Kieran O'Sullivan-Day - Practitioner, anxiety and family dogs - 🐶

Welcome to this podcast episode with Kieran O'Sullivan-Day. In this episode, we have a wonderful discussion about our mental health journeys. We cover children's mental health, anxiety and the love we share for our family dogs. Kieran also shares experiences with working as a practitioner in the field and how it can often feel like a really overwhelming job at times.

Listeners will hear about our personal experiences with anxiety, children's mental health, the importance of family and what joy/pleasure dogs can bring to our lives. We also chat about the need for better healthcare services in terms of wait times, and what value family can bring on our journeys. Our discussion is intended to help individuals with their personal journeys and shed some light on things that aren’t normally discussed in “small talk situations”.

We also explore how anxiety can manifest in small, seemingly insignificant moments like getting a bad haircut. We'll talk about how these thoughts can spiral out of control and become a source of stress and worry. Through personal anecdotes and expert advice, we'll learn strategies for overcoming these anxious thoughts and finding peace in the present moment as our thoughts are only "opinions and not facts". Whether you're struggling with "bad haircut" anxiety or any other form of anxiety, this episode will offer practical tips for finding resilience and overcoming negative thoughts.

This episode provides an overview of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), a popular and evidence-based form of psychotherapy. CBT is a goal-oriented, action-focused therapy that helps individuals recognise and challenge negative thought patterns and beliefs, and develop new, more positive and adaptive ways of thinking. Kieran explains the principles of CBT and how it can be used to treat a variety of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Whether you are seeking therapy for yourself or want to learn more about this approach, this episode will provide a comprehensive introduction to CBT and its potential benefits.

We will be exploring the personal journey of Kieran who developed social anxiety disorder after his mother had a stroke. Kieran will share his experience, thoughts and feelings about their struggles with social anxiety and how it has affected their lives. They will also discuss what has worked for them and how they have managed to overcome the difficulties that arose from this experience. Kieran aims to provide insight and comfort for those who are also struggling with social anxiety disorder, especially after a traumatic experience like a stroke.

Finally, we explore the challenges that many young children face when expressing their emotions. Despite their innocence and willingness to share, many kids can feel intimidated or uncertain when it comes to opening up. With the help of experts in child development and mental health, we will be discussing the various ways to unlock emotional expression and help children feel more comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings. 

Whether it be through play, art, or just simply having open and honest conversations, we will be highlighting some of the best practices for fostering a healthy emotional landscape in young children. Join us in this journey to help our little ones feel seen, heard, and understood!

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