BECS

What did we do on our 1.5 mental health retreat in Plymouth? We had lunch at Armado in the Barbican , followed by coffee at Rockets and Rascals where we looked at how you can look after your mental health so that you feel happier and healther. There was extra relaxation during a hypnotherapy session. In the evening we had dinner at Marco Pierre White's overlooking the lighthouse and sea. We celebrated BECS's 20th anniversary with a glass of champagne.

On the second day we enjoyed yoga with Natalie at her studio Move Foward in Totnes and we had lunch with Veronique at Rumour's. In the afternoon we concentrated on a problem solving and decision making session before another hypnotherapy session. We watched the sunset over dinner at Pier One.

Would you like to experience a mental health retreat in Devon? Check out www.mental-health-retreat.com

The start of a 1.5 day mental health retreat in Plymouth, Britain's Ocean City, delivered by BECS and the sun is out.
www.mental-health-retreat.com

NEW ON THE COSTA DEL SOL!
Next year BECS will be organising the one-to-one, 5-day mental health retreat in La Carihuela. A clinical solution-focused psychotherapist will teach you how to look after your mental health so that you feel happier and healthier.

You can choose your retreat activities: hypnotherapy, yoga, horse riding on the beach, swimming, walking and a visit to the baths and a 1-hour massage at the Hammam Al Andalus in Malaga. We will organise everything and arrange local transport so you can sit back and relax.

You will be staying at Santa Ana La Carihuela, your own holiday apartment opposite La Carihuela Beach, just 15 minutes from Malaga Airport. You can extend your stay from 5 nights to 7 nights. La Carihuela is a popular Spanish fishing village famous for its fish restaurants, beach bars and pedestrianised streets and squares where you can enjoy the relaxed, warm Spanish lifestyle.

The package includes five retreat days, five nights at Santa Ana, retreat activities, lunch and dinner in fabulous places, local transport, Malaga Airport transfers and the self-help book Brain Based Stress Management. What's not to like?

Have a look at our updated website www.mental-health-retreat.com and the team page to find out more about this fantastic offer. We only have four spaces so don't wait too long to book.
Dates: 31 March to 5 April 2025, 7 to 12 April 2025, 13 to 18 October 2025 and 20 to 25 October 2025.

If you have any questions about the mental health retreat in Devon or Spain, feel free to contact us.

EXCITING NEWS!
Next year we will be organising the one-to-one, 5-day mental health retreat on the Spanish Costa Del Sol.

A clinical solution-focused psychotherapist will teach you how to look after your mental health so that you feel happier and healthier. You can choose your retreat activities: hypnotherapy, yoga, horse riding on the beach, swimming, walking and a visit to the baths and a 1-hour massage at the Hammam Al Andalus in Malaga. We will organise everything and arrange local transport so you can sit back and relax.

You will be staying at Santa Ana, your own holiday apartment opposite La Carihuela Beach, just 15 minutes from Malaga Airport. You can extend your stay from 5 nights to 7 nights. La Carihuela is a popular Spanish fishing village famous for its fish restaurants, beach bars and pedestrianised streets and squares where you can enjoy the relaxed, warm Spanish lifestyle.

The package includes five retreat days, five nights at Santa Ana, retreat activities, lunch and dinner in fabulous places, local transport, Malaga Airport transfers and the self-help book Brain Based Stress Management. What's not to like?

Have a look at our updated website www.mental-health-retreat.com and the team page to find out more about this fantastic offer. We only have four spaces so don't wait too long to book.

Dates: 31 March to 5 April 2025, 7 to 12 April 2025, 13 to 18 October 2025 and 20 to 25 October 2025.

If you have any questions about the mental health retreat in Devon or Spain, feel free to contact us.

It is day 7 of the mental health awareness week so we are sharing top tips we give our guests at the Mental Health Retreat in Devon and our clients when we deliver mental health talks and courses.

Touch is very important for physical and mental health. It reduces pain, depression, anxiety in adults and children, as well as increasing weight gain in babies. That is why hospitals employ baby cuddlers. Give your friends or pets a big cuddle or book a massage.

