Promoting resilience and wellbeing

Dr Becky Kennedy, a clinical psychologist based in the US, has coined the term Most Generous Interpretation. This concept stems from the basic idea that we are all good inside. Adapting this concept creates space for us to be curious about other people’s behaviour and supports us to shift from “what is wrong with you” to “why is this behaviour happening”. So how do we take this idea and make it applicable in our everyday relationship moments?  Essentially, we do this by asking one simple question “What is my most generous interpretation of what just happened.”   Imagine the scenario – you have just arrived home after a long day at work, you come in the front door and your daughter asks if you have remembered to pick up her book from the library.  You have completely forgotten and apologise to your daughter.  Your daughter starts shouting at you “you are rubbish, you never think about me, I hate you” So how do we respond.  For most of us this will activate ...

For young people who are struggling with depression life can feel unbearable.   They often struggle with debilitating low mood, they cannot find the motivation to do the simplest task, they feel isolated and often find it hard to hold on to hope for their future.   Living with a young person with depression can also feel unbearable.   We now know just how contagious our emotions are and anyone reading this who has a child with depression will know just how difficult it is to remain upbeat.   We want the best for all our children and most parents work hard to provide the extra support a child with depression needs.   In many ways this is positive, treating our children fairly means that we need to consider each of our children as individuals, who require a specific type of support based on the uniqueness of who they are. However, with so much focus on the child who is struggling we also need to be mindful of how we show up for their brothers and sisters. Dr...