October is Mental Health Awareness month

As we come to the end of Mental Health Awareness Month this October, we want to take a moment to recognise the vital role mental well-being plays in all our lives, especially children and young people.

At Discover & Be we believe that fostering a supportive environment extends beyond school or education; it’s about nurturing the whole individual. This month, we’re dedicating our newsletter to recommending some local mental health professionals who you may need maybe now or in the future.

Sam Harris, Counsellor

As a professional, certified counsellor Sam supports clients who are struggling with feelings of overwhelm, anxiety, low mood, depression and low self belief.  Sam also offers solution-focused support to those navigating challenging life events such as bereavement, loss & change, relationship issues and trauma.

Sam has a Professional Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling Practice (Level 5) and is an Accredited Member of The National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society. Trained in Pluralistic Counselling, Sam offers a client-focussed approach to therapy that is flexible and suits the unique needs of each person. This enables him to select the best techniques and strategies from all counselling modalities to best support his clients. You can find out more about Sam here.

Alex Everett, Certified Play Therapist and Systemic Practitioner

Alex is a Play Therapist, Systemic Practitioner and teacher based in West Sussex. He is a dual trained therapist having obtained postgraduate diplomas in Play Therapy and Systemic Family Practice. Alex offers individual and group therapy sessions for children and young people between the ages of 4-18. He also offers bespoke training for schools.

Alex creates a safe and supportive environment where his clients can express and explore their emotions and experiences through playful and creative approaches. He is committed to providing high-quality, ethical care and maintains dual professional membership with Play Therapy UK and the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy. Alex continues to work part-time as a class teacher at a large infant school alongside his therapeutic work. You can find out more about Alex here.

Rocky Datoo, Mental Health First Aid instructor, Facilitator and Resilience Coach

Rocky is an accredited mental health first aid instructorand has over 20 years’ experience in learning, professional & organisational development, working with local authorities, NHS England, Health Education England and the civil service facilitating a range of programmes focusing primarily on leadership development, resilience & wellbeing, positive psychology and equality, diversity & inclusion.

She has a particular interest in supporting people who want or need to work differently so prides herself on being a “hidden abilities advocate”. You can find out more about how Rocky can help you, a family member or a colleague discover hidden abilities here. She is also the link governor for teaching, learning and wellbeing at her local primary school in Haywards Heath.

Rocky's next mental health first aid training takes place in Novemberand is delivered online meaning you can learn from wherever is most convenient for you. Take a look at Rocky's profile (including the details for the next course) on the Mental Health First Aid England website.

We are currently developing a resource - The Discover & Be Community Hub - on our website where we will list recommended local professionals who provide services and expertise that complement the tutoring service we provide. If you know of someone who you believe is of interest to the Discover & Be community, please do get in touch, preferably by email: info@discoverandbe.com