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Pink Corner

Health


I am a qualified integrative counsellor with over 6 years experience and founder of New Beginnings Counselling. I also have a BA (hons) degree in Sociology and Social Policy. I believe we are all capable of creating a change in our lives that lead to personal growth and development and sometimes we need a helping hand in making this change. Counselling and psychotherapy can support you, in any area of your life that you may be struggling with or with feelings of anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, anger or stress. It can also help you through major life transitions such as motherhood, a change in living situations or in relationships. By guiding you to reconnect with your authentic self, your values and identity. Improving your confidence and self-worth.  Psychotherapy and counselling are closely linked, however counselling will often focus on the problems and parts of ourselves that we are already aware of. Psychotherapy will go deeper, uncovering things that may be hidden to us or that we are not consciously aware of.  My approach to therapy is a non-clinical and therapeutic approach. My aim is to help decrease negative stigma surrounding mental health and normalising it within our society. We all have mental health and it is our responsibility to care for it, just as we care for our physical health. I also believe in mental health education and I share information, strategies and techniques on how we can best care for our mental health and well-being, through my client work, workshops and in the articles I write. I offer my clients a safe space to talk, to be heard and understood without judgement. Therapy is different for everyone as we are all unique with our own world view. However it often focuses on helping clients to resolve problems, understand their thought patterns, gain new perspectives, learn how to catch, challenge and change cognitive distortions, improve their self-worth and sense of self and build a toolkit full of positive coping mechanisms. Therapy offers you the opportunity to resolve, process and let go of pain and worries that you have been carrying. It helps you to live authentically and with purpose. Prioritise yourself as you are the most important person to you.

Post-lockdown anxiety: What happens now? 5 years ago

Post-lockdown anxiety: What happens now?

By  •  Health

If you live with an anxiety disorder, or if you have experienced anxiety for the first time due to the pandemic, there are things you can do to help you …
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Donegal chef Kellyann cooks up a treat for Temple Street Children’s Hospital 5 years ago

Donegal chef Kellyann cooks up a treat for Temple Street Children’s Hospital

By  •  Health, News

Kellyann Brogan (23), from Castlethird, Carrigans, is a chef at the Redcastle Oceanfront Hotel and Spa.

Her apron had been hung up in March with no certainty or clarity as …
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Double delight as Joanne completes ‘Hike for Heroes’ 5 years ago

Double delight as Joanne completes ‘Hike for Heroes’

Gortahork woman Joanne Cullen set up Hike for Heroes at the start of May in aid of Letterkenny University Hospital and the Donegal Hospice.

 Joanne is pictured above with Geraldine …
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Five ways to make weight loss easy for yourself 5 years ago

Five ways to make weight loss easy for yourself

By  •  Health

Our June challenge is in full swing in Rushe Fitness Live.

We have loads of members who are keeping healthy and active while the gyms are closed and we …
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Don’t Be So Hard on Yourself: How to help boost your self-worth 5 years ago

Don’t Be So Hard on Yourself: How to help boost your self-worth

By  •  Health

When it comes to your self-worth, only one opinion really matters — your own.

Yet we should be very gentle with ourselves as we tend to be our own worst …
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Five fitness myths that need to end now 5 years ago

Five fitness myths that need to end now

By  •  Fitness, Health

There are many myths that circulate around the fitness world.

You will hear them in the gym, in the office, talking with friends, on social media and even in …
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Living with Depression through Covid-19 5 years ago

Living with Depression through Covid-19

By  •  Health

Depression is much more than feeling sad. It is a very real mental health condition and affects the mind and body. Depression affects how people sleep, eat, and see the …
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Your free 5km walking/running plan 5 years ago

Your free 5km walking/running plan

By  •  Health

There is finally some good news starting to filter back into our lives.

With the start of the phased opening of the country happening today we not only have the …
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Donegal scientist elected as President of Lung Cancer Europe 5 years ago

Donegal scientist elected as President of Lung Cancer Europe

By  •  Health, News

A Donegal scientist has been elected as President of Lung Cancer Europe (LuCE).

