Maria Karen

Head of Talking Treatments @ Cwm Taf Morgannwg Mind

[Maria Karen @mariaw399]

@Julian_John_ @ctmmind @Simon_S87 Onwards and upwards!
Was great to see you all yesterday 😁

[Maria Karen @mariaw399]

Getting trollied this Christmas
@marksandspencer

[Maria Karen @mariaw399]

#NewProfilePic

[Maria Karen @mariaw399]

Self-actualisation is a distant dream in a society where basic physiological needs cannot be met.
👇

[Dr. Nicole LePera @Theholisticpsyc]

THIS IS GOING VIRAL SO I WANTED TO SHARE IT HERE TOO:

A bit from my past:

My first job after getting my PhD was working as a therapist for people from low socioeconomic backgrounds.

Almost all of them were diagnosed with depression, GAD, bipolar, or BPD. Most were highly medicated— some to a point that still sticks with me years later.

As I got to know their background and lives 3 things were very clear:

1. A vast majority had been emotionally neglected, emotionally abused, or physically abused as children.

2. A vast majority had experienced domestic violence or were currently living in it.

3. Basic needs were never met. Life was an hour by hour struggle. Treatment was an attempt to allow them to get to work in most cases. To just continue to surviving.

It was the start of me questioning the field I had been trained in. One that diagnoses people with disorders without taking a look at the whole picture. It began my path of holistic understanding.

A person cannot be well when one unexpected bill will have them fall behind on rent. When they lay their head on a pillow and all they can think about is expenses piling up. When a bill at the grocery store is almost double what they paid last year when their income has stayed the same.

An entire family unit deeply struggles within survival mode. When a job is lost. When daycare needs to be paid, but so does the light bill— what do you choose? When parents can’t even think about the emotional needs of their children because they have to figure out where their next meal is going to come from.

In 1942, 10 years before the diagnostic manual of mental illness was released Maslow knew what was once just common sense: we have a hierarchy of needs.

At the bottom are basic needs food and shelter. Then safety (resources, security). Then belonging (connection, friendship, intimacy.) Without three things we *will* be sick, period.

I get pushback for questioning the status quo. And I’ll continue to do it. The status quo is keeping people sick. It denies their experience. And it says we should bandage people’s symptoms so they can return to the environment that made them sick.

May we wake up, heal ourselves, and build conscious communities to help each other.

Retweet if you feel this is true in your body 🙏

[Jean White @JeanCWhite]

My thanks to CTM MIND counsellors for inviting me to a kitchen chat about nutrition, exercise, body image and mental wellbeing with residents at The Grange @ctmmind @STaylorFranklin. Impressed with the work they carry out to support homeless young people here.

[James Davies 💭 @JDaviesPhD]

My most used psych-diagnoses would be:

Social suffering
Situational distress
Sane reaction (to e.g. poverty, abuse, overwork, inequality)
Complex trauma
Meaninglessness
Existential dread [of varying kinds]
Loneliness
Unmet needs
Just surviving syndrome

Shame they don't exist.

[Maria Karen @mariaw399]

Can't believe it's been 7 weeks of having this little bundle of cuteness in our lives.
#newborn #7weeksold #youaremysunshine

[Lynda Dix @Lynda_Dix]

Sharing my research study again for those who may have missed it. Would love to hear from mental health nurses working in forensic / secure settings. Please share with anyone you think may be interested. I can email the research poster if it is easier for sharing.

[Maria Karen @mariaw399]

We would like to introduce Henry David Stuart!
Born at 10.53am on the 11th of April 2023. Weighing 7lbs13.
We are absolutely over the moon and astounded by how perfect he is.

[Maria Karen @mariaw399]

@mitchyhughes19 Well done Mitch! Absolutely smashed it. 👏👏👏

[Maria Karen @mariaw399]

Myself and Baby Stu have been treated this week with TWO baby showers. One with family in Devon, and a surprise one at work... I thought they were dragging me to the office for a meeting 🤣 #36weekspregnant #bringonmaternity

[Maria Karen @mariaw399]

😮 What an awesome opportunity!

[Rachel Brand @rachelmbrand]

Do you want to do a #PhD in the area of hearing voices (auditory verbal hallucinations)? Come and work with me in the beautiful Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia 🦘🏖️☀️🌄🐨 Co-supervision also from @neilthomas3182 Details in image... @echrgroup

[Maria Karen @mariaw399]

As I sit here, not moving from the sofa 🤣

[Paul Nicholls OBE @PFNicholls]

Go West wins the bumper @wincantonraces from the front under a good ride from @CobdenHarry. Well done to his owners Owners Group 107 and to Dave who rides him everyday and Alice who looks after him. #135

[Maria Karen @mariaw399]

@mitchyhughes19 Wow... Well done Mitch!

You crazy 🥶

[Maria Karen @mariaw399]

That's my boy 🤩

@flowillis010

[Racing TV @RacingTV]

We like your style, @HuntyCaller 👏👏

#GoodGoWestKnowledge

[Maria Karen @mariaw399]

@ctmmind
Our very own Trauma Informed Counsellor Alex stood with her amazing artwork 'talking leaves' and CEO @DaisycoledcCole

Looking forward to another day at the @StressWales conference tomorrow #tsw23

[Maria Karen @mariaw399]

Absolutely devastating blow to the counselling profession.
What about all of the highly skilled and experienced therapists that don't fit into your boxes?

[BACP @BACP]

📢 We're pleased to announce that we're adopting the SCoPEd framework.

Find out more about what this means for BACP and our members ➡️ https://t.co/cFtQ8WKbs9

[Maria Karen @mariaw399]

Wales v Ireland. Baby Stuart's first rugby game.

Not the result we wanted. But absolutely amazing atmosphere and a crackin second half.

[Martha Sercombe @MarthaSercombe]

Dad Matters Cymru - now working across @MerthyrCBC @RCTCouncil @BridgendCBC @CwmTafMorgannwg
Please share 👇👇👇