The Spark Blog
Category: relationships
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Tips to Support Someone Who is Grieving
When someone you care about experiences a loss, it can be difficult to know how to best support them. This article offers practical tips to help you navigate this sensitive time.
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![National Siblings Day: A Reminder to Reconnect]()
National Siblings Day: A Reminder to Reconnect
National Siblings Day, on April 10th, is a special day dedicated to honouring the unique bond that exists between brothers and sisters. Siblings are often the first friends we make in life. They grow up with us, share our childhood experiences, and witness the ups and downs of our journey through life. But sibling relationships…
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![An Unconventional Valentine’s Gift]()
An Unconventional Valentine’s Gift
Although Valentine’s Day provides an opportunity for many couples to celebrate their love and commitment to one another, for others it can be a stark reminder that being in a relationship can be tough. While flowers, chocolates and fancy dinners are all lovely gestures, what if there was a gift that can truly enhance your…
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![The Challenge of Learning to Trust Others]()
The Challenge of Learning to Trust Others
The Oxford Dictionary defines trust as “a firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something”. Right now, you probably have a list of names that come to mind of people you trust and, perhaps, people you don’t. But what enables us to have a ‘firm belief’ that others will do…
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![How to support your relationship in retirement]()
How to support your relationship in retirement
Most couples look forward to retirement, eager to spend more quality time together. Free from the constraints and pressures of work it is a chance to relax and, especially if the nest is empty, an opportunity to embrace hobbies new and old. The reality of this major life transition can, however, be very different. Couples…
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![Understanding the Teenage Brain: A Short Introduction for Parents]()
Understanding the Teenage Brain: A Short Introduction for Parents
Neuroscientists consider 25 to be the age at which the human brain becomes fully developed. Until then, they should be considered a work in progress. Which is particularly the case for the teenage brain. For generations, parents have wrestled with the conundrum that is the adolescent mind: at times growing in maturity before rapidly shifting…
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![What makes you happy?]()
What makes you happy?
If you search “what makes you happy” Google will offer you roughly 2.5bn results to consider. A similar search on Amazon will offer up over 100,000 books and DVDs on the subject of being happy. On the basis of these two statistics alone, we can say with a degree of confidence that a lot of…
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![Tackling loneliness at university]()
Tackling loneliness at university
One of the mental health challenges facing young people is the issue of loneliness at university. With the freedom and independence that university brings – and young people relish – also comes the risk of isolation. Feeling lonely at university is very common. According to a 2018 survey, nearly half (46%) of UK students interviewed…
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![Mental health: preparing your child for university]()
Mental health: preparing your child for university
The mental health of students at university has been making headlines for some time now and is a growing issue. Therefore, if you are a parent preparing your child for university, it is vital to consider how you can help them get ready for problems like isolation, loneliness, stress and financial worries. In this short…
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