✈️ Berlin Notebook: Test the Trainer’s Patience
What do cancelled flights, double rainbows, and missed alarms have in common? Turns out, they all teach you how to lead. Four days. One cancelled flight (last year). Two alarms (this year). Countless lessons. September 2024 — Munich (The Wonka Ticket Week) Checked in. Sat down. Then the big neon boards flashed: CANCELLED. Cue the […]
⚠️ A Stark Warning: Are We Outsourcing Our Darkest Thoughts to AI?
When compassion meets code — and why the human connection still matters. Right now, millions of people are turning to AI — not for work, but for warmth. For comfort. For understanding. For a voice that never tires and a presence that never judges. It’s fast. It’s free. It’s always available. But here’s the question […]
What’s Going On With All These Migrants?
The UK’s migrant crisis is also a mental health emergency. A recent visit to my mum in Sheffield brought this question home—literally. She was settled on her favourite settee, the telly murmuring in the corner, and a stack of Sheffield Star newspapers balanced on the armrest. Then out of nowhere, she blurted it out: “What’s […]
Changing the Suicide Story in South Yorkshire
Every year, we raise awareness—but what if we changed the conversation for good? A few years ago, suicide felt like something that happened quietly, out there, to other people. Now? Most of us know someone. A friend. A family member. A colleague. A neighbour. Maybe not well—but well enough to feel the ripple. For me, […]
From Side Hustle to Sustainable Therapy Practice
The mindset, money, and moves to go all in—without burning outEver feel like you’re building your dream practice… in the cracks of your week? Clients often ask me how I got started—especially when they’re secretly wondering, “Could I do this too?” When I first wrote this blog two years ago, I was just starting to […]
Leave Your Problems at the Door: The Hidden Cost of Silence on Workplace Mental Health
Why ‘bring your whole self to work’ still feels risky—and what we need instead. The Unspoken Rule Still Haunting Workplaces By Mike Lawrence “Leave your problems at the door.” That’s what I was told starting out as a young lad in Sheffield. Turn up. Crack on. Don’t complain. Don’t share. And for a long time, […]
Rust-Out? Oh Great, Another Workplace Buzzword… Or Is It?
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When Therapy Turns Into an App: The Rise (and Risk) of AI Chatbots in Mental Health
Why convenience can never replace connection — and the non-negotiable line we must draw. In a recent BBC podcast, a guest described using an AI chatbot for mental health questions — because it was cheap, always available, and instant. That might sound harmless. But here’s the chilling reality:⚠️ An AI bot designed to support people […]
91% of Gen Z Are Quietly Switching Off. Are We Listening?
Not all revolutions start with protests, banners, and headlines.Some start quietly — with a group of people simply deciding to live differently. That’s what’s happening right now with Gen Z workplace disengagement— those born between 1997 and 2012. According to recent research, a staggering 91% of Gen Z workers admit they are switching off — […]
Brain.fm Review — How to Protect Your Focus and Boost Your Energy
Protect your focus, boost your energy, and take back control of your attention. Every single day, something — or someone — is trying to move into your mental space.And most of the time, they’re not even paying rent. Ping.Scroll.Alert.“Just a quick one…”Another 15 minutes gone. Another task half-finished. Another evening wondering, Where has the day […]
Rust-Out? Oh Great, Another Workplace Buzzword… Or Is It?
First, we had burnout. Then, there is quiet quitting. Then wellbeing washing. And now? Rust-out. Because apparently we didn’t have enough ways to describe feeling dead inside at work. You might be thinking, “Do we really need another term for feeling crap at work?” Fair. I thought the same. But hear me out… Rust-out isn’t […]
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How to Stay Strong When Pressure Peaks
Explore leadership burnout, resilience lessons, and why stepping outside your comfort zone could transform your life and work.
Calmback: The Free Tool I Built So You Never Have to Feel Alone at 3am
What if you could have an honest, private conversation with someone who always had time for you? It’s called Calmback. And no, it’s not an expensive course or a slick app with hidden upsells. It’s a simple, free tool—powered by the latest version of ChatGPT-4—that I’ve carefully set up to help people feel a bit […]