Self-Harm: Why does it happen and how can you help?
ESSLIN TERRIGHENA shares what research has taught us on self-harm. What is self-harm? Non-suicidal self-injury, more colloquially referred to as self-harm, can be defined as
BLog
Checking In On Mental Health in Relationships
May, mental health awareness month, reminds us to check up on our mental health and reflect on how our relationships are faring. Every relationship has
Managing Mental Health After Trauma
When the safety and well-being of ourselves or our loved ones are threatened, we go into survival mode. This may involve overwhelming feelings, dulled thoughts,
SCMP Article: Stuck in quarantine? Forget Being An Adult and Do Something Just For Fun
Checking into quarantine is not an experience many look forward to. Often, quarantine can be exhausting, and we may feel drained, overwhelmed or anxious being
Overcoming Shame to Improve Your Mental Health
What is Shame? When Aaron was small, his mother would lock him in the closet to discipline him when he was loud. His father would
Stepping Away From Resentment in Your Relationship
Sometimes you can become so frustrated and resentful with your partner that it may seem easier to just end the relationship. You may feel like
How Creativity and Innovation Can Support Your Healing Journey
EMDR Francine Shapiro created eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). One day as she was walking and thinking, she noticed that her eyes were shifting
Online Therapy: How to Get the Most out of It
The Effectiveness of Online Therapy: A Modern Approach to Mental Health In recent years, online therapy has revolutionised mental health care, offering accessibility and flexibility
Online Therapy: How Effective is it?
Throughout the challenging two years of the Covid-19 pandemic, online therapy has been lifesaving for many. Despite physical isolation, people have been able to receive
Little Steps Asia Interview – Coping With Covid Fatigue ft. MindnLife
Looking after our mental health and supporting family and friends as we navigate our way through the pandemic is crucial – but it can be
Which Type of Lonely are you?
If you were to google types of loneliness, you might be surprised at how many lonely types there are. One loneliness researcher found eighty different
Relationships during a pandemic and the importance of maintaining them
The world hasn’t looked the same since early 2020. When life just started to return to some level of ‘normalcy’ in 2021, coronavirus showed us
Understanding child therapy to better support your child’s needs
Three Differences about Child Therapy The process of child therapy has many distinct differences from that of adult therapy, and in order to better support
What if, what if, what if…coping with stress, anxiety and overwhelm
Anxiety and what we can do to cope Stress and anxiety can be motivating and healthy in just the right amount. Think of it as
How to Communicate Our Sexual Needs with Our Partner
Communication We all hear about how important it is to communicate our needs to our partners, but it’s not always easy to know exactly how
How can we break repetitive cycles of relationship conflict?
Dr. Esslin Terrighena explores why we may get stuck in repetitive arguments with our partners, despite our best intentions to break these patterns: Where
How Setting Healthy Boundaries Supports Your Wellbeing
Holiday Pressure Anna had decided this year she would not visit her family for the holidays. She knew for sure that she would be hearing about
Navigating Bereavement during the Festive Period and Covid-19 Restrictions
Grief during the Holidays Holiday festivities are the times we usually gather with our loved ones to celebrate and create memories. This can make grief and
The Best Ways to Create Family-Cheer During Another Pandemic Christmas
Four Ways to create Family-cheer during another pandemic Christmas The holiday season, although traditionally a time of cheer and joy for many, can be notoriously
Couples and COVID: How Couples can Manage the Holidays
Intimacy during the Holidays The holidays are usually when people come together to celebrate, connect and bond with other family members and friends. However, here
The Benefits of Sexual Self Care
Taking care of the whole self It’s common these days to hear about self care and how one should value it. But what is self
A Preventative Approach to Mental Health: Five Ways to Bring Self-Care into your Life
Preventative Model Our current health model is reactive rather than preventative. The notion that many health issues can be prevented through daily habits and lifestyle
Self-care Strategies to Manage Childhood Trauma
Childhood Trauma and Self-Care Childhood trauma is our reaction to deeply distressing experiences that overwhelm our physical and mental coping abilities as children. Traumatic experiences
Tired? Sore? Inflamed? It might be your mental health
How our mental health is connected with physical symptoms Helena often felt like she had a chest infection. Her lungs felt tight, and she gasped
How To Use Self-Compassion as a Form of Self-Care
Healing through Self-Compassion “I’m going to fail; I just know it,” Andrea thought to herself before she started preparing for her exam. Then, her anxiety
Trauma and Covid-19
Trauma is our response to deeply distressing events that overwhelm our coping abilities. The global Covid-19 pandemic has brought about world-wide trauma, through the continuous
Sex and the Internet
When the internet became available, millions of people now had access to information that they normally would not have. They could explore all sorts of
Understanding Anxiety
Understanding Anxiety has become more and more important as the world has become far more familiar with talking about mental health (thank you global pandemic),
Trauma and the Internet (Part 2)
The internet has made the world smaller. Now, tragic incidents that occur halfway across the globe, are easily accessible through news reports, video platforms, social
Online Dating Scams and Betrayal Trauma
Adrian was tired of feeling lonely. Her friends told her that she should try online dating. She was hesitant at first because she wanted to
ADHD in Adults: Understanding Its Impact on Romantic Relationships
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) isn’t just a childhood condition—it often persists into adulthood, presenting unique challenges in various aspects of life, particularly romantic relationships.