Dr Anne-Marie Baird, is currently a Senior Research Fellow at Trinity College in Dublin.

Dr Baird is …
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Nursing home matron wins draw for frontline workers 5 years ago

Nursing home matron wins draw for frontline workers

A Donegal nursing home matron has won a two-room home makeover in a unique competition in appreciation of all frontline workers.

Jennifer Rankin from Trentagh, Matron of the Lake House …
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Don’t feel bad about your jiggly bits 5 years ago

Don’t feel bad about your jiggly bits

By  •  Health

Myself and Maria are helping people to stay fit and healthy in our Rushe Fitness Live classes each day and we always preach the importance of being positive about yourself …
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Caring for yourself and your family during lockdown 5 years ago

Caring for yourself and your family during lockdown

By  •  Health, Kids

The coronavirus outbreak has affected our daily lives. It can be a big adjustment, as we create a new routine at home, with home-schooling and working from home. Tensions might …
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The Positivity Challenge 5 years ago

The Positivity Challenge

By  •  Health

We are all living in uncertain times and it is very easy to feel down, let negativity take over and make it seem as if things may not get better …
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Donegal mum giving back to ‘superhero’ staff at Letterkenny University Hospital 5 years ago

Donegal mum giving back to ‘superhero’ staff at Letterkenny University Hospital

By  •  Health

A Donegal woman who has lived with kidney failure for 17 years has started a campaign to give back to Letterkenny’s Renal Dialysis Unit.

Caroline Mc Bride, aged 45, started …
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Living through isolation 5 years ago

Living through isolation

By  •  Health

This is a really challenging time for everyone. We have our good days, and our not so good days. Many people will be feeling lonely, isolated and disconnected from the …
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Grainne Gallanagh returns to nursing front line 5 years ago

Grainne Gallanagh returns to nursing front line

By  •  Health

Former Miss Universe Ireland Grainne Gallanagh has returned to nursing today after signing up to help Ireland’s fight against Covid-19.

The LYIT nursing graduate and model admitted she was “nervous” …
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Why it’s so important to set a new health routine 5 years ago

Why it’s so important to set a new health routine

By  •  Fitness, Health

We are all in uncertain times right now.

There has never been a situation like this in our lifetimes where so many of us are out of work and confined …
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5 ways to create a new routine for your wellness at this time 5 years ago

5 ways to create a new routine for your wellness at this time

By  •  Health

Without a routine, our life can feel stressful and unpredictable. If you have a mental health condition, this unpredictability and lack of structure can cause you extra stress, worry, as …
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Convoy’s Shannon helps set up virtual Race Against Corona Virus 5 years ago

Convoy’s Shannon helps set up virtual Race Against Corona Virus

Shannon and Pauric McLaughlin from Convoy have set up Race Against Corona Virus.

Both talented athletes who leaned the trade at Finn Valley AC, Shannon and Pauric have been through …
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Recipe: Low-calorie lean lasagne 5 years ago

Recipe: Low-calorie lean lasagne

By  •  Health

Evening everyone ⁣⁣I hope you’re all having a great day and are all holding up okay during this uncertain time. ⁣Tonight, I’m going to give you all a meal that …
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15 wellness tips for self-isolation 5 years ago

15 wellness tips for self-isolation

By  •  Health

The main focus at the minute with my clients, myself, my friends, my family and probably the majority of people is how can we care for our emotional and mental …
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Minding your mental health during Covid-19 5 years ago

Minding your mental health during Covid-19

By  •  Health

This is an unsettling time for us all, therefore it’s important to remember the facts and only listen or follow reliable news sources.

Anxiety creates repetitive, intrusive and fear-based thoughts. …
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Four ways to stay motivated during Covid-19 5 years ago

Four ways to stay motivated during Covid-19

By  •  Health

We are living with quite a bit of uncertainty at the minute. Our routines have been turned upside down, our daily schedules have changed and we may find it harder to motivate ourselves.

Here are 4 tips that can help us to self-motivate:

1. Welcome the challenge.

Embrace this time.

Is there anything you would like to learn or upskill in?

