Mental Health support
At The Key Clinic, we offer holistic, drug-free mental health support designed to enhance wellbeing and resilience for children and adults.
Our personalised programmes combine therapies - including CBT, nutrition-based interventions, neurodevelopmental exercises, and sensory support - to help manage anxiety, mood regulation difficulties and stress while addressing underlying biological and cognitive contributors to poor mental health.
Why are so many of us struggling?
Doctors are prescribing more and more medications for our inability to cope:
One in six of us are being prescribed medications for anxiety and depression (an increase of 25% over the past year alone). It is important to let your doctor know if you or your child may be experiencing mental health symptoms
Medications are essential for many, but that is not where support should end. We believe it is also important to investigate underlying contributors to poor mental health and mood swings.
What makes one individual more predisposed to developing a mental health problem than the next?
If we can better understand our own biological predisposition, we will have the keys to our own well-being.
Our modern lifestyle and diets are not conducive to good mental health.
We live and work in increasingly isolated environments, spending more time looking at screens and less time with friends or outdoors. Our meals are increasingly processed. We receive an ongoing barrage of worrying news and compare ourselves to impossible lives portrayed on social media and family stressors.
Building Biological Wellbeing
At The Key Clinic, we specialise in helping children and adults cope better with the ups and downs of everyday life.
Raising gut functioning, so you can better absorb the nutrients you need for a healthy brain and body
Rebalancing your biochemistry, using vitamins and minerals to ensure recommended levels are reached
Inhibiting any neurological blockages (primitive reflexes) that may be making life harder than it should be.
Training to reduce sensitivity to sounds so that the world sounds less overwhelming.
These are a few of the ways we can help you feel like your best self once more.
Drug-free Support for Those with Mental Health Difficulties
Your psychiatrist or doctor may consider medication necessary to help treat a condition. However, some people experience side effects, such as loss of libido, a general feeling of emotional numbness and great difficulty eventually coming off them.
Talking therapies such as CBT, can also be effective in helping people to unpick and ‘rewire’ a mindset that may be leading to difficulties, providing a safe place to discuss difficult thoughts.
The Key Clinic can also work to support you by addressing biochemical imbalances and improving your overall health and wellbeing.
If you or your child has been receiving treatment, do not stop or suspend their treatment program without consulting their doctor. Our approach is intended to complement any medical treatment, rather than replace it.
The Key Clinic's work complements these two approaches, offering mental health support without a formal diagnosis. Our holistic approach delves into the biochemical balance required to optimise mental wellbeing, ensuring comprehensive care tailored to your needs.
We carry out in-depth assessments to identify the underlying, biological contributors to symptoms. It is a fact that some people are far less resilient to developing mental health problems than others. Our approach is different. Rather than investigating the environmental circumstances that lead to the problem, we investigate the physical reasons contributing to a lack of resilience. These could include:
Retained primitive reflexes
Distorted hearing patterns
Biochemical imbalances
Poor nutrition/gut functioning
At The Key Clinic, we specialise in getting to the root of the problem and giving the body what the brain needs to thrive, using a holistic approach and natural therapies.
Mental Health Signs and Symptoms in Children and adults
We all experience ups and downs and things never seem to go according to plan. However, some people are more susceptible to developing a mental health problem, if they do not spring back the way others do. Some of the signs to watch out for are as follows:
Signs that your child may be experiencing mental health difficulties
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Changes to appetite (eating too much for comfort or appetite loss)
Changes to sleep patterns (such as waking up early and being unable to fall asleep again)
Not being excited about doing things they used to enjoy
Social withdrawal (not wanting to see friends or go to parties)
School phobia (dreading going in)
Tummy aches
Mood swings
OCD behaviours
Poor focus
Loss of energy/motivation
If these symptoms persist, we advise letting your doctor know.
Signs that you, your partner or an adult child may be struggling with poor mental health
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Changes to appetite (eating too much for comfort or appetite loss)
Changes to sleep patterns (such as waking up early and being unable to fall asleep again)
Increased reliance on alcohol or recreational drugs
Not finding joy in things you previously enjoyed (e.g. going out with friends, sex, exercise, cooking etc.)
Social withdrawal
Mood swings
OCD behaviours
Phobias
Poor focus (forgetting to do things)
Loss of energy/motivation (not having a reason to get up in the morning)
If these symptoms persist, we advise letting your doctor know.
Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety
Signs of Anxiety in Children
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Emotional
Feeling scared, embarrassed, ashamed, or panicky. They may also be irritable, tearful, or clingy.
Behavioural
They may be withdrawn, not want to do things they used to enjoy, or have difficulty mixing with other children.
Physical
They may have trouble sleeping, wake up in the night, or have repeated nightmares. They may also have stomach aches, headaches, or wet the bed.
Cognitive
They may have difficulty concentrating, constantly worry, or have negative thoughts. They may also ask for reassurance often.
Speech
They may have selective mutism, which means they don't speak in certain situations.
Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress, but when it's excessive, repeated, or long-lasting, it could be an anxiety disorder. It is important to let your GP know, if this is the case.
Signs of Anxiety in Adults
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Mental symptoms
Feeling overly worried, fearful, or tense, or having a sense of impending danger
Physical symptoms
Having a rapid or irregular heartbeat, sweating, trembling, or shaking
Behavioural symptoms
Having trouble concentrating or making decisions, or avoiding things or people that trigger anxiety
Sleep issues
Having trouble falling or staying asleep
Other symptoms: Feeling dizzy, weak, or tired, or experiencing nausea or abdominal distress
Anxiety can also cause headaches, muscle aches, or chronic pain and illness.
If you're experiencing anxiety, you can try writing down anxious thoughts in a diary to help you fall asleep. You can also try taking a non-caffeinated drink if you're still having trouble sleeping.
If the anxiety is persistent, we advise letting your doctor know.
Signs and Symptoms of Depression
Signs of Depression in Children
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Mood
A child may seem sad, unhappy, or lonely, or they may be irritable or grumpy. They may also have feelings of hopelessness.
Energy
A child may seem tired or have low energy levels. They may also give up easily or not try.
Sleep
A child may have trouble sleeping or sleep more than usual.
Eating
A child may eat less than usual or overeat.
Interest
A child may lose interest in activities they previously enjoyed.
Behaviour
A child may interact less with friends and family, or they may have more tantrums than before.
Self-talk
A child may talk about feeling guilty or worthless, or they may say negative things about themselves.
Aches and pains
A child may have stomach aches or other pains.
Depression in children can look different than it does in adults, and it might look different for each child.
If your child has persistent feelings of depression for most days over two weeks, you should seek out the assistance of a mental health provider or your paediatrician. If your child has ongoing thoughts of hurting themselves, you should seek help immediately.
Signs of Depression in Adults
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Mood
A persistent feeling of sadness, emptiness, or anxiety.
Interests
A loss of interest in activities that were previously enjoyable.
Energy
A lack of energy or feeling fatigued.
Sleep
Difficulty sleeping, waking up too early, or oversleeping.
Appetite
Changes in appetite or unplanned weight loss or gain.
Thoughts
Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts.
Concentration
Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Movement
Moving or talking more slowly.
Physical symptoms
Physical aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems.
Depression can affect people differently, and symptoms can range from mild to severe. A depressive episode is different from regular mood fluctuations, and it lasts most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks.
If your symptoms persist or are severe, please seek medical help immediately.
Signs and Symptoms of OCD
Signs of OCD in children
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Obsessions
Unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images, or urges that cause distress or anxiety. These can include:
Fear of dirt, germs, or contamination
Fear of losing control, forgetting, or misplacing something
Aggressive thoughts towards others or oneself
Forbidden, taboo, or unwanted thoughts about sex, religion, or harm
Compulsions
Repeated behaviours or rituals that a person feels compelled to perform. These can include:
Excessive hand washing, showering, grooming, or cleaning
Checking things repeatedly, such as whether a door is locked
Following rigid rules or ritualised behaviours
Mental rituals, such as special sayings
Doing certain tasks perfectly or making things “just right”
Other signs
Preoccupation with appearance, organisation, or presentation
Superstitions that bad things will happen if certain behaviours are performed or not performed
Slowness on exams and papers
Each child may have different symptoms, and repeated behaviours and rituals. There can be several different underlying causes of OCD which include genetic predisposition, biochemical imbalances (undermethylation) and even viral causes (eg PANS/PANDAS following strep infection).
The Key Clinic specialises in helping to identify the potential underlying causes of OCD and working to resolve these with a combination of:
CBT therapy
Or we may refer out if we suspect further medical advice is required.
