Fiona Yassin is the International Program Director at The Wave, holding multiple credentials including being a registered Psychotherapist and Accredited Clinical Supervisor in both the U.K. and UNCG (Registration number #361609 National and International Council of Psychotherapists). She is EMDR trained (EMDRIA) and practices as a Trauma therapist (Registration number #10000054651).
Fiona’s expertise includes being a member of the International Chapter of IAEDP, with training in CBTe (Oxford Group), FREED (King’s College, London), TF-CBT, RO-DBT, and GPM. Her specializations cover the treatment of Eating Disorders and Borderline Personality Disorder, as well as families in High Conflict Divorces and Psychiatry across the female lifespan.
Additionally, Fiona holds the distinction of being a Fellow of APPCH, a senior accredited Addiction Professional, and a member of The Association of Child Protection Professionals. She is also trained in MBT (Child and Family and Adult) and Reflective Parenting with The Anna Freud Centre for Children and Families, and is a Member of The Australia and New Zealand Eating Disorders Association.
Fiona holds an MSc in Neuroscience and Mental Health awarded by King’s College London, where she received The Dean’s Award. She is currently completing an MSc in Psychiatry at Cardiff University Medical School and is a PhD Candidate in Mental Health Research at Lancaster University. Outside of her professional pursuits, she enjoys spending time with her three cats, going for long walks on the beach, and appreciating the beautiful animals in her garden.
A review of eating disorder research in the Arab world presents several factors that different studies have associated with eating disorders in the region. However, a lot of eating disorder research in the region focuses on the role of westernisation in the rise of eating disorders, rather than considering the full range of factors.
Our self-concept plays a huge role in our mental health. When we don’t feel good about ourselves, we’re more likely to feel anxious, guilty, scared, or sad. We may worry more about past mistakes, feel like we’re unable to do the things we want to do, or struggle to believe that we are loved or lovable.
While the internet can bring many positive things to the lives of young people, it can also be dangerous, with a real risk of cyberbullying, sexual victimisation, and harassment. Despite the ubiquity of the internet in adolescents’ lives, young people are often unable to navigate the internet safely.
Social support can be especially meaningful between individuals who have shared experiences of grief and loss. When someone experiences a sudden and unexpected death, the grieving process can feel very different to when a death is expected, such as following a long illness. There may not be people they are close to who have had a similar experience, and this can feel isolating and lonely.
Timely intervention can prevent BPD traits from developing and intensifying and lead to earlier recovery. It also prevents much of the social and psychological harm that can result from BPD, such as the development of other mental health disorders or patterns of unstable and damaging relationships.
Like adults, children and young people also benefit from the restorative power of nature. Spending more time outdoors and in green spaces may help reduce mental health symptoms among an age group that’s particuarly vulnerable to mental health disorders.
Many children and adolescents have experienced some form of trauma. They may have experienced a death or loss in their family or among friends. Or they may have experienced attachment trauma when parents have been unable to meet their needs. Some children are exposed to violence in their community or in society, especially when countries experience instability and war.
One pattern of social media use that has drawn the attention of researchers is self-presentation and social comparison. Numerous studies have connected these behavioural patterns to negative mental health consequences, including perfectionism and eating disorders.
Like adolescents and adults with the disorder, young children also experience extreme mood swings with high and low episodes. However, these episodes can manifest in slightly different ways.
Like any person with an eating problem, children under 12 with early-onset eating disorders should receive professional support as soon as possible. Early interventions are associated with better outcomes, and treatment approaches have been adapted by researchers and professionals to effectively support young children.
When a young person develops very low self-worth, they can feel like they don’t deserve to have a clean and tidy room. If they feel hopeless about life, or like nothing has meaning, they might feel like there’s no point in keeping their space organised. Fatigue, another common symptom of depression, can leave young people struggling to find the energy to complete even simple self-care tasks.
Before teenagers begin to reprocess traumatic events, they have to be able to access these memories, thoughts, and emotions safely. The preparation phase of EMDR supports teenagers in developing distress tolerance skills that help them cope with the pain connected with traumatic memories. It also helps them to access suppressed emotions and feelings in their bodies.
In this blog, we look at how narcissistic abuse from one parent to the other impacts the family system, leading children to take on the role of parents. We also outline the long-term harm this can cause for young people’s mental health.