Re-write your daily routine. Get up and get dressed every day and face your day with a plan. Set a goal, such as clearingcout cupboards, baking, reading, calling a friend or listening to a guided meditation or breathing relaxation technique on YouTube.

2. Reflect on your motivation.

Look back on times in your life, when you were motivated. What was the underlying driver? Why did you do it? For yourself, your family or your work?

Tap into these reasons again.

This is what drives the ‘initiation phase’ and it requires focus to change our daily routines and to start new habits.

3. Self-regulation.

Self-regulation is about managing our own behaviour. This is not just about having self-control, it also involves goal setting and starting and maintaining good habits.

Creating an adaptive mindset, will help you to have the ability to adapt your goals, attitude and habits in response to the changes you may face.

4. Goal-Setting.

Many of our goals have gone or they seem uncertain. So, set a new one!

Take time and think about what you would like to do. Perhaps you may consider going down a different work path, or learn a new skill or it may be an opportunity for you to catch up on paperwork. Perhaps set some shorter, medium and longer-term flexible goals.

This pandemic provides a unique chance to reflect and recharge.

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No gym? No problem! 5 years ago

No gym? No problem!

By  •  Health

We are in the middle of the most uncertain few weeks any of us have ever seen in our lifetimes.

Buisnesses all over Ireland are closing and many of …
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Grainne Gallanagh signs up to join Ireland’s healthcare heroes 5 years ago

Grainne Gallanagh signs up to join Ireland’s healthcare heroes

Dancing with the Stars finalist Grainne Gallanagh is set to return to nursing to help during the Coronavirus crisis.

The Buncrana nurse and model (25) revealed that she has answered …
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Donegal duo leading live kitchen workouts 5 years ago

Donegal duo leading live kitchen workouts

By  •  Health

Last weekend, like so many businesses, Rushe Fitness was forced to close its doors to the public. 

Emmet and Maria made the decision to close in order to curtail the …
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We’re all in this together 5 years ago

We’re all in this together

By  •  Health

Fear and anxiety can drive us to become very self-focused. Yet our choices affect everyone around us.

We are all connected to each other, our actions will impact others.

It …
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A wealth of benefits in walking daily 5 years ago

A wealth of benefits in walking daily

By  •  Health

Over the past few weeks we started another step challenge for the Rushe Fitness members in the gym here in Letterkenny. ⁣

Click here to sign up and join in with …
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Monday motivation: Nine healthy ways to lose weight 5 years ago

Monday motivation: Nine healthy ways to lose weight

By  •  Health

⁣ ⁣ ? ?????? ???? ???? ???? to kick off your Monday evening motivation

?. ?????????? ????? ⁣ Don’t think about it, just do it. ⁣There are literally no …
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Donegal woman’s fitness company making moves nationally 5 years ago

Donegal woman’s fitness company making moves nationally

Sarah Gillespie is a woman on a mission – and Ireland is taking note.

As the CEO and founder of RINKA – one of Ireland’s leading children’s fitness providers – …
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Five ways to become more confident 5 years ago

Five ways to become more confident

By  •  Health

If you don’t believe in yourself, how can others believe in you?

  1. Challenge your self-limiting beliefs

When we are children we believe we can do anything, but …
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Recipes: Three pancake mixes with a healthy twist 5 years ago

Recipes: Three pancake mixes with a healthy twist

By  •  Health

I have three Pancake Tuesday recipes coming at you today.

They range from the very simple, up to one that is for those who like to get all …
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How to create your own journal 5 years ago

How to create your own journal

By  •  Health

A journal can be a great outlet for stress, negative feelings and worry. It helps to create new positive thinking habits, grows self-awareness, gives you more focus and it can …
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Nine reasons you may not be losing weight 5 years ago

Nine reasons you may not be losing weight

By  •  Health

There can be a number of reasons for weight loss stalling.

Below I cover 9 of the most common reasons I find when working with our Rushe Fitness members. …
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Donegal women being deprived of vital maternity services, consultants warn 5 years ago

Donegal women being deprived of vital maternity services, consultants warn

By  •  Health

Leading Irish hospital consultants have warned that women in Donegal and western counties are losing out on vital mental health services during pregnancy or after childbirth.

