Dublin Mind Training

10/07/2020

https://www.independent.ie/life/health-wellbeing/online-therapy-got-me-through-lockdown-and-it-can-work-for-you-too-39338213.html

03/04/2020

Doing therapy remotely....

With us all adapting to staying at and working from home I have gotten even more used to doing sessions via Skype and Zoom. The sessions are working well with some people even preferring the comfort of doing their sessions from their house and not having to travel afterwards.
For some, now may be an opportune time to start therapy - so just to let you know that the option is available should you want to avail of it.

Wishing us all a safe and healthy week,
Ailish
087 2201 453

08/01/2019

Do 1 thing...often - for real change.

We're at the time when it's common to be considering the changes we'd like to make in 2019. Most resolutions are broken within weeks of making them. So maybe instead of having grand plans we can learn from the past and aim instead for 1 small change or practice that's easy to learn and implement that will - if done consistently over the year bring about real dividends.

Self hypnosis, gratitude journalling, breath practices, stretching, daily walks, aiming for better food choices, affirmations, less TV/screen time, more connection with real people, volunteering, pursuing a hobby and so on - are all easy enough to learn and implement.

Pick one and stick to it.

I often recommend the Wim Hof breathing practice. It's well studied, simple, easy to learn and habituate into the day and really helps with stress. The video gives a nice overview.

Good health and happiness to you in 2019.
Ailish
087 2201453

This episode is brought to you by Blinkist. Go to https://www.blinkist.com/nc/partners/tombilyeu/ to get unlimited access for 1 week to try it out! Wim Hof, ...

21/12/2018

Wishing us all a peaceful Christmas and an enjoyable and hopeful new year.
If it is a challenging, sad or stressful few days then may it pass quickly with as little distress as possible and if it's a time of celebration then may we have a ball.
Either way - it will come and go, so be kind to ourselves and breathe.

With love,
Ailish

24/07/2018

Acknowledge these 3 things and you’re on the road to positive change.

When we are down more often than happy, struggling more often than thriving, stressed more often than relaxed then there are 3 steps that have to be taken before we get better.

We can take these steps consciously or unconsciously – to speed up recovery and progress it’s better acknowledge these 3 things consciously.

The 1st step is admit : “I have a problem”. It seems obvious that to resolve a problem it needs to be named and defined accurately. It takes courage to admit to having a problem and we have plenty of defences that stop us from admitting to ourselves that there is a problem so while it may be a simple step it’s not always an a easy one.

Step number 2 – admit: “My own skill set and resources has not been able to resolve this problem and are unlikely to”. This one requires honesty and humility, and it can be frightening to admit. However once admitted it opens us up to acquiring the knowledge needed to transform the problem. We can feel dejected and resent the effort that’s required or be scared so we resist admitting to it. We often spend far too much time and effort trying to solve a problem without adequate information – admitting that we haven’t yet got the correct help required can spare us another round of disappointment.

Step number 3 – admit: “With the correct skills or resources this problem could be solved”. If I learned something, applied something, got assistance, modelled myself on someone else who got through this – it is possible for me to get through it too. Therefore I can ask ‘who/what can help here’ and now I’m on the road to recovery.

Anyone familiar with AA will recognise these three steps and pretty much what they teach. But the steps can be applied to any problem not just alcoholism.

Wishing us all a direct, honest and speedy way through to a better feeling life.

If my skill set is what would help give me a call.
[email protected]
087 2201 453

19/06/2018

How heavy use of social media is linked to mental illness.

https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2018/05/18/how-heavy-use-of-social-media-is-linked-to-mental-illness?utm_source=nextdraft&utm_medium=email

31/01/2018

How do we win when we are up against ourselves?

A month has passed since the beginning of the year, and if statistics are to be trusted most who resolved to change in 2018 – those who whole heartedly, defiantly, committed to change – have already broken their resolutions. This is not an indication that people are weak willed, lacking some moral fibre or don’t really want to change, as is often assumed. No, it simply indicates that we are emotionally invested in keeping things the way they are (so as to avoid some greater pain associated with the change). This is an unconscious emotional dynamic and we are often left scratching our heads not having any idea about what the reason might be or we deny that there could even be a reason that makes sense emotionally and try once more to force our will on ourselves and make another resolution.

The problem is we are up against aspects of ourselves, and when will power is pitched against our unconscious emotional need to stay as we are – it’s only a matter of time before the unconscious need has its way.

