So often, mental health struggles begin in silence. Everyone experiences poor mental health at some point, just as we all experience physical ill health to a greater or lesser degree. And while it is wonderful that people are finding it easier to talk about mental health, there is still a stigma around poor mental health that can make it difficult to ask for the support and guidance we need. So many of us carry an inner world of anxiety, exhaustion, grief, shame, or self-crit

Adopted people are one of the most highly represented groups in mental health services. This isn’t because adoptees are unstable or emotionally fragile. It’s because the architecture they grew inside has never been understood. Public narratives — abandoned, unwanted, given up — shape how adoptees are spoken to and interpreted. Questions become invasive. Reassurance becomes erasure. The difficulties adoptees face are structural, created by the early architecture of severance a

In this article, nutritional therapist and health coach Michelle Paterson explores stress as a key root cause behind many ongoing health symptoms. While stress is often unavoidable, its physical impact on the body can be significant, influencing energy levels, sleep, mood and gut health. Stress may be obvious during major life events, or build quietly over time, gradually undermining wellbeing. The article highlights that while we cannot always remove stress, we can support t

The Path After Birth: Reflections on Maternal Mental Health Maternal Mental Health Week highlights the often-unseen emotional and psychological changes new mothers experience. Alongside physical recovery, disrupted sleep and shifting identity, many women struggle with feelings of overwhelm, anxiety or disconnection — sometimes linked to difficult or traumatic birth experiences. These responses are common, yet stigma can make them hard to share. Drawing on personal and profes

This reflective essay explores the simple but powerful truth that everyone has mental health — and that it exists on a spectrum, not as an on/off state. Inspired by a child’s insight, the piece reframes mental health as something that must be nurtured through care, boundaries, movement, rest and connection. Drawing on family experience, yoga teaching and community, it highlights how practices such as running, mindful movement and shared spaces can support resilience and wellb

This time of year always invites a renewed sense of inner exploration for me as I watch the first signs of life emerging once again from the ground. It always reminds me to take the time to stop and be present. It's a time of wonder and beauty. The natural world AMAZES me every day, and this time of year more than any other, I remember that I am a part of the earth, as much as the earth is a part of me. It feels like a time to gather the reflections from the winter months and

When I think about roots and earth for adopted people, I recognise how complex these words can be, especially for those adopted in the closed‑adoption era. For most people, roots come from family lines, familiar stories, and the ground they were born into. But for adoptees, the architecture begins with a severance and a forced reconnection.

As a Nutritional Therapist, a key focus of my work is identifying and reducing or resolving the ‘root causes’ of my clients’ symptoms or health conditions. Lately, I’ve noticed the term ‘root causes’ being used more frequently, particularly on social media and across a variety of therapy-based services. So, I thought it would be helpful to explain this approach, how it differs from other health services, and how it can help you. I’ll also share what this looks like in m

I actively encourage my students to embrace the wobble and the experience of falling. When we strip away the weight of perfectionism, we wobble together. Falling out of a pose provides information because it puts your body in honest conversation with gravity and reveals capability

One of the simplest resources we all have to hand is also one of the most powerful: our breath. We can make use of this tool whenever and wherever we are, to help bring us back into the present, to feel grounded and connected.