Kirsten Baldocchi Clinical Psychologist

22/12/2022

Wishing you all a wonderful festive season and hoping it is full of peace, joy and love. ♥️

24/12/2021

14/07/2021

Find me on Whatsapp. Let's set up an online session to talk through how you are doing... 🇿🇦💔

14/07/2021

🔥*PROTECTING OUR MENTAL HEALTH IN TIMES OF CRISIS*🔥
How can we cope with trauma during times of civil unrest?

In the last few days we have watched as local political protests have expanded across KZN and Gauteng into horrifying scenes of lawlessness, criminality and looting. We are sad, outraged, overwhelmed and frightened. What can we do today to help us get to sleep tonight?

It's important to realise that there is no one size fits all way of coping. What works for one person may not work for another, and what worked for you today may not work for you tomorrow. Try to develop your own 'toolbox' of strategies to help you cope when stress, anxiety and trauma is high:

1. Tune out and turn off - Between Whatsapp groups, the news on TV and other social media, we have been inundated with a constant stream of terrifying, negative images and stories 24/7. It is important to remember that you DO NOT have to stay plugged in. When we are anxious we tend to crave information as we think this will make us feel more in control, but in reality the opposite happens - the information overload just fuels anxiety levels and adds to secondary trauma. Mute the Whatsapp groups for a while and turn off your TV. Ask a loved one to let you know if there is anything important you might have missed.

2. Talk about it - Find someone you know and trust who you can vent to about how you feel. However, choose carefully and be respectful of the other person. Ask and gauge if your loved one is up for this kind of conversation. If friends and family are equally overwhelmed, then this is a good time to find a psychologist who can hold this space for you and give you the support you need.

3. Keep to routines - Wash your face, brush your teeth, make your bed. These small steps help us to feel in control and are an important part of self-care.

4. Take action - Find proactive tasks to keep yourself busy. This is a great time to volunteer your time or assistance to support frontline workers, neighborhood watch groups and other personnel. Help with provisions and supplies, offer your time and assistance. On a smaller scale, take time to play with your kids, bake a cake or tackle a home project. Focus on concrete and easily achieved tasks.

5. Develop a safety plan - Take back a sense of control, and make a safety plan for you and your family. Make a list of emergency numbers, pack a backpack, snacks and water.

6. Take care of your physical health - Keep active, get outside into the sunlight, and focus on giving your body nutritious food and plenty of water.

7. Keep doing the things you love - We cannot focus on the destruction and violence for every moment of the day. Take a long bath, listen to music, read a really fluffy fiction book, watch a movie and even post a frivolous meme or two if they make you laugh.

**Remember that if you feel it's too much to cope with on your own, there is professional help available. There are a number of mental healthcare providers offering online therapy services and there is no shame in asking for help. This is a physically, mentally and emotionally draining time and every single one of us is struggling. We can only help others as much as we are helping ourselves.**

Further reading and resources:
https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/maintaining-your-mental-health-during-challenging-times/ #
https://www.essence.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/how-to-cope-with-trauma-amid-civil-unrest-racism/

Image credit: Brandon Kynoch

14/05/2021

It's Mental Health Awareness Week... 💚

Hello. It’s Mental Health Awareness week - so I thought I’d share this.
I hope you’re ok in these odd times.

(Also - if anyone approaches you with another account in my name - it’s not me. Please ignore it.)

08/05/2021

Bluey is such a wonderfully entertaining show for kids and parents alike! But more importantly, it gives parents an idea of what "good play" looks like for kids, and Chilli and Bandit are some awesome parenting role models! 😁

In a rare double act, the global phenomenon Bluey is almost as popular with adults as it is with kids.

01/05/2021

Some powerful advice for parents! ❤️

Boom! Love this advice from Nim Tottenham via Wild Peace for Parents❣

31/12/2020

We made it through 2020!!! Here's to 2021... ❤️❤️❤️

30/12/2020

Most had no history of mental illness and became psychotic weeks after contracting the virus. Cases are expected to remain rare but are being reported worldwide.

24/12/2020

One last chuckle for the year! 😉😆 Wishing you all a safe and happy Christmas and New Year! 🎄🎉 See you all in January... ❤️

18/12/2020

1 week until Christmas!!! With COVID numbers on the rise again, this holiday season is likely to look very different from what we had all hoped. The reminders below are so valuable - we may need to make new traditions and celebrate slightly differently... And that is ok... 🎄❤️🎄

24/11/2020

Such a great video! ❤️