Author Archives: Ellie Atkins

This week’s blog was written by our Assistant Psychologist Gabby Donaldson. Given the recent development in Coronavirus news, a roadmap out of lockdown, it is really important to pause and think how this will affect us and how we may be feeling because of this. In particular, like the previous blog, I want to focusContinue reading “Managing anxiety around lockdown easing”

This week’s blog was written by our Assistant Psychologist Gabby Donaldson. Now that schools have re-opened, I wanted to reflect on the different emotions we might be feeling at the moment.   The thought of being back in the classroom may bring about many different feelings for each individual. For those who continued to goContinue reading “Managing Your ‘Stress Bucket’”

Today’s blog is written by Assistant Psychologist Gabby Donaldson. We have now done one week of our second national lockdown. For some, this lockdown may not have made much of a difference to daily life. You may still be going to school, going into work or continuing to work from home. But, for others, thisContinue reading “When anxiety is bothering you…”

This week’s blog was written by Headspace Guildford’s fantastic Assistant Psychologist, Gabby Donaldson. It’s so brilliant because it reminds me of the rainbows that went up in everyone’s windows the first time we went into lockdown. So read on for ways to use strategies or find hope in difficult times. ‘When it rains, look forContinue reading “Look for rainbows”

Last week I was talking about being kind. For that post I focused on the benefits to you. Today I want to continue to bang on about being kind, because of the benefits to others as well as to you. Maya Angelo once said ‘be the rainbow in someone else’s cloud’. She talked about howContinue reading “Being kind because we’re part of something bigger”

Last week I talked about managing uncertainty by sitting with it. This week I want to think about a different skill which I think is more important than ever in these times. In the time I’ve been working in mental health there has certainly been a shift in public and media attitudes. There is nowContinue reading “Being kind is good for you”

Let’s face it. This hasn’t been the easiest of years. Even if you loved lockdown or have welcomed the chance to be at home more, the challenges have been many. The constant changes and the uncertainty of the situation have been significant for many people in all of this. And, they continue to be significant.Continue reading “Managing uncertainty”

It’s often around this time, two or three weeks into the school term, that you start to notice some signs. Having skipped in happily for the first few days, some children start to drag their feet, complain of tummy aches or cling to you at the gate. Sometimes it shows in a different way –Continue reading “School anxiety”

It’s everywhere isn’t it? The newspapers, the TV, Social media. Everyone is talking about the return to school. Everyone is talking about what that might mean for young people (who have had so long away from school) and what it might mean for the country (in terms of infection rates). Honestly, with all these adultsContinue reading “Talking and listening to young people”

At Headspace Guildford we are running some anxiety groups next week (face to face and online versions). We’ve got just a few spaces left so if you, or a child/young person you know gets nervous sometimes, feels worried, gets anxious or is scared about going back to school, worried about coronavirus or about anything really,Continue reading “Last few places at our anxiety group”