What happened when you were sixteen? Were you dealing with challenges, triumphs, or a monotonous existence? Counselling psychologist Eleen Polson invites us to reflect on our own, inner 16-year-old self in ways that help us reconnect with our body, creativity, and free-flowing feminine energy. She explains how sisterhood can nourish this experience, and that being unsure of the outcome needn’t deter us from trusting the process of development and growth.

Losing a loved one has always been hard, but the pandemic has led to people dying alone in hospital, impacted on funerals, and contributed to a lack of closure in those left behind. Clinical psychologist Rafiq Lockhat describes how bereavement entails shock, functioning on autopilot, grappling with anger, sadness and guilt, and negotiating the readjustment phase. He explains how BrainWorking® Recursive Therapy can relieve intense pain in the case of normal as well as complicated grief.

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Non-violent communication, pioneered by Marshall Rosenberg, involves a paradigm shift that makes us more aware of our feelings, fosters respect for ourselves and others, and deepens connection. Counselling psychologist Eleen Polson explains how we can get our needs met by moving away from judgement, blame, expectations and demands and by expressing our position in an authentic, non-threatening manner.

No-one enters the world with an operating manual for their brain - but developmental specialist Dr. Melodie de Jager’s neuroscience-based programme, Mind Dynamix, comes close. Understanding your integrated profile, your strengths, and how your brain functions under stress sheds light on your “fit” in your work context, intimate relationship, etc. Moreover, you can use targeted movements to rewire your brain for a more fulfilled life. This podcast includes an exercise to help you discover your preferred sensory modality. Sponsored content.

We know that someone’s expression conveys their mood, but do their wrinkles really reflect their personality? Can facial lines indicate burn-out, disappointment, charm, courage, or secrecy? Personal development coach Marthie Maré, the first practicing face profiler in South Africa, tells us how to interpret frown lines and those around the eyes, mouth and nose. You’ll encounter terms such as dedication lines, support lines, anger flags, burn-out lines, and outreach lines.  

Clinical psychologist Dr. Elisa Mecco discusses the definition of bipolar disorder, its subtypes, possible causes, symptoms and treatment. She describes the success she sees in her practice applying BrainWorking® Recursive Therapy and offers advice to the loved ones of individuals with bipolar disorder. Elisa considers it possible to live a fully independent life as long as this mood disorder is managed efficiently.
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Just what we need! Clarity on what causes us stress, and practical ways to reduce the strain. Dr Rina de Klerk-Weyer considers the definition of stress, contributing factors, tell-tale signs, and pointers that can help us restore balance to our lives.

Are you familiar with pelvic floor physiotherapy? Hester van Aswegen introduces us to her work with male and female patients who experience pelvic floor dysfunction. Narrowing the focus to women who find sexual intercourse painful, she talks about the causes, symptoms, and treatment – including breathing and manual release techniques, and the use of dilators - and the results she sees in her specialised physiotherapy practice.

The calmer, more predictable world we long for does not seem to be in a hurry to return. How do we cope with these turbulent times? Counselling psychologist dr Hannetjie van Zyl-Edeling offers practical tips for reducing anxiety and stress and boosting our energy levels.

When you survive a life-threatening situation, pandemic or other trauma during which someone else suffered or died, you may be overcome by guilt. This is commonly known as “survivor’s guilt”. Specialist psychiatrist Dr Kerryn Armstrong talks about “Covid-19 survivor’s guilt”, possible causes, signs, treatment, and its relationship to post-traumatic stress disorder. She offers practical strategies for coping and regaining your trust in yourself and the world.

Becoming fully immersed in what we are doing, to the extent that hours feel like minutes, is an invigorating experience. Knowing how to optimise what positive psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi calls the flow state can help us experience some of our happiest, most creative and productive moments. Learn more about the characteristics, key aspects, growth and productivity related to flow, and about flowing in a group context.

Resilience helps us cope with change, adversity and setbacks. Learning and development specialist Dr Rina de Klerk-Weyer explains how to use your inner strength to become the best you, despite your circumstances. This doesn’t mean you need to be strong all the time; it’s more about changing your perspective, developing certain skills, and making conscious choices. The ability to bounce back can be your anchor in an unpredictable world.

We seldom find it easy to speak about death, but the Covid-19 pandemic has made it hard to avoid doing so. How can broaching the subject with a loved one bring us closer together? What should we say? Emotional Intelligence expert Dr. Rina de Klerk-Weyer offers a list of questions we can ask regarding the practical and emotional aspects of death. The answers will clarify our own views as well as those of the loved ones we engage.

In these times, as we are looking for more ways to stay healthy or to recuperate, strengthening our connection with our bodies is crucial. Educational psychologist Dr. Elsi Meyer explains how the various layers of the mind can be used to awaken the “felt sense” of the body, mentions the tools at our disposal, and the advantages involved. She outlines the four phases of awakening, and how to balance rational thought and the creative mind for optimal well-being.

Even before the worldwide pandemic, burnout took on epidemic proportions. Now – on top of that – we are experiencing Covid fatigue. Master coach Judy Klipin explains how to identify Covid fatigue and offers practical tools and self-care strategies to help our bodies and minds rest and recharge, benefit our relationships, and optimise our performance at work.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is a stressful condition that can become chronic if left untreated. Prof. Christine Lochner talks about the symptoms and causes of OCD, and how it is diagnosed and treated. She invites South Africans to participate in a voluntary, cost-free OCD study conducted in Cape Town and explains who may be included.

Educational psychologist Hannelie Spies explains how she supports teenagers and university students with ADHD by helping them improve their Executive Functioning, and by using BWRT® to address the emotional challenges caused by living with ADHD. These traumas include being misunderstood, bullying, low self-worth, anger issues, depression, and general, social or exam anxiety. Case studies illustrate the efficacy of this parallel approach.

Mindfulness may seem like a vague concept, but a clear understanding of its physical, emotional and mental benefits can prompt a regular meditation or breathing practice, which needn’t be time-consuming. Counselling psychologist and hypnotherapist Karin Steyn explains the difference between mindfulness and meditation, how meditation affects certain parts of the brain, and suggests practical resources and ways to develop this skill.

Het jy of iemand ná aan jou ‘n psigiese siekte? Joernalis Pieter van Zyl praat oor sy boek, “Verhale van hoop: só help jy jou geliefde en jouself”, vir mense wat met ‘n uitdaging soos depressie, angsversteuring, opgaarsindroom of obsessief-kompulsiewe versteuring saamleef. Hy vertel waar die aangrypende verhale in sy boek vandaan kom; van sy eie pad met angsversteuring, major depressie en ‘n lewensmaat met bipolariteit; en hoe die navorsing en praktiese raad in sy boek uit sy eie dringende behoefte aan hulp gebore is.

Being a father can be complicated, especially when you’ve known “fatherlessness.” Even boys who live with their fathers often have little opportunity to experience the meaning of manhood first-hand. The consequences include the universal wound many men carry, father hunger, and a deep sense of loneliness. Here are some practical ways to address these issues and to foster fathers’ connection with their children.