Signs of OCD in Adults
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Obsessions
Unwanted, intrusive, and recurring thoughts, urges, or mental images that cause anxiety. Common obsessions include:
Fear of contamination or germs
Fear of losing control, forgetting, or misplacing something
Aggressive thoughts toward oneself or others
Unwanted thoughts about sex, religion, or harm
Desire for things to be in perfect order or symmetrical
Compulsions
Repetitive behaviours that can include:
Excessive cleaning or handwashing
Ordering and arranging things in a precise way
Repeatedly checking on things, such as whether the door is locked or whether the oven is off
Compulsive counting
Hoarding
Asking for reassurance
Repeating words in their head
Time consumption
Obsessions and compulsions can take up many hours of a person's day.
Interference with life
OCD can interfere with work, school, home life, and relationships.
A healthcare provider can diagnose OCD after asking about symptoms and medical and mental health history.
There can be several different underlying causes of OCD which include genetic predisposition, biochemical imbalances (undermethylation) and even viral causes (eg Pans/Pandas following strep infection).
The Key Clinic specialises in helping to identify the potential underlying causes of OCD and working to resolve these with a combination of:
BioTransform
CBT therapy
Or we may refer out if we suspect further medical advice is required.
Signs and Symptoms of Emotional Dysregulation
Emotional dysregulation is the inability to manage emotions and behavioural responses effectively.
Children are less adept than adults at hiding their true emotions, so can appear more volatile. This is notoriously the case with toddlers!
But how do you know whether their mood swings are part of ‘normal development’ or whether there may be an underlying problem?
Signs of emotional dysregulation in children
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Outbursts
Frequent tantrums or meltdowns that last for hours.
Mood
A chronic state of irritability or anger.
Behaviour
Difficulty controlling emotions, or excessive emotional responses.
Communication
Refusing to talk or make eye contact.
Social situations
Difficulty identifying emotions, self-regulating, or problem-solving.
Transitions
Difficulty with transitions or changes in routine.
Sleep
Sleep difficulties.
Emotional dysregulation is an umbrella term for a range of behaviours that can occur on their own or in combination with other symptoms. It's not a disorder in itself, but it can be a sign of other difficulties that children may be experiencing.
Some psychiatric diagnoses that are associated with emotional dysregulation include: Anxiety disorders, Attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD), Autism spectrum disorders, Mood disorders, and Post-traumatic stress disorder.
Signs of emotional dysregulation in Adults
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Mood swings
Having difficulty controlling your mood, especially negative emotions like anxiety or depression
Impulsive behaviour
Acting without thinking through the consequences
Low tolerance for frustration
Getting easily annoyed by small things
Outbursts
Having frequent or sudden angry outbursts
Difficulty calming down
Having trouble soothing yourself, even when you know the situation isn't serious
Difficulty focusing
Having trouble paying attention to anything other than your emotions
Relationship problems
Having trouble building and maintaining relationships
Self-harm
Engaging in self-harm or having suicidal thoughts
Risk-taking behaviours
Engaging in behaviours like substance misuse or restrictive eating
Emotional dysregulation can be a symptom of ADHD, a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. It can also be caused by trauma or insecure attachment in childhood.
Some ways to manage emotional dysregulation include:
Listening to a playlist of your favourite songs when you're struggling
Learning to play a musical instrument
Practicing mindfulness techniques
Using the S.T.O.P. technique to pause before reacting, take a breath, and observe your thoughts and feelings
We always advise letting your doctor now and working together, we can help put together a programme of support.
Takes approximately 5-10 minutes to complete
Breaking the Stigma: Accessing Care with or without a Diagnosis
The good news is that today, we are discussing mental health problems and giving them the same importance as physical health concerns. People are increasingly realising that there is no stigma attached and that it is better to acknowledge and act on a problem, rather than bottling it up and trying to cope alone.
While it is important not to ‘medicalise’ problems which are just part and parcel of the ups and downs we will all inevitably experience in life, it is also important to recognise when there is a problem. Importantly, much can be done to turn things around and support good mental health.
If you or your child has been receiving treatment, do not stop or suspend their treatment program without consulting their doctor. Our approach is intended to complement any medical treatment, rather than replace it.
The Key Clinic can help individuals with mental health to thrive
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It is important to be able to recognise when you or your child may be struggling with a mental health problem and let your doctor know.
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We offer a natural, longer-term approach to optimise mental health and wellbing.
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You do not require a diagnosis to begin building the wellbeing and resilience needed to support good mental health today.