Inner conflict is nothing new. We’ve know it all our lives. A part thinks we should study; a part wants to watch TV. A part desires the cake; another part wants to reduce our weight. A part wants to be reasonable with the kids a more angry part wants to yell. We can handle inner conflict to some degree, but when there is just no progress in the direction we have decided to go in and despite our best efforts we keep reverting back then it’s time to take a more focused – and often assisted – look at what is going on to resolve the push-pull.

I can help make it easier. It’s so different accomplishing a goal when all of ‘us’ is going in the same direction, working together and in agreement on the outcome.

Give me a shout if you’d like to talk about any inner conflict you are having problems with.

Have a good week,
Ailish
087 2201 453
[email protected]

19/12/2017

Christmas – a word and time that comes with many strong associations. Some love the season and all that comes with it. They experience profound feelings of warmth, fun, belonging and generosity. Others hate it. They experience profound feelings of loss, loneliness, stress and separation. And then there are those for whom Christmas is a mixed bag.

No matter what the expectation and then the actual experience of Christmas one thing is certain – “This too shall pass”. It will come and go.

We can use this truth to either savour what is being enjoyed knowing it will end or to endure what’s difficult knowing also it will end.

Christmas allows us to express our good nature. We wish people a lovely time and want them to be happy. We effort to include the excluded. We remember and attempt to alleviate someone’s suffering. It can also trigger our hurt and we end up expressing our pettiness, jealousy and resentments.
It can therefore be a time to face and heal old patterns and woundedness.

It can be what we decide for it to be. We are not passive victims to Christmas and all its associated meanings. We can use it to extend our kindness, express our joy and let go our hurts.

If we do that or we do none of that – it will still remain true ”this Christmas will pass” so please hang in there if you are hurting. It will pass - hurt can be resolved.

Wishing everyone peace, peace, peace.
With Love,
Ailish

25/10/2017

A powerful subconscious mind trick to help us overcome and do what we want.

The subconscious mind is most impressionable during childhood. However studies in neuroplasticity have shown that the human brain remains programmable even in adulthood.

Both in childhood and adulthood our subconscious mind learns through 1) repetition 2) is conditioned through experiences that have significant emotional content for us growing up and 3) through trauma and risk it learns what to keep us safe from.

One of the main roles of the subconscious mind is to ensure our survival and well being at all times. It does this by pattern recognition: if this situation looks like a previous scary situation then we prepare to defend, avoid, run away, shut down or get aggressive.

However, sometimes it has learned to protect us from what is no longer dangerous or harmful. It does so because it once was dangerous to us (or seemed that way).

We may have had a neglectful parent and now we subconsciously avoid getting close to people. We may have had a frightening experience in a theme park and now can’t fly or are petrified of heights. We may have had a horrible class mate or teacher who ridiculed us and now can’t present or mingle easily.

The challenge is to re-frame what we have encountered in life that we don’t like, have learned is dangerous (but really isn’t) and that holds us back from fulfilling or potential in such a way that the subconscious mind doesn’t react with fear or attack, but instead works with us to attain our goal.

We achieve this by getting the protective response to work in our favour rather than against us. If the subconscious mind can be made to see how not doing what we want to do will be dangerous to our survival or wellbeing then we can get it on side.

Two easy ways to access the subconscious so that we can re-program it and solicit a favourable response is through 1) Curiosity and 2) emotion..... then repeat, repeat, repeat.

Template to use:
What if (Curiosity) I wasn’t so (state problem) about (state subject)
I wouldn’t be (state negative effects)
If I wasn’t (state negative effects) then I would (state benefits - especially any that pertain to security and survival)
If I was (state benefits) then I could (further benefits – emotionally invested)

By writing out these statements as it relates to our problem and then reading the statement again and again (while feeling the feelings) we can increase the chances of making a change and thus achieving what we want.

Example: I am negative and fearful of taking a flight.

What if I wasn’t so afraid and resistant about flying?
I wouldn’t be so acidic towards my husband, fell awkward and juvenile when the subject comes up, not go anywhere that exciting, lose sleep and have to be drugged to go, row and ruin my last few days before coming back.
If I wasn’t so stressed and negative then I would be in better form and better company around holiday time, be relaxed and normal in airports and get the most out of my holiday.
If I was relaxed and looking forward to flying then I could go to Rio – I always wanted to go there, hike the Canyon, see the world. I would feel like I’ve over come something and that feels triumphant. I would feel more in control, safe and secure. I could go for that promotion that requires business trips – earn more money.
What if I loved flying and got really excited about them? Hmmmm that would feel good, I’d feel powerful, capable, able and it would be fun.

Have fun with this and have a great week.
With Love,
Ailish
[email protected]
087 2201 453