Book our retreat via www.mental-health-retreat.com and talks/courses via www.becsltd.com

It is day 5 of the mental health awareness week so we are sharing top tips we give our guests at the Mental Health Retreat in Devon.

Our mental health retreat guests love the hypnotherapy sessions that are included. They tell us they feel as if they have slept for hours after a 30 minute trance session. What does hypnotherapy do and why is it so beneficial for mental health? Trance is like a massage for the brain. Guests relax and listen while we take them on a beautiful, relaxing journey. Towards the end of trance we give the guests positive messages that will be stored as the truth by your brain. That will then affect future decision making, especially if guests listen to our relaxation recording on a regular basis. Trance is an easy way of manipulating your brain into thinking you are brave, confident and able to achieve your goals.

Book our retreat via www.mental-health-retreat.com

It is day 4 of the mental health awareness week so we are sharing top tips we give our guests at the Mental Health Retreat in Devon and our clients when we deliver mental health talks and courses.
The foods you eat play a role in keeping your brain healthy and can improve mental health and specific mental tasks, such as memory and concentration.

The following foods and drinks boost your brain:
- Water
- Fatty fish
- Coffee
- Complex carbohydrates
- Blueberries
- Turmeric
- Broccoli
- Pumpkin seeds
- Dark chocolate
- Nuts
- Oranges
- Eggs
- Green tea

Foods to avoid:
- Sugary drinks
- White bread and pasta
- Margarine, ready-made cakes and biscuits
- Chips, sweets, instant noodles, microwave popcorn
- Ready-made meals and sauces
- Aspartame which is an artificial sweetener
- Alcohol
- Fish high in mercury such as shark and swordfish

Book our retreat via www.mental-health-retreat.com and talks/courses via www.becsltd.com

It is day 3 of the mental health awareness week so we are sharing top tips we give our guests at the mental health retreat in Devon and our clients when we deliver talks and courses.

You probably already know that sport is good for mental health. The brain releases endorphins which lower stress and pain, improves your mood and gives you a sense of well-being.

There is another reason why sport is so good for mental health. The brain works in two modes: the focused mode and day dreamer mode. Sport allows you to switch off. When your brain is relaxed, it comes up with AHA! moments and solutions to problems without you even trying. Next time you get stuck, take yourself away from the problem and go for a walk, bike ride, swim, run. Chances are you will have found a solution by the time you get back.

Book our retreat via www.mental-health-retreat.com and talks/courses via www.becsltd.com

It is day 2 of the mental health awareness week so I am sharing top tips on how to look after your mental health every day.

Serotonin is very important for good mental health. It is the neurotransmitter that regulates our general mood. If we produce a steady flow of serotonin, we feel brave, confident and content.

How do we produce serotonin? There are many ways but the three best ways are fun and free:
1) Do something you like doing: positive action.
2) Be nice to someone: positive interaction.
3) Have positive thoughts.

If you are depressed, you do not produce serotonin so your doctor can prescribe antidepressants which will give you serotonin. If you are anxious, you have stress hormones in your blood which could be harmful if they are there too long.

Smoking and drinking alcohol is not a good idea as it really reduces the production of serotonin.

BECS organises mental health talks, courses and the Mental Health Retreat in Devon.
www.becsltd.com

Today is the first day of mental health awareness week so we are sharing top tips on how to look after your mental health every day.

One of the most underrated factors for good mental health is getting the right REM sleep (Rapid Eye Movement). During the day negative thoughts and worries about the past, present and future end up in your stress bucket. Thankfully, REM sleep will try hard to empty your stress bucket. This happens in 3 or 4 waves of your sleep. Ideally, adults need about 8 hours sleep to get the right amount of REM sleep. Children need a lot more as REM sleep also helps learning, memory and making sense of the world.

BECS organises mental health talks, courses and Mental Health Retreat in Devon. Our self-help book Brain Based Stress Management includes a 30-minute relaxation recording which helps you fall asleep.
www.becsltd.com

MEET THE TEAM!
I am pleased to introduce the mental health retreat team in Devon. We will teach you how to look after your mental health so that you feel happier and healthier.

