“Listen to resident counsellor Romi speak about our mental health and emotional well being in these uncertain times and how we can still move forward.” – Sanctuary Thailand.
It is very normal to be feeling pressure, stress, worry, grief or confusion at the moment. Here I talk about how we can move forward. Despite the loss of freedoms: loss of jobs, financial stability, mental health stability, physical contact, loss of routine, how we can still find peace, calm and balance.
“A fascinating conversation with Freedom Cole, Dr Patty Hlava and Romi Grossberg on the crucial topic of Mental Health – integrated approaches to healing, how different cultures approach mental health, the use and misuse of medication, and how best to navigate these troubling times with a modicum of sanity.” The Big Turtle Podcast.
A shaky start to the video podcast interview across the UK, U.S. and Asia with a little freeze and a little pause but well worth the watch.
Making Mental Health a Priority During Uncertain Times – Podcast interview on The Big Turtle Podcast, June 2020.
Hosted by: Vikram Zutshi and Lea Horvatic.
Guests: Romi Grossberg, Patty Hlava, Ph.D., and Freedom Cole.
https://www.romigrossberg.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/104429828_127370852328758_3370191967842393523_o-e1592467286973.jpg11872048Romi Grossberghttp://www.romigrossberg.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Romi-Logo-Web.svgRomi Grossberg2020-06-18 14:09:132020-06-19 12:55:12Making Mental Health a Priority During Uncertain Times - Podcast interview on The Big Turtle, U.S.
There is a growing mental health crisis with our teenagers and young people across the world. In Australia alone 1 in 4 adolescents will experience mental health problems this year and suicide is the most common cause of death for 15–24 year olds. The stats are alarming. One person is one too many.
In my experience with counselling teenagers I have had clients as young as 12 years old suffering from anxiety, clients at 13 believing that their parents divorce was their fault, at 16 not being able to look past a pimple or scar to see who they are as a person and at 17 wondering why they should get out of bed when “today is just going to be as bad as yesterday.” I have worked with adults who at 30 were still stuck in negative thought patterns, at 40 were still traumatised from being bullied at school, at 50 not feeling worthy of love and even at 70 still haunted by teenage family abuse.
None of us are ‘immune to life’ — to traumas, to ‘bad things happening’, to feeling like we have failed, to holding on to past hurts and to the complexities of navigating teenage friendships.
But this is not all doom and gloom.
Life doesn’t have to be this way. The problem is that quite often we don’t know what it is we can try. In those moments we have lost perspective. We have lost faith in the world and we have lost trust in ourselves.
My past clients spurred me to write my latest book ‘The Key, A Social Emotional Toolkit for Teens.’ The most common sentence I was hearing from adults after working together was, “I wish I had learnt those things when I was younger,” and from that I set out to write. The frustration I felt at working with adults who had been carrying their life’s anxieties and traumas around for 10, 20, even 40 years was deeply saddening to me. Five-minutes is too long.
I believe the answer is in education. Not education that says ‘go to school’ but emotional intelligence education, social-emotional education, life education, education of the self, the heart and the soul.
A friend of mine, Kosal Khiev once wrote a poem ‘Moments In Between the Nights’ and that title alone springs to mind when I think about educating teens. It’s not in the ‘going to class,’ but the moments in between — the moments when no one is looking, when your mind suddenly turns, when doubt, fear, embarrassment, a memory, sadness, anxiety or negative thoughts kick in. It’s in those moments that we need to learn the self-awareness, the skills, tools and coping strategies to find our own balance again.
We can teach young people how to gain perspective, how to process their thoughts, emotions, behaviours and understand how and why they react to situations the way they do. We can teach them to understand and redefine terms such as success and failure. We can teach them self enquiry and self awareness, teach them how to better understand themselves, better understand friendships and the roles they play, that there is always someone they haven’t thought of they can talk to, something else they can try. We can teach them how to breathe — to calm down and to steady the mind. And to remind them that they are in control, that they have choice — choice in their actions, reactions, thoughts and behaviours. That there is ALWAYS something they can do. Life doesn’t happen TO us, we need to learn how to get back in the driver’s seat.
Through self-awareness we can create behaviour change but we cannot change what we are not aware of.
Yes we can even break out of negative thought patterns or better understand and cope with anxiety. There are simple steps that can be followed and in my book and videos I guide teens step-by-step in a very simple, practical and no bullshit way. I don’t brush over topics or say “Oh you’ll be okay.” he book gently holds their hand and takes them on a journey of self discovery where they learn to better understand themselves, find their strengths and resilience and get back in control of themselves.
In psychology terms, adolescence is the developmental stage of identity. Who am I? It is a powerful thing to begin to answer that question as a teen. How many adults can truly answer it?
* The Key, A Social Emotional Toolkit for Teens is not a substitute for a specialised mental health counsellor or diagnosed mental health conditions.
‘Teen Mental Health’ was posted in Medium in September 2019.
https://www.romigrossberg.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/IMG_3107-1-1-e1569463848523.jpg256200Romi Grossberghttp://www.romigrossberg.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Romi-Logo-Web.svgRomi Grossberg2019-09-26 09:02:312020-06-22 13:55:56'Teen Mental Health,' Medium
So what exactly IS Holistic Counselling. What does it mean to say you are a holistic counsellor or that you want to go and see one?
Holistic Counselling looks at all of you. It recognises that people are not one-dimensional and that all the different parts that make up a person need to be factored in, to be able to fully understand the person. Holistic Counselling looks at mind, body and spirit.
When I say I am a holistic counsellor, I am saying that I will take in to account your mental, emotional, physical and spiritual thoughts, ideas, fears and concerns. I will acknowledge that upbringing, religion, society and culture can play a role and I will listen without judgment and help clear past blocks and help you to step forward with ease, flow and confidence.
“Given it’s currently National Youth Week, we are pleased to have the United Nations recognise this conference as supporting their International Year of Youth activities,” said CEO Australian Drug Foundation, John Rogerson.
I am very proud to be invited to speak at the ‘6th International Conference on Drugs & Young People: Making Connections’ being held in the Melbourne Convention Centre, May 2-4th 2011.
It is exciting and slightly terrifying to be speaking on such a grand stage to an enormous auditorium of people. I will speak on my experience of drug and alcohol and mental health working in Melbourne and my experience of drug and alcohol, mental health and the creative arts where I work in Phnom Penh Cambodia and am still currently based.
https://www.romigrossberg.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/td1.jpg300300Romi Grossberghttp://www.romigrossberg.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Romi-Logo-Web.svgRomi Grossberg2011-05-05 06:55:552019-05-09 08:10:406th International Conference on Drugs & Young People. Australia
If perfectionism gets in the way of you completing tasks, whether it be a project, sending off a manuscript, finishing a piece or art work or anything else, then check out my take on perfectionism... and rainbows.
I am passionate about sharing my skills to help you reach your full potential.
I believe that everyone should seek counselling at some point in their lives. We all go to the dentist or car mechanic every year but when do we give ourselves the gift of an emotional check in?
My sessions are forward thinking to help you achieve your goals.
W e can work together on how to: quiet your mind, trust yourself, recognise your goals and strengths, communicate effectively with partners, children, parents and friends, break out of old patterns or negative thought behaviours, let go of old stories, understand and better cope with mental health, make decisions that are right for you, gain clarity, focus, calm and more.
My promise to you is that you will learn practical and effective skills, tools and techniques to bring in to your daily life immediately.
Holistic Counselling includes the ‘all of you’, recognising that:
We are multi-faceted human beings and our emotional, mental, spiritual and physical health need to be in-line for us to function at our best.
Our upbringing; our family, culture, society, religion and nationality all play a part in how we think, react and behave.
Let’s chat from the comfort of your home.
I offer 60-minute online counselling sessions. You can book one session or a block of three or five to start.
I work with Adults, couples and teenagers (12+).
University Qualifications:
Bachelor of Social Work (2006), Monash University, Australia
Bachelor of Social Science (1997), LaTrobe University, Australia
Other Qualifications:
Dealing with Depression, Anxiety and Panic Attacks’ Management, Drug & Alcohol Harm Minimisation, Suicide First Aid, International Public Health, Disaster Relief Management
Complete this form to get started.
Your Privacy
No information here will be shared with any third party. If you are under 18 we will discuss getting your parent/carer’s permission before beginning our first session.
Cancellation Policy: Please cancel 24 hours before the session starting time. ‘No Show’ will incur 50% payment fee.
If you are visiting Thailand you can work with me face-to-face at The Sanctuary Thailand in Koh Phangan or simply stay in touch via my newsletter to see what country I am in.
What People Say
Kate, New Zealand
Marta, Italy
Nik, Australia
Tash, Australia
“I was worried my thoughts were crazy or silly but you made me feel normal and like I could cope with life again.”
AnnaUSA
“I love that you focused on the future not the past and then gave me useful tools to move forward in life. Thank you”
RobertFrance
“I enjoyed using writing in the session. I have never experienced something like this before. It was really challenging but helped me concentrate, focus and think clearly and importantly – it was fun too.”
NathanAustralia
“I’ve been going to counselors for my eating disorder for over ten years now and that was the best session I have ever had. That was the first time I wasn’t made to feel stupid and where I felt I was talking to someone who was my equal but with loads to teach and share with me. I now feel I have a new set of tools and tricks I can try that will be with me always. I feel empowered. Thank you.”
PanUK
“You have helped me far more than you could possibly imagine! You helped me integrate all the information, thoughts and feelings. You helped me develop an action plan with tools and writing that I could go home with to help me keep my new-found peace of mind. It really tied everything together for me. You gave me a good bag of gems to take home and play with. Thank you Romi for creating the space to let me be me and for listening without judgment, you made me feel safe and accepted for all that I am. Your insight is deeply appreciated.”
AngelAustralia
“I found Romi really easy to talk to and her style of counseling gentle yet effective. I like the way she makes you see the different points of the problem and shows you how simple sometimes the answers can be.
I felt the heaviness lifted by talking to her and found her very easy to connect and relate to.
I have cried and I laughed with her and I am very grateful for her kind words. Big thanks Romi!
I will not share your information with anyone else and I will not spam you. The above message is to contact me. You will be added to my newsletter only if you subscribe. Please read the Privacy Policy and use of cookies for more information about your data and GDPR.
Author, Counsellor, Writing Therapist & Public Speaker.
Counselling sessions for adults and teenagers.
On-line and in-person.
Workshops, courses and curriculums.
Mentor of writers and want-to-be writers.
Public Speaking.
I love what I do.
I have been called a gypsy, a nomad, a hippy, a fairy, a bookworm, a rebel, sporty-spice, crossword junkie and the ‘grass-is-greener’ girl.
Maybe I was all of these things.
I
have been a sports teacher, a photographer, a social worker, a mental health specialist, a drug and alcohol counsellor, a public speaker and a traveller. I was one of those people who was always searching, though I never knew what I was looking for… until now. Living in South East Asia since March 2010, I feel that I have found… well, that I am found.
Today I practice Holistic Counselling – because ‘holistic’ includes the ‘all of you’ and as unique individuals we need to recognise that our cultural, family, religious, spiritual and societal upbringing influences different aspects of us: the way we think, react, respond, feel and understand the world. My counselling sessions are forward thinking, looking at where are you now? Where are you trying to get to? What is in the way? And how can we make the path clear and easy?
In sessions I may incorporate talk therapy with writing therapy and breath work and always promise to give you practical and grounded guidance with real life tools and techniques to take away. I work with mental health, emotional health, decision-making and trust, career advice, relationship advice, communication skills, societal issues and more, helping you find your voice and trust yourself.
Writing Mentorship: A journal writer since 1984, I write with ease and flow and teach others how to do the same. I teach self-expression, journaling and flow writing in both group and private sessions. I teach people how to get out of their head, connect with their body, get in touch with their source – their gut, the centre of all emotions. I even invented a word for it in 2015 – gutism.
I work with authors, writers and want-to-be writers at any stage of writing from the brainstorming stage right through – I give advice, tips, tools and techniques (not editing) of books, scripts or writing therapy and journalling. Writing for me is about understanding the process between the head, heart and gut. Writers block is when those three are in conflict.
I have been a volunteer worker since before I probably knew what it meant. It just seemed natural to want to help those less fortunate.
I have volunteered in Israel, Vietnam, India, Cambodia and Australia. I have been a carer in disability homes, an art teacher, a sports manager, a teacher at isolated schools for migrant children, a life skills coach for street kids and a community development worker for the World Health Organization (W.H.O.).
In 2010 I became the Manager of Tiny Toones Cambodia and my whole world changed. My heart got broken in to a thousand pieces and put back together over and over by the slum’s most precious street kids. I sat by their side through drug addiction, family violence, pain, recovery, relapse, slavery, corruption and poverty. They, ‘my kids’ taught me about unconditional love, respect, honour, determination and friendship. They taught me about family when they chose me as their mum, aunty and big sister.
“You should be a writer,” I kept hearing from friends and colleagues. I was a story-teller, definitely. I loved public speaking and have travelled on stages across Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Singapore and even the first ever Tedx Phnom Penh in 2011 and interviewed in newspapers, radio and television including the highly-regarded ABC Australia Network with journalist Kate Arnott.
In November 2012 I went to Laos for my first writers retreat purely because it felt right – even though I was broke and terrified. I don’t remember making any decisions since. Things just happened. Do what you love and the rest will come. I met incredible authors who became mentors and I fell madly in love with the pen. Eventually, I tore myself away from my beloved Cambodian family and moved to a small island in southern Thailand to focus on writing. This is when I truly felt I could call myself an author.
Now I sit in my office (by that I mean on my balcony) looking out in to the jungle, writing and editing. Going to work as a counsellor is only a hop, skip and jump over the hill. Life is beautiful.
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