Mental Health support for Children, Adults and Schools

Are you or your loved ones struggling with mental health difficulties? Discover our unique, drug-free approach that uses the brain's natural ability to rebalance itself to optimise health.

We provide drug-free mental health support for anxiety, depression and mood regulation, helping build the foundations for mental health resilience.

 What is Mental Health?

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.

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)

  • Record numbers are being prescribed ADHD medications as numbers of diagnoses soar

While it is very important to let your doctor know if you or your child may be experiencing mental health symptoms, we believe it is also important to investigate the root causes of mental health difficulties and mood swings.

What makes one individual more predisposed to developing a mental health problem than the next?

If we can better understanding our own biological predisposition, we will have the keys to our own wellbeing.

The Key Clinic specialises in investigating contributing factors to poor mental health and providing evidence-based therapies to improve resilience and restore a healthy equilibrium.

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

    • 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

Signs that you, your partner or an adult child may be struggling with poor mental health

    • 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)

Building Biological Resilience

At The Key Clinic, we specialise in helping build the ‘biological resilience’ children and adults need to cope better with the ups and downs of everyday life. We cannot control what happens to us, but we can optimise our overall resilience so that we become better able to cope. This includes not only ‘mindset’ change, for which we have an experienced CBT therapist), it may also require some of the following:

  • Optimising gut functioning, so you can better absorb the nutrients you need for a healthy brain

  • Rebalancing your biochemistry, using vitamins and minerals.

  • Removing any neurological blockages (primitive reflexes) that may be making life harder than it should be. 

  • Reducing 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.

Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety

Signs of Anxiety in Children

    • 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. 

Signs of Anxiety in Adults

    • 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.

Signs and Symptoms of Depression

Signs of Depression in Children

    • 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

    • 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.

Signs and Symptoms of OCD

Signs of OCD in children

    • 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:

    • BioTransform

    • CBT therapy

    • Or we may refer out if we suspect further medical advice is required.

Signs of OCD in Adults

    • 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

    • 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

    • 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 

Drug-free Mental Health Support & Therapies

Most mental health support for children and adults tends to fit into two broad camps:

  • Medicate

  • Talking therapies

Or a combination of both

While these and other forms of medication are absolutely essential for severe depression, anxiety or debilitating OCD and you should always seek your doctor’s advice,  long-term use may be problematic for some. For example, the dose of SSRIs typically has to be increased over time to maintain efficacy. There may also be side effects, such as loss of libido, a general feeling of emotional numbness and great difficulty eventually coming off them.

Depression support without medication, namely talking therapies such as CBT, is very 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'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 proble and then giving the body what the brain needs to thrive, using a holistic approach and natural therapies.

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, without the use of medications.

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 biological resilience needed to support good mental health today.

Please call us on 020 7486 4462 or email welcome@thekeyclinic.co.uk to find out how we can support you or your child.