April 2016 - Promises Healthcare
ENQUIRY
What is a relationship tune-up?

What is a relationship tune-up?

by | Apr 29, 2016 | Adult Psychiatric & Counselling Services, Articles, Relationships, Winifred Ling

Everyone who owns a car knows that it needs servicing periodically. We don’t wait till the car has broken down before we send it to the workshop. We do regular tune-up for the car so that we can ensure its smooth running and lifespan.

What does it mean when we apply the analogy to a relationship?

Relationships are just like cars, and they experience wear and tear. If we ignore the little things that go wrong, we may end up dealing with a major breakdown. Whilst relationship tune-up is not therapy, per se, it is a session with a relationship coach to evaluate your relationship and the intent is preventive.

Some questions that we look at are:
• How satisfied are you with your marriage?
• Where are the gaps that you’ll like to close?
• What’s the legacy that we are creating together?
• What’s the dream within the conflicts that we have?

Many are familiar with pre-marital counseling and we are also aware of marital counseling, which is usually assumed to be for troubled marriages. Relationship tune up is the in-between where most relationship lies and yes, you can seek help to enhance your marital life.

Contact Promises healthcare today if you are looking to tune up your relationship.

Written by: Winifred Ling – Psychologist, Couples Therapist and Relationship Coach, Promises Healthcare

Self-Harm Series – Part 3 –

Self-Harm Series – Part 3 –

by | Apr 26, 2016 | Articles, Leeran Gold

What can I do to help my teen?
In addition to regular professional mental health support, here are some things you can do to help your teen:
– Show that you care
– Be non-judgmental
– Accept your teen’s feelings
– Suggest distractions
– Learn basic first aid
– Encourage them to communicate their feelings
– Ensure an authoritative balance in your parenting style

Avoid:
– Guilt trips
– Punishing your teen for self-harm

What can the school do to support my teen?
Ask to see your school’s policy on self-harm management. If your school does not have a policy, get in touch with your treating psychologist who can provide the school with resources and psycho-education. Make sure the school counselor sees your teen regularly, and that they are aware of any safety and risk issues.

If you suspect that your teen is self-harming, seek professional help as soon as possible. Contact Promises Healthcare for a confidential enquiry today.

If your teen is in any danger, contact your local ambulance service on 995. You can contact the Institute for Mental Health 24-hour hotline on 6389-2222.

This is part 3, of a series of 3 posts        Click here for Part 1     Click here for Part 2

Written by: Leeran Gold – Psychologist, Forensic Services, Promises Healthcare

Self-Harm Series – Part 2 –

Self-Harm Series – Part 2 –

by | Apr 15, 2016 | Articles, Leeran Gold

Self-Harm

How do I know if my teen is self-harming?
Self-harming is usually a very private and secretive behavior. Teens may self-harm on areas of their bodies that are difficult to see. In some cases, teens may self-harm in more obvious areas including their wrists, ankles, arms and legs.
If you notice dressing or bandages, or cuts, bruises, burns and/or marks in these areas, your teen may be self-harming.
Other signs can include withdrawing from friends and family, excessive moodiness, increased irritability and anger outbursts, and changes in appetite and body weight.

Why is my teen self-harming?
Teens may self-harm in order to cope with stress. Self-harm can temporarily numb or relieve their distress, and can be a way of communicating their distress to others. Teens who self-harm often lack healthy coping strategies and feel helpless in managing their distress.

If your teen is self-harming, or you suspect that they are, seek professional help and contact Promises Healthcare for a confidential enquiry as soon as possible.

If your teen is in any danger, you can contact your local ambulance service on 995. You can contact the Institute for Mental Health 24-hour hotline on 6389-2222.

This is part 2, of a series of 3 posts         Click here for Part 1 

Written by: Leeran Gold – Psychologist, Forensic Services, Promises Healthcare

Self-Harm Series – Part 1 –

Self-Harm Series – Part 1 –

by | Apr 8, 2016 | Articles, Leeran Gold

self-harm

What is self-harm?
Self-harm is the deliberate self-inflicted destruction of body tissue. It can occur with or without suicidal intentions. A commonly used term is ‘non-suicidal self-injury’ (NSSI), which refers to self-injury that is carried out without suicidal intent.

If my teen self-harms, does that mean they are suicidal?
It does not necessarily mean that your teen is suicidal if they self-harm. However every teen that self-harms should undergo a thorough suicide risk assessment. If your teen is self-harming, it is a sign that they are in distress.

What are self-harming behaviors?
Some self-harming behaviors include; cutting, burning, scratching, pinching, biting and hitting. Teens may also take minor overdoses of easily accessibly medications.

If your teen is self-harming, or you suspect that they are, seek professional help as soon as possible. Please contact Promises Healthcare for a confidential enquiry.

If your teen is in any danger, you can contact your local ambulance service on 995. You can contact the Institute for Mental Health 24-hour hotline on 6389-2222.

This is part 1, of a series of 3 posts

Click here for Part 2 

Written by: Leeran Gold – Psychologist, Forensic Services, Promises Healthcare

EXPATRIATES ARE VULNERABLE TO ADDICTIONS

EXPATRIATES ARE VULNERABLE TO ADDICTIONS

by | Apr 1, 2016 | Andrew da Roza, Uncategorized

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Away from their families and long standing networks of school, university, work, sports and church friends; and facing traveling, work, school and domestic pressures; it is not surprising that expatriate families are vulnerable to addictions. One person may be the breadwinner, who has to prove to bosses in distant countries that they are worthy of their promotions and stay up all hours in the office, on conference calls, in business dinners and on airplanes. 
The spouse may have to give up their job and suffer an identity crisis. Having to spend endless frustrating hours dealing with trivial domestic issues in a strange country and trying in vain to establish a social network that may be less than authentic and down-to-earth – and more interested in what you have than who you are. As business travel forces expat couples to spend time apart, the intimacy may wane and they become distant, indifferent and lonely or resentful and suspicious. With anxiety and stress building and alcohol, cigarettes, paid sex, benzos and other drugs in abundance, it is not surprising that the expat life can lead to addictions.


At Promises healthcare we understand the pressures that face families coming into a foreign land. We offer counseling for individuals who are struggling with addictions and provide help for families as well. We promise strict confidentiality over all our clients. Help is not far away. Consider approaching an addictions counselor today. Please contact our clinic if you have any inquiries or if you wish to have a consultation.

Written by: Andrew da Roza – Psychotherapist, Promise Healthcare