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As more people in Bahrain embrace open dialogue on mental health issues, whether it is through their social media channels or focused events, the community is witnessing a shift in awareness levels.
Complementing the local programmes being staged to offer support and educate the masses is a tried-and-tested psychological tool. It was launched in the kingdom almost 10 years ago and has now been documented into a book set to release this month.
A.S.K. – A Serenity Kit by English expatriate and former resident Kelly Armatage will hit the shelves on October 21st, closely following World Mental Health Day tomorrow. The book blends psychology, cognitive behavioural therapy, somatic healing and spiritual wisdom to help release what is holding you back, and comes with a guidebook and worksheets so you can record your journey.
A.S.K. – the technique – is accredited via the International Coaching Federation since 2016.
“When I was running my clinic in Bahrain, I was able to get people to release their fears or blocks which significantly transformed their lives,” the globally recognised therapist and TEDx speaker told GulfWeekly.
“One client suffering with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) had been seeing a psychologist in the UK for 18 months and there had been no change. Whereas I was noticing people in my clinic were changing. After many thousands of sessions, I noticed a certain format and thought to myself that I would love to be able to document this technique for the public to use on themselves,” she added.
According to the Arab Youth Survey, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO), 54 per cent of young Arabs in the Gulf region find it difficult to access quality mental health care, and 66pc of people with mental disorders never receive treatment from a professional.
Kelly’s book serves as a ‘pocket therapist’ whether you’re looking to overcome challenges or simply seeking growth.
“After 18 months of extensive work, I launched self-help kits for the public, which eventually, became a course for therapists. Now, I have documented it fully in a book for everybody,” noted the expert.
Over the course of her career, Kelly has conducted over 15,000 one-to-one therapy sessions and helped thousands of people through diverse conditions, including OCD, bulimia, anorexia and substance addiction.
During her stay in Bahrain, from 2004 to 2017, she also conducted workshops on self-love, bullying training and more for corporates, and continues to provide online sessions for her clients in the region.
“I will always be thankful to Bahrain because it’s where I first started to become a therapist. I opened the first licensed counselling clinic in the kingdom, and it set me up for my career. I hope to return to do a seminar once the book is out,” she remarked.
Not one to rest on past laurels, she is set to write more books exploring focused behavioural topics, like mother and father wounds, toxic relationships and trauma and has already been approached by publishers.
A.S.K. – A Serenity Kit will be available to purchase on Amazon.
*As part of the local mental health initiatives, Insights Therapy Centre is set to stage The Insights’ Experience - Mental Health and Wellness Day today, October 9, from 10am to 7pm at the Bahrain Financial Harbour’s West Tower on the 25th floor. Participants will benefit from a day of expert sessions on diverse relevant topics, from how to manage anger and burnout to navigating anxiety, meditation and journaling. Pre-registration is required. Members pay BD5 and non-members BD8.
For more info, follow @insightstherapybh on Instagram.