An Swinnen is the Managing Director of award-winning BECS which she founded in 2004. She is a clinical solution-focused psychotherapist and hypnotherapist and a member of the National Board for Modern Psychotherapy. An has a degree in education and has worked in primary, secondary, higher and special needs education in England. An is the author of ‘Brain Based Stress Management’, ‘The Mental Health Survival Guide (Because It’s A Jungle Out There)’ and ‘The Business Survival Guide (Because It’s A Jungle Out There)’.

Melika Clason is a clinical solution-focused psychotherapist and hypnotherapist. She has worked in education as a tutor and in the social services sector as a counsellor and mental health support worker for 28 years. Melika also offers Emotional Freedom Technique sessions and a program that guides individuals on their paths to love.

Veronique Mertes is a clinical solution-focused psychotherapist and hypnotherapist. She is a Master in NLP, a teenage parenting expert and trained in family therapy. Her additional area of expertise is menopausal support.

Emma Carter Bromfield is an established expressive award-winning seascape and landscape artist based in South Devon. Her work is widely collected by collectors on home and foreign shores. Emma also loves to inspire others on their own creative journey sharing her 35 years of experience.

Sally Wilson is a qualified sound and gong therapy practitioner. She trained in harmonisation sound therapy and sound meditation. Sally also has a degree in Five Element and Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and offers Chinese medicine facial Guasha.

Haldon Riding Stables is a family-run business with a small, friendly yard in a beautiful setting. They will take riders of all levels into Haldon Forest. It is an Association of British Riding Schools approved riding school.

Have a look at mental-health-retreat.com/team for web links to our team's work and to book.

The Mental Health Retreat is now on The Retreat Company website:
https://www.theretreatcompany.com/retreats/mental-health-retreat-devon/

Today we are celebrating BECS's 20th anniversary. We are treating all our clients to a glass of champagne at one of our venues in Devon in 2024.
www.becsltd.com

Our Mental Health Retreat in Devon is very popular. A team of psychotherapists and specialists teach you how to look after your mental health and how to feel happier and healthier. You choose when you start, how many days you would like to stay and the venue. We can even throw in hypnotherapy, sound therapy, art therapy, horseriding and walks on the beach or Dartmoor. Have a look at our website and book yours now.
www.mental-health-retreat.com

Yesterday we had a great start to the 3-day Mental Health Retreat in Devon.

First, we had a chat about what our guest wanted to do and achieve. That was followed by the brain based stress management talk which left us hungry for a delicious lunch at The Coffee House co in Buckfastleigh with Becca. We walked off the broccoli, cauliflower and stilton soup with a walk to the Holy Trinity church on top of the hill which was basking in the sun. There was a hypnotherapy session before going to dinner at San Benedetto's Pizzeria at Buckfast Abbey where Tony gave us a very warm, Italian welcome. The pizza was delicious!
www.mental-health-retreat.com

Are you worried about someone's mental health?

Many of you will know someone who is experiencing mental health problems. The first step is diagnosis by a doctor. The second step is treatment by mental health professionals and that is where it sometimes goes wrong. Waiting times can be very long.

BECS delivers mental health courses and talks for companies, organisations and universities worldwide. Qualified clinical solution-focused psychotherapists teach participants how to look after their mental health so they feel happier and healthier.

These courses and talks don't solve the waiting list, so we have designed a one-to-one Mental Health Retreat in Devon. Each retreat is designed with the client's needs and interests in mind. That way we can give help to individuals, as well as groups.

The mental health retreat can be booked direct or via the three biggest retreat finder websites in the world: Retreat Guru, Book Retreats and Retreat Finder.

Feel free to send us a message if there is anything we can do to help.

mental-health-retreat.com

Our mental health retreat is now also on retreat.guru, one of the biggest retreat finder websites in the world.
mental-health-retreat.com

Our mental health retreat in Devon is looking great on BookRetreats.com! The listing has just gone live.
mental-health-retreat.com

Grab this opportunity to improve your language and business skills. Our team will train, coach and mentor you. You can build your own network as we will introduce you to peers of your industry