Women’s Mental Health in Midlife: Expert Insights & Self-Care Tips
In the hustle and bustle of daily life, women often find themselves juggling multiple roles – career professional, caregiver, parent, partner – leaving little room
How can a mental health condition such as depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder affect a person’s ability to parent and parenting styles?
1. Depression Research shows parents experiencing depression may exhibit reduced energy, diminished interest in activities, and impaired concentration. These symptoms can lead to less engagement
Building Healthy Relationships: Insights from Clinical Psychologist Dr. Quratulain Zaidi
In a recent interview with Noreen Mir on RTHK Radio Three, clinical psychologist Dr. Quratulain Zaidi shared valuable insights into maintaining healthy long-term relationships. Her
Best Women’s Health Specialist. We Won Double at the Expat Living Awards – Thanks to You!
Wow – what amazing news to share! You’ve voted Our founder Dr Zaidi among top 5 Hong Kong’s Best Women’s Health Specialist AND our team
The Psychology of New Year’s Resolutions: Insights from Dr. Quratulain Zaidi
Many of us are making New Year’s resolutions in the hopes of improving our quality of life as we enter the new year. However, what
The Development of Self-Image in Children
A child’s self-image is a crucial aspect of their development. It not only affects how they perceive themselves but also how they interact with others,
Why AI girlfriends or boyfriends via romantic chatbot apps could cause real-life harm
The rise of people ‘dating’ AI romantic chatbot app raises concerns about their impact on communication and relationship skills, potentially trapping users in loneliness. Building
How Smartphone Addiction Is Turning People Into Phone Zombies
Smartphone addiction has become widespread in Hong Kong, causing family strife, insomnia, anxiety and depression, a psychologist says Bright red lights shine onto the ground
Supporting your teenager with their mental health
Given the growing rates of depression, anxiety, and associated challenges in teenagers, supporting your teenager with their mental health is more important than ever, and
How Online Therapy is Revolutionising Mental Health Care
In recent years, the landscape of mental health care has undergone a significant transformation. With the advent of technology, particularly in the field of telemedicine,
Responding to Aggressive Behaviour in Children
Responding to aggressive behaviour in children can be very stressful and upsetting for parents. It’s often assumed that it’s a behavioural or disciplinary issue or
Transforming Negative Core Beliefs with EMDR
Negative beliefs like “I’m not good enough” or “I’m worthless” can deeply affect self-esteem, emotions, and behaviour. EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) effectively
MindNLife Psychology Practice Expands Services to the UK
MindNLife Psychology Practice is excited to extend its high-quality mental health services to clients in both Hong Kong and the United Kingdom. Our new offices
Navigating divorce with a neurodivergent child
Neurodiverse children commonly face challenges with emotional regulation, executive functioning, self-esteem and belonging – all of which can be further impacted by divorce, affecting their
Mastering self-care through the practice of self-compassion
In therapeutic work, I see the same pattern over and over again. People tend to be very good at showing compassion to everyone else in
Am I Divorcing a Narcissist?
The end of a marriage can be harrowing for both partners. Sometimes, this pain makes people more reactive. These reactions include aggression, isolation, smear campaigns,
“STRESS”A SILENT EPIDEMIC OF OUR TIME
In Hong Kong’s fast paced life it’s not a surprise that I see 3/5 people who report high levels of stress, so what is stress?
FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY EXPLAINED
What is Forensic Psychology? When seeking psychological support, it’s natural to look for a clinical psychologist as this is the largest and most prominent speciality
The Power of Social Skills
In today’s world, the power of social skills is essential for children to achieve success. It’s not just about academic performance – strong social
