This episode is an open letter to anyone who is in a dark place. And who is looking for a way out. It contains an alternative method to actual physical suicide. It speaks of a different way to end pain and distress. One that involve leaving your existing psychological life without taking away your very own life force.

If you or someone you know may benefit from the content of this letter, please know that it is also freely available in written form using this link.

We wish you well.

This episode is a spoken word version of a pamphlet. It's written by a group of counsellors who have had counselling themselves. It's designed to empower clients with knowledge/informed consent before they start the process - rather than having to figure it out on the hoof. We find it crazy to think that people (of all ages) might engage in therapy without really knowing how it works. So here it is. We hope you find it useful. And if you do, please share this episode - or the pdf version - with those who might benefit from it, too.

In this session we are concentrating our efforts on the art of making a start: making a start on ourselves, our wellness, on setting up our own detective agency. Hopefully there will be something within all the shared examples and case studies to get you up and running on your own journey of discovery - whatever that might be. Good luck!

Below are some links to stuff that might be worth exploring further...

Johari Window

The Hero's Journey

6 Thinking hats

Bloom's Taxonomy

Gestalt Action Cycle Model

Erik Erikson's Psychosocial Model

Self-Forgiveness Model

Why bother understanding yourself - when no one else can be bothered to do it? Why bother to spend time on your self-care, when you just eat a nice cheese sandwich instead? Why bother with self-sustained wellness when it doesn't make you anymore successful or wealthier? In today's episode we will be taking a historical and critical look at why bothering to know thyself could be one of the best decisions you'll ever make.

How can we enhance our lives so that we get more fulfilment and less hassle? In this episode two counsellors, Linda and Violet, share their thoughts and experiences on the subject of safe and nurturing spaces. We hope you enjoy their company, just as we hope you get some useful take-outs from the conversation.

BTW, here are some links to information that came up in this session...

A brief account of the core conditions of Carl Rogers

What exactly is person-centredness?

The Hierarchy of Need

'Morgan A Suitable Case For Treatment'

Nick Cave Fan Video

You might also be interested in 'How To Create Safe Spaces' (which was written for group facilitators, but can easily be plucked for other uses).

& Nick Cave's The Red Hand Files

Take care.

Can this club become a nurturing haven in its own right? An independent principality of psychological safety and stability? A landless, borderless place where wellness is always - always, always - the number one concern? Where people can do some good work on their own well-being, free from the restrictions and hostilities of their day to day lives; away from the oppressions of their own societal cultures and conditionings?

In the next two episodes we'll be looking to unpick what this term 'nurture' means to us; and see how we can get more of it in our lives. We'll be looking to start the process of creating and maintaining a good, thriving club culture for all the Self Detective people who are invested in this space. Happy days.

Welcome back to the lived experience part of the club. Here we have Anna-Lou and Jillie sharing how they navigate their way around adversarial environments.

How can we navigate our way through hostile realms within our society, within our day to day life? Tune in to find out.