essential for fostering a healthy, productive, and engaged workforce. Many organisations offer an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), yet these services often go underused due […]
Understanding Compassion Fatigue
Understanding Compassion Fatigue: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Solutions Compassion is at the heart of caring professions — whether you’re a therapist, nurse, social worker, teacher, or caregiver. But when emotional support becomes a daily demand, the capacity to care can start to erode. This is where compassion fatigue can quietly take hold, often without individuals […]
Understanding Toxic Masculinity
Understanding Toxic Masculinity: Attributes and Impacts Toxic masculinity has become a widely discussed topic in recent years, often sparking debate and misunderstanding. While the term can be polarising, its intention is not to vilify men or masculinity itself. Rather, it refers to a set of socially reinforced beliefs and behaviours that limit emotional expression, reinforce […]
Understanding Your Behaviour
Understanding Your Behaviour: How the Stimulus–Thought–Emotion/Feeling–Behaviour–Consequence Model Can Help You Understand Yourself Ever found yourself overreacting to something small and wondering afterwards, “Why did I do that?” Or maybe you keep getting stuck in the same patterns — like procrastinating, getting defensive, or feeling anxious — and you’re not sure how to change it. There’s […]