ARTICLES
Life Transitions: Relocations
Exploring the challenges of moving from one country to another. Following on from last month’s focus on life transitions, this month we turn our attention to a particular transition undertaken by many Hong Kong and expat families in increasing numbers over the past 5...
Executive Functions and Child Development
Executive Functions and Child Development Why is it so Important for Academic Achievement & Good Health Executive functions are a set of high-level cognitive processes that allow us to plan, initiate, monitor, and adjust our behaviour in order to achieve our...
Navigating and Coping with Life Transitions
Changing is inevitable, suffering is optional. Having relocated to London after living in Hong Kong for over two decades, I find myself facing challenging life transitions familiar to many. Not only in the form of adjusting to my new home, community, cultural nuances...
Saying Goodbye
We’ve all been through a time when the world seemed dull and hopeless after experiencing a loss - regardless of whether they’re family, friends or simply an individual of great significance to us. People experience loss in a multitude of ways beyond the passing of a...
Removing the Mask
I arrived at my gym for an appointment with my trainer. “Are you going to Lan Kwai Fong tonight?” he asked enthusiastically. As a busy (and middle-aged) professional who’d been up since 5 am and still had several work obligations after this gym session, I figured...
The Mental Health Impact of Hong Kong’s Mask-Free Policy on Children
After months of waiting, Hong Kong is now mask free from the 1st March. This is good news for the citizens of Hong Kong and children in particular, who have been living with mandatory masks for over three years. With the lifting of this policy, children can now see...
No Bad Parts
I really enjoy watching the Disney movie “Inside Out,” and I often recommend the film to my clients. The protagonist of the movie is a little girl named Riley and her emotions - Joy, Sadness, Anger, Disgust, and Fear. These emotional characters help Riley face her...
How to Navigate Sibling Rivalries At Home?
It’s a tale as old as time and one many are all too familiar with. Sibling rivalry is a common dynamic in many households, but it takes many forms, and while some are a healthy aspect of family life and development, others might prove to be cause for concern. ...
What is ‘Mental Hygiene’?
The latest mental health buzzword has been circulating the Internet, but what does it really mean for us, and what are its essential components? Hygiene, health and safety have been popular phrases used in almost every post-Covid setting. We’re all being reminded to...
Christmas Alone
Don’t be stoic about being alone this Christmas, or any time when you are usually with family. No matter what kind of person you are: a people person, or someone who likes to spend time alone, there is nothing as lonely as a traditional family day spent on your own....
25 Great Ideas to Celebrate Kindness Today
“Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who receives them, and they bless you, the giver.” – Barbara De Angelis By performing random acts of kindness, we not only brighten someone else's day but also enrich our own...
Retrain the Brain, Change the Habits
Have you ever wondered why habits are so hard to break, especially the bad ones? The habits that human beings follow might have a positive impact on behaviours, but they can have a negative effect on social relations. Human habits are complex, and the significance of...
Adapting to School
Happy September, everyone. May the new school year kick off on a positive note. Wishing calmness, strength and zen-mode to all of us (both children and parents). Adapting to school 🙇 🏢📗📘🗓✏️🖋📝🙇♀️ can take a month or even more. And not only for children but also for...
Talking About Eating Disorders
What is an Eating Disorder? Eating disorders (ED) can be expressed in a myriad of ways including extreme restrictions on one’s food intake, binge eating, purging attempts, mental distortions of body image, and extreme exercise. An excessive obsession with food,...
“Doing” Leadership
“DOING” LEADERSHIP by KELLY HUTCHISON As a long-time leader of teams, I often get asked for my thoughts on how to “do” leadership. Just recently, I was talking with a bright, early-career entrepreneur who said, “My business is growing like crazy and I’m starting to...