Women are also facing …
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Recipes: Three healthy meals that taste great too 5 years ago

Recipes: Three healthy meals that taste great too

By  •  Health

Today, I’m going to give you a day of recipes that you can use straight away and they all taste great.

The one thing that I hear time and time …
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Doctor claims up to 12 women suffered delayed cancer diagnoses at Letterkenny Hospital 5 years ago

Doctor claims up to 12 women suffered delayed cancer diagnoses at Letterkenny Hospital

By  •  Health

Up to 12 women suffered delayed diagnosis of their cancers at Letterkenny University Hospital, it has been claimed, as a review of its gynaecological services gets underway.

The Irish Times
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New ultrasound for Breast Centre North West thanks to generous donation 5 years ago

New ultrasound for Breast Centre North West thanks to generous donation

Breast Centre North West would like to sincerely thank the Good & New Charity, Letterkenny for their recent generous donation.

The donation helped purchase an Ultrasound Ge Logiq Lee 7 which …
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The screentime challenge 5 years ago

The screentime challenge

By  •  Health

This week’s challenge is probably one of the toughest that you will undertake.

This week, I want you to reduce your Screen Time!

I know that may sound like …
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Why you should step out and explore amazing Donegal 5 years ago

Why you should step out and explore amazing Donegal

By  •  Health, Travel

The days are crisp and bright and with it being January, it is making getting out and about much easier, especially when trying to get your 10k per day steps …
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The 10 flights per day challenge 5 years ago

The 10 flights per day challenge

By  •  Health

Before you get all excited about the chance of booking 10 holidays today and your partners come looking for my head, this challenge is not what you think it is;


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Quality and safety of gynae services in Letterkenny under review 5 years ago

Quality and safety of gynae services in Letterkenny under review

By  •  Health

The Saolta group is set to carry out a review into the Gynaecological Services at Letterkenny University Hospital due to concerns over diagnoses.

The quality and safety of the department …
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Barbara’s bringing WellExpo to Donegal 5 years ago

Barbara’s bringing WellExpo to Donegal

Putting yourself first is the most positive thing you can do for those around you, according to executive coach, Barbara Edwards, who is organising WellExpo2020 in Donegal Town in January.

The first …
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Why you shouldn’t compare your weight loss to others 5 years ago

Why you shouldn’t compare your weight loss to others

By  •  Health

The January resolutions are in full swing.

Everyone is making some sort of healthy change to their activity levels or their diets.

When you see that 80% of resolutions fail before …
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New site being sought for a BreastCheck unit for women of Inishowen 5 years ago

New site being sought for a BreastCheck unit for women of Inishowen

By  •  Health

Fianna Fáil TD for Donegal, Charlie McConalogue, received confirmation that the HSE’s National Screening Service is hoping to find a potential site for a BreastCheck mobile unit in Inishown.


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How to create a vision board 5 years ago

How to create a vision board

By  •  Health

I love vision boards, for me they’re an opportunity to think about what you would like in your life, big or small. They are one of the best visualisation tools.


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The 2020 Bucket List challenge 5 years ago

The 2020 Bucket List challenge

By  •  Fitness, Health

Today is ujnoffically the start of 2020.

The majority of people who are heading back to work, the kids are heading back to school and people will be getting …
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How to plan 2020 the right way 5 years ago

How to plan 2020 the right way

By  •  Fitness, Health

Happy New Year ladies.

I hope that it is what you expect it to be and you have a healthy and happy one 

If you are planning your New Year’s resolutions for this year, stop and …
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New Year’s Eve – Letting go and moving forward 5 years ago

New Year’s Eve – Letting go and moving forward

By  •  Health

This New Year’s Eve why not start a new tradition. Let go of any negativity that has affected you over the past year or decade! And set some new intentions …
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Three things to know this Christmas if your loved one is living with a mental illness 5 years ago

Three things to know this Christmas if your loved one is living with a mental illness

By  •  Health

Invitations for family gatherings and christmas parties are starting to arrive with more guaranteed to come. For some, it will be a rush of excitement, laughing with friends and spending …
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