Ben Jones

Lewis Moody: MND Former England rugby captain Lewis Moody discusses his diagnosis with Motor Neurone Disease, a condition causing messages from the brain to gradually stop reaching the muscles

......Their interview is so raw and open, showing us many of the emotions they are facing: loss, grief, pride, shock, denial, positivity and deep sadness. Heartbreaking but also hugely inspiring. 2/2

www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

Lewis Moody: MND Former England rugby captain Lewis Moody discusses his diagnosis with Motor Neurone Disease, a condition causing messages from the brain to gradually stop reaching the muscles

Extraordinarily moving interview with Lewis Moody and his wife, Annie, as they discusses his recent MND diagnosis. Their courage in speaking out at this early stage will help so many people and raise so much awareness of this hideous disease....1/2

www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

…….from which I have taken many things - not least of all is marking the number of days I have lived for my daily journal, helping me to focus on appreciating and valuing each day of life. Thank you Pete. 3/3

………His book is a wonderful mix of the deeply spiritual (but not at all pious or pompous), vulnerability, openness, wit, beautiful-writing and thoughtful reflection. I have already bought further copies as gifts. Pete is someone who inspires me, including in this book…..2/3

Just read Bishop Pete Wilcox’s powerful, hopeful, moving and inspiring memoir, ‘A Year Of The Lord’s Favour’. I am very lucky to know Pete - before he became Bishop of Sheffield we were on a residential leadership course together - who I regard of one of the best people I’ve met….1/3

.......and especially when there are so many difficult things going on around the place, including the horror in Manchester yesterday - I need to focus on fewer things and not spread myself too thinly. I need space to breathe. This is something I learnt from my breakdown: less is more. 2/2

Over recent weeks, I have stepped back from some WhatsApp/other chat and distanced myself a little from some people and situations. This is me listening to my needs. I make no apologies for it - this is what I need to do for me and my wellbeing. At times when my mental health is under pressure...1/2

What to do and what to say when someone is struggling with their mental health — AMJ Counselling It is the most natural thing in the world. When someone isn’t well or isn’t happy, we want to make them feel better. We want to cheer them up. We want to find the right words. We want to take away the...

New blog post..…’What to do/what to say when someone is struggling with their mental health’. I know as a therapist and someone who lives with depression that how people respond to someone who is struggling can make things worse. I’ve shared some suggestions.

www.amjcounselling.com/amj-blog/wha...

........My heart is in pieces for the Jewish community, who were hoping to celebrate Yom Kippur today and are now dealing with this horror. 2/2

Devastated to hear of the horrific attack in Manchester at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue. Sadly, this feels like the sickening and inevitable result of the increase in antisemitism in the UK and around the world, which is a stain on society......1/2

Class is permanent. One of the all-time greats shows golfers and golf fans in 2025 what leadership looks like.

Thank you, Mr Watson 👏👏👏

……It crossed the line - by some distance. 2/2

My position on this hardened after another day (on Sunday) of relentless abuse, deep unpleasantness and a lack of respect and good grace that the European players endured on the final day. Hats off to them, but I do worry about the impact these experiences will have on them and their loved ones.…1/2

…….at work. Ever. It is totally unacceptable. I found parts of last night’s action almost too unsettling to watch and felt emotional watching Rory and Shane in particular. I imagine the toll on them and their loved ones was much, much greater. 3/3

…….We are a very, very long way from ‘the concession’ and the great traditions of the game. From a psychological (and moral) perspective, it is important not to normalise this week’s events, but to place them in their proper context: nobody should be getting verbally and/or physically abused…..2/3

The mental fortitude and resilience shown by the European Ryder Cup team in the face of relentless abuse (including aimed at their families) has been extraordinary. I love golf - really love it - but I do not love what’s happened to the Ryder Cup.…..1/3

.......Time with my darling girls. Tea. Joni Mitchell. The Ryder Cup. Playing golf. LFC. Journaling. Fresh air. New York Times. Irish Times. The FT. The Godfather. All featuring heavily. 3/3

.....It comes after a very difficult few days when my depression and anxiety made an unwelcome reappearance. I am doubling-down on self-care to keep recovering/looking after myself......2/3

Taking a few moments to exhale as I head towards the end of a super busy working week. It is always a deeply moving privilege that clients allow me to play a small role in their lives, but some weeks bring sessions and clients that sit heavier with you than others - this was one such week.....1/3

……they need real mental health support from qualified professionals - not back of a fag packet, “help” on the cheap. 3/3

…….support they need which is immediate access to 121 counselling. I am beyond fed up to hear what Claire Murdoch called “toxic narratives” about mental health conditions being over-diagnosed. No young person that I work constitute the worried well…..2/3

Thank you to Claire Murdoch - the outgoing NHS England national director for mental health - for her comments last week about young people and our mental health crisis. Every day I see evidence of how NHS funding and prioritisation are letting young people down - not providing them with the…..1/3

…..In Ireland and the UK, we need to get serious about our mental health crisis. 3/3

……These programme can help some, but too often this is an attempt to do mental health support on the cheap rather than meeting the real needs of young people. Every school needs a qualified counsellor; every young person needs access to counselling. Lives are at stake every day.….2/3

Excellent piece in The Irish Times which highlights an important issue which I encounter most days. So many young people are being given wellbeing support (including mindfulness sessions, advice on self care and resilience) when what they need is 121 counselling.…..1/3

…….of @aileen__jones. Whenever I feel unloved, unseen and abandoned by the world (my traumas), she is there, holding my hand. Because of her, I never walk alone. 2/2

At the end of a storm
There’s a golden sky

After an incredibly difficult few days, I am starting to hear the sweet silver song of a lark. Living with depression and/or anxiety is brutal and can hit you out of nowhere. As ever, I am beyond grateful for the love and acceptance…..1/2

Updated after two months or so………..My eleven-year old has her first phone: we’ve entered a minefield. — AMJ Counselling In July, I wrote a post marking the occasion (and the horror, dread, sick feeling etc!) of my daughter, aged 11, getting her first phone. In that post, I shared the early developments of this new phas...

.......and some tweaks to the rules we have agreed as a family. Ongoing vigilance is now my full-time job! 2/2

www.amjcounselling.com/amj-blog/my-...

Updated after two months or so………..My eleven-year old has her first phone: we’ve entered a minefield. — AMJ Counselling In July, I wrote a post marking the occasion (and the horror, dread, sick feeling etc!) of my daughter, aged 11, getting her first phone. In that post, I shared the early developments of this new phas...

New blog post……”Updated after two months or so………..My eleven-year old has her first phone: we’ve entered a minefield.”

I’ve added some new reflections on how we are navigating the mobile phone minefield......1/2

www.amjcounselling.com/amj-blog/my-...

…….that isn’t authentic for me (even if it works for others). My clients tell me they like my openness - it helps them to feel seen and not judged. 2/2