Mental Health Blogs & News from The Retreat Clinics across York, Manchester & online

The Retreat Clinics commit to ongoing Autism, ADHD and mental health support following August Council planning meeting The Retreat Clinics are pleased to announce continuing support for people seeking counselling, psychotherapy and autism & ADHD assessments, following approval for the proposed development of the Retreat Hospital site by specialist property developer and restorer P J […]

Whether you have been in a relationship for a year or twenty years, one thing is guaranteed, at some point you will face challenges together that can either draw you closer together or pull you apart. Each relationship may have differing challenges and each relationship must find their own solution/s to navigate those challenges. Some […]

This blog is brought to you in collaboration with The Natalie Kate Moss Trust. Grief can be triggered through many different experiences. Whether it be the death of a parent, child, sibling, neighbour or friend, the impact of loss can be huge. We might also have questions about how to help ourselves such as, ‘how […]

If your child has just left primary school and is transitioning to secondary school, then this podcast is for you! Lucy and Dale chat about how you can support your child's transition, it's full of great advice and top tips.

In our first podcast, Cat Adlam - Psychotherapist at The Retreat Clinics - talks to Dale Bartleson from YO1 York about men's mental health, vulnerability and weakness and stigma.

We are thrilled to announce an exciting new partnership that promises to enhance our commitment to mental health and wellbeing. The Retreat Clinics has joined forces with the Natalie Kate Moss Trust, a renowned organisation dedicated to preventing lifestyle related brain haemorrhages from occurring through research, education and support. The Natalie Kate Moss Trust also […]

Men’s Mental Health Men’s mental health is getting more attention – this is important, because traditionally men have felt its not ok to talk about not being ok. Ideas of what it is to ‘be a man’, to ‘man-up’, to be a ‘fighter’, to support others rather than seek help, that it’s a ‘weakness’ to […]

Adolescence is a critical period of development, marked by physical, emotional, and social changes. It is a time where young people are figuring out who they are and the kind of person they want to be, whilst also becoming aware of the wider context outside of their own world.  We all know that there are […]

Have you ever wondered why health professionals keep focusing on physical health when dealing with mental health? The answer is easy – they are connected. If you can improve your physical activity, even just an extra five minutes a day, you can be supporting not only your physical health but also your mental health. How? […]

Any health problems can negatively impact romantic relationships, but when these health problems are long-term, will be permanent or are terminal, this can have significant implications for the couple/throuple. Not only does each partner need to process their own feelings about the health problem and the effect, but they also need to establish a way […]

Advice for parents, guardians and friends of university students. Are you concerned about a student at university, who you think may be struggling? Perhaps you’ve noticed a drop in motivation, or a change in their behaviour, difficulties in sleeping or in engaging with their studies. It can be hard to know what to say or […]

Do you sometimes feel its difficult to really explain how you are feeling in words? There are other ways you can express how you feel… Sometimes it’s a sound, like a sigh or a scream. Or an action that helps people understand how you are feeling, like when you cry or tense up. Being able […]

Self-esteem is a critical aspect of our mental health and overall well-being. It’s the foundation of our self-perception, influencing how we see ourselves, how we interact with others, and how we navigate the world around us. High self-esteem can lead to a more positive outlook on life, increased resilience in the face of challenges, and […]

Our Quaker led charity has provided mental health services for over 200 years. Our services are firmly based in our values of compassion, collaboration, and community building. We are passionate about helping people, giving hope, and building resilience. We’re aware that for many people it’s difficult to find the resources to fund therapy, especially now, […]

This blog contains emotionally sensitive information, please take care. If you feel that you need to talk to someone more urgently than therapy, please find a list of useful organisations who offer support below. If you feel that you need immediate support, please contact The Samaritans or your GP or other forms of crisis support. […]

Linda Bower – Psychotherapist at The Retreat Clinics shares her tops tips with how to deal with grief. It is okay to feel sad and it’s okay to feel happy: Christmas is a hard time of year to grieve. Many people around us are laughing and swapping gifts and you might feel disconnected from it […]

At times we all have anxious or suspicious thoughts, about ourselves or about other’s intentions, behaviour or feelings towards us. To some degree this is an important and healthy aspect of being able to look after ourselves and our safety. For some people however, these thoughts can become exaggerated, fixed and distressing. Over time they […]

Discovering that your child is engaging in bullying behaviour can feel challenging and upsetting experience for any parent/carer. However, it’s crucial to approach this situation with empathy, understanding, and a commitment to fostering positive change. In this blog, we’ll explore ways in which parents/guardians can support and guide their children if they discover that their […]

Supporting Your Child Through Bullying: A Parent’s Guide Children can engage in bullying for various reasons, for example this behaviour may serve as their coping mechanism for dealing with difficult situations. Whilst this can sometime help a little in understanding the other child’s behaviour, it never justifies or make bullying acceptable. Dealing with bullying is […]

Top Tips for Managing Bonfire Night   For lots of families with children, Bonfire Night can bring anxiety and distress. Firework displays are noisy, unpredictable and, depending on where you live, can be relentless. This can be particularly tricky if you have a child who has a fear of fireworks, is neurodiverse, and/or has sensory […]

What are we commissioned to provide? The Autism and ADHD services at the Retreat clinics are currently resourced and commissioned to receive an estimated 720 referrals per year (60 per month) however due to an unprecedented increase in demand throughout 2022 and 2023 our referral rate increased considerably and on average we received 1840 referrals […]

Is your child struggling with the transition back to school? Nearly a month into the new school year, we have been hearing from many of you that some children and young people are starting to face challenges with returning to school, despite initially positive starts. Perhaps it’s a sudden reluctance to attend school, difficulty sleeping, […]

University College London, The Retreat Clinics and Tend VR are conducting a study exploring mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) delivered through virtual reality (VR). We are recruiting adults who have experienced recent anxiety or depressive symptoms to test this innovative approach over a 10-12-week period. If you would like to take part, we will be asking […]