The British Army protects the United Kingdom’s interests at home and abroad, providing a safe and secure environment in which all British citizens can live and prosper. Protecting the nation and its dependent territories will always be their first role. Highly trained soldiers are always ready to deploy anywhere at any time to meet a variety of challenges. A lot is expected of you as a British Soldier; you will be required to serve in dangerous places, risk your life for your teammates and put up with uncomfortable conditions. The Values and Standards are essential to the British Army, as they define what the British soldier is.
To enable the British Army to ‘Be the Best’ personnel must remain focused in order to execute any mission that is put in front of them. This is where we can help to give clarity, focus and motivation with the following options.
Supporting Health & Wellbeing
The UK Armed Forces have been involved in several enduring conflicts since 1991, including the Gulf War, Balkan, Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. A number of personnel who have deployed have developed physical and mental health conditions, such as symptoms of common mental disorders, including depression and anxiety. The fast daily battle rhythm consists of many challenges with added pressure to complete tasks. Just as physical fitness is a central part of military life, good mental health is as important for your well-being, and military and family readiness. Mental health challenges and issues shouldn’t be ignored or hidden. Identifying and reacting to your personnel by conducting education, training, detecting symptoms of poor mental health in others and providing innovative approaches to your health with ensure your unit remains a tight knit family.
I have been very privileged to be involved with the mental health sector in the UK (and Sweden) for over 20 years. Spending time in mental health units all over the UK as well as coaching one to one and group sessions has taught me irrefutably that the key to a healthy mind is being present in the moment. Natural science has shown us that being present in the moment is so powerful that it alters the bodies internal state including blood flow, people suffering from mental health disorders induce toxicity in the body state known as fight or flight which is detrimental not only to the mind but also to the physicality of the body.
I have developed a technique combining breath work and mind-less-mess training to bring an individual into their present state giving them back full control of their mind and changing that fight or flight state back to where the body wants to be, Fit-to-Fight which is an alkaline state resulting in homeostasis.
Military Families
Military personnel serve around the world, and we often forget about the challenges they face. Families often move every two or three years and this disruption can influence the child especially when they are school age. Children of deployed parents have higher rates of mental-health issues, compared to civilian children with the biggest differences were features of anxiety and depression, likely stemming from worries about their parent's safety. The actions of the non-deployed parents also influence military children. The way the parent who isn't deployed handles their partner's absence shows in their children, especially external reactions, such as aggressive behaviours. These reactions can manifest in the children.
Our children are our mirrors for good and bad. I have been coaching children as well as teaching mindfulness and breathwork meditation in schools for many years. recently I have had the privilege of coaching a military child (please see the testimonial) and have come to innerstand the differences military children face to non-military children. our foundations in life are everything especially at a young age and stability is imperative.
My approach is to successfully install the stability in the child being themselves respecting themselves and trusting their feelings especially the validity of their feelings. my technique is to use the child in me to equalise the trust between the child and me. I have found that asking children for advice that I can use to advise other children in their situation works every time as the child hears their own advice as they are giving it and then I praise the logic and meaning in what they have just said.
Resettlement
We understand the transition from the armed forces into civilian life may be daunting for some. Leaving the military also means having to relocate, move home, find new employment, and undergo a shift in lifestyle. For some, the experience of leaving the forces will be difficult, and a small proportion will find transition problematic.
Resettlement is a difficult transition for many regardless if it is the leaving the army, leaving the police force, RAF, Navy etc. Humans are creatures of habit and we build safety bubbles and habits in the roles we play, like being a soldier. however it has been scientifically proven that it only takes 21 days to build new neuropathic pathways, new habits.
I have developed a very successful technique to speed up the transition of letting go of one role (and all habits attached to that role) and creating a new fresh drive with self-instilled new confidence to achieve happiness and satisfaction in the individual's next phase of being. Starting that next phase with clarity at its foundation.
I had a life-changing coaching partnership with James. He helped me to talk openly, safely and freely with no judgement. James was able to fill in the blanks and draw out new areas for me to explore which gave me a truly transformational experience. My mindset changed and I was able to recognise that my past experiences are powerful, that they not only build strength but give me the ability to help others. James is an exceptional coach and I would recommend him to anyone.