Michael’s Blogs
This page is a collection of Michael’s articles, newsletters, sources of inspiration and posts. These are offered to you as educational material and practical tips for health and wellbeing in everyday life.
Meditation
He, who in autumn recalls a troublesome but by no means hapless life; Who, smiling at his youth, recalls those old roads and pilgrimages, Whose common goal had always been hidden, By other goals nearer by. For him the thought of feasts and festivities is far distant as is also The pleasure in glory and [...]
The benefits and importance of Counselling and Psychotherapy in our lives
Michael has been in practice for over thirty years. Three decades working with people has instilled in him the wisdom of awareness, equanimity, empathy and non-judgement, suffused with the qualities of warmth and attentive presence. Michael has devoted himself to helping his clients navigate their way through the trials, tribulations, accomplishments, demands and the myriad [...]
The Benefits of Counselling around Meditation and The Restless Mind #2
The last blog left us in the foothills of meditative practice, using a breathing process to settle into a quiet, comfortable zone. One’s back should be relaxed but straight for meditation, any way that can be achieved. You can sit upright, unsupported if your back is in great shape, or up against a wall, or [...]
Taoism
JOURNAL OF CHINESE MEDICINE NUMBER 37 SEPTEMBER 1991 Taoism and Self Cultivation by Wang Zhi Gang Translated by Tao Ming Hua https://www.jcm.co.uk It goes without saying that maintaining good health and enjoying a long life is desired by all. Although there are certain people who are blessed by nature and live healthily and happily to [...]
Sustainable personal healthcare
Many of my clients ask how they can improve on the sustainability of their health status. My answer is that one has to maintain proactivity. At any time we are under the influence of many and various environmental chemical effects in air, water and foods. Many live and work in sedentary lifestyles, bereft of physical [...]
The Benefits of Counselling around Meditation and The Restless Mind #1
In my last blog I mentioned approaches to meditation. I talked about the difficulty of actually stilling the mind, restless beast that it is. My preference is, at least initially, to observe the mind’s activity in response to my effort of fixed attention. I think it is very important to keep in mind that if [...]
Self-awareness and Meditation
Meditation is a wonderful tool, available to assist us to enhance our sense of self-awareness, not to mention more effectively deal with our responses to stress. More on stress in a later blog... I am frequently asked about different paths of meditation and which, in my opinion is the best technique or approach. My [...]
The Benefits of Counselling – Preventative Relationship Care
A number of couples with whom I have worked recently are evidence of a shift in attitude concerning relationship care. They have sensed that things are not going well and come along earlier rather than later in a bid to avoid continuing relationship deterioration and potentially, ‘hitting the wall’. Once a couple hits the metaphorical [...]
The Benefits of Counselling around the Ageing Process #2
When it comes to the way we age are we not our own worst enemies? Most references, in western society's lexicon describing ageing, are skewed towards the idea of breakdown, decay and dependency . This is not a very secure foothold on one's future. I feel that the way we talk sets us on [...]
Tackling the state of Impatience
Picture this everyday situation. Sitting behind the steering wheel, your car stuck in heavy traffic, in the slower, middle lane on the way to work, waiting.....and feeling frustrated, watching the cars whizz by in the multi-passenger lane. A splendid example of impatience. Give me half an hour in a car with someone, driving around town, [...]