Kelly Higgs’ Post

I sometimes wonder whether it’s time to feel worried that my brain is now focussed in such a Protective Behaviours way that I constantly see examples in the world around me. Take this card. A brilliant One Step Removed approach to illustrating Clarity within Language of Safety. Simply put, whether the words match the non-verbal forms of communication, such as body language, gesture and facial expression. I think most looking at the image would agree there is a disjar here which might lead one to question the honesty or sincerity of the individual. But dig a bit deeper and there is a more subtle link to PBs which came up yesterday whilst I was observing an online session- that of shared meaning. I was given this card by a colleague who knows me well and who I suspect felt safe to take a chance on a more humorous card without any concern it might lead to upset or offence. The relationship between those involved in any interaction or communication can affect how safe or unsafe it feels. I invite you to find your own examples which bring PBs to life. #ProtectiveBehaviours #communication #language #clarity #sharedmeaning

Today I am celebrating my birthday with a renewed determination to invest more in the self care and nurturing of my own wellbeing department. If you are someone like me who finds it much easier to support others with mental health, it can require a lot of effort to shift the focus to yourself and recognise it not as selfish but valuable and necessary. So on the day I turn 39, I’m beginning as I intend to go on. Perhaps it might seem strange to some that I have booked a counselling session for this evening but actually I see it as a very healthy sign that I really do now value my own needs in a way that I haven’t for much of my adult life. #selfcare #wellbeing #emotionalwellbeing #selfcareisnotselfish #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmatters

Motivation Monday 6 years ago today on a wet, soggy October day I crossed the finish line of my first marathon. The second picture is taken seconds before I finished and I promise you was not a fake smile for the camera- I remember the absolute joy, if not a little disbelief, at being able to achieve something I once thought I could never do. That was quite literally a turning point for me when I had a fuller sense of myself as a capable, strong individual who could push through previous limits. The risk on purpose, and believe me I had heaps of Early Warning Signs on the week leading up to it, paid off and left me changed forever. Not all of us would choose to go out and complete long distances by foot but I believe we can all set our own goals, work hard and learn much about ourselves through the process. #runner #achievements #goals #memories #senseofself #bestversionofme #stretchyourcomfortzone

If there is one message I aim to spread to those whom I meet on my journey to becoming a Protective Behaviours Trainer for Education staff, it’s that PBs are relevant for each and every one of us, regardless of our job title, role or status. For this reason I am currently working on creating a set of resources for an upcoming workshop I am leading for Governors at my setting. In personalising the content, I hope to make its relevance very clear to see. But what is also happening during this process is a deepening of my own understanding of the theory, strategies and how each part links with the rest. For someone who relishes learning more about this subject like I do, I really am in my element. #ProtectiveBehaviours #resources #creativity #relevance #loveoflearning #trainee #professionaldevelopment

Can’t quite believe it’s been a year since I was invited to be a guest on a brilliant podcast called “A Gift for Grief”. Recording it was one of the best things I have done and it gave me a way of finally helping others understand how my grief journey has shaped me into the person I have become. If you haven’t yet listened to it or would just like to learn more about the person behind “Time to Heal Together”, why not set aside 30 mins this weekend, or choose one of the other brilliant episodes. https://lnkd.in/eKhh7zA9 #grief #bereavement #griefandloss #griefawareness #mystory

I took stock last night, pausing to reflect once more about what, or rather who, will always be my biggest inspiration behind supporting others with mental health: my mum. It all started many years before her cancer diagnosis and illness, seeing someone I loved deeply struggling with mental health difficulties at various points in my childhood and living in a society which really lacked awareness about how best to support individuals with this aspect of their lives. Probably the worst part of this for me is knowledge shared from medics at the time that certain parts of her treatment may well have been a contributory factor in the development of her brain tumour. I can’t go back and change the way things were back then but I am undoubtedly fuelled with a passion for providing better experiences for those currently experiencing difficulties, as well as equipping people of all ages with the tools to safely express their emotions. Over two decades after her death I still miss her immensely but dearly hope she would feel proud of the legacy she has created. #mentalhealth #mentalhealthsupport #mentalhealthawareness #emotionalwellbeing #passion #purpose #griefjourney #inspiration

Some days I really do feel like the “Resource Police” and continue to be left feeling disappointed by the amount of references to ‘makes or made me/us/you’ feel in commercially produced activities- the issue being the potential for disempowerment and giving control of our emotions to other people, objects, actions and/or events, to say nothing of the risk of blame and shame. Thus it was last night that in checking through some shared activities ready for World Mental Health Day that I discovered to my dismay a small number which are inconsistent with our whole school PB approach. There may be some who feel this is small and insignificant but as a PB Specialist Practitioner I know that this is an important opportunity for Theme Reinforcement. In addition, it would suggest that I have further work to do in developing staff knowledge and confidence around this particular concept. My alternative is perhaps less fancy and aesthetically pleasing than the original but it certainly fits the remit of PB consistency. #ProtectiveBehaviours #resources #consistency #persistence #leader #implementation #impact #language

Choosing to elegantly challenge the unwritten expectation that everyone should come to school feeling happy, calm and ready to learn. Zones of Regulation when done well are an extremely useful tool in promoting emotional literacy and regulation skills but if we as adults only ever show ourselves in Green, this could undermine the effectiveness of the boards and perhaps suggest to our pupils that the green emotions are the right/best place to be. In truth, it’s about safely managing whichever Zone you are in and choosing strategies which help yourself feel safer. The human emotional experience is generally much more complex than us all starting in the same place every morning and in choosing to place myself in yellow I hope to model to pupils that even as a teacher I experience the same emotions as they do. Modelling in action may open up incidental learning about where I noticed my Early Warning Signs this morning and which Protective Interruptions I might choose to use. PBs can be brought to life so easily rather than confined to a 1 hour a week slot on the timetable. #emotions #feelings #nametotame #rolemodel #safespace #ProtectiveBehaviours

Gearing up for #WorldMentalHealthDay later this week by investing in a few items. However, rather than sourcing resources for pupils, I have chosen instead to buy some small gifts which staff will be invited to take away with them. My intention as a subject leader is to keep the theme alive throughout the year and not just as part of an annual event which I sometimes feel has the potential to become rather gimmicky. In addition, I believe that unless we recognise the importance of promoting staff wellbeing and mental health, our school communities are unlikely to be as mentally safe and healthy as they have the potential to be. So why the rather cheesy key-rings?! No random selection at play but rather three important reasons: 🟡 A clear link to the Hello Yellow campaign 🟡Visibility and portability 🟡Validating the equality of all emotions. Hoping that my small act may leave my colleagues with a sense that mental health awareness is as relevant for us as the pupils and families we serve on a daily basis. #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealthsupport #subjectleader #intent #implementation #impact #wellbeing #emotionalwellbeing

I love a good throwback photo when you find yourself about to mark a special event or occasion. Rolling back the years in this particular instance to the late 1980s when my brother gently held my hand. Our roles reverse today to a certain extent as I prepare to metaphorically hold his hand through his first ever running event, a local 10km race. As far as I am concerned, our participation is a prime example of a concept I first came across in a book by Lisa Jackson- it’s not the time you run but the time you have while you run. There will never be another day when he gets his first medal or crosses his first finish line so sharing in it with him feels a massive honour. #family #sharedexperience #running #onestepatatime #memories