Declan Brady Counselling, Galway

We’re always chasing something—be it a promotion, a new car, or a significant other. This leads to the belief that, “When x, y or z happens, I’ll finally be happy.” While these major events do make us happy at first, research shows this happiness doesn’t last. A study from an American University measured the happiness levels of regular people against those who had won large lottery prizes the year prior. The researchers were surprised to discover that the happiness ratings of

Listening is the process by which you gain an understanding of the needs, demands and preferences of the other through direct interaction. To be a good active listener, there are two components for success: attention and reflection. Attentive listening includes eye contact, posture, facial expressions, gestures and genuine interest in what the person is saying. Reflection includes repeating and paraphrasing what you have heard, showing the person that you truly understand wha

The ability to communicate effectively with loved ones, superiors, colleagues is essential for a happy life. Here are the top 10 communication skills that will help you in all your relationships. 1. Listening Being a good listener is one of the best ways to be a good communicator. No one likes communicating with someone who only cares about putting in her two cents, and does not take the time to listen to the other person. If you're not a good listener, it's going to be hard

If you’ve experienced an extremely stressful or disturbing event that’s left you feeling helpless and emotionally out of control, you may have been traumatized. Psychological trauma can leave you struggling with upsetting emotions, memories, and anxiety that won’t go away. It can also leave you feeling numb, disconnected, and unable to trust other people. When bad things happen, it can take a while to get over the pain and feel safe again. But with these self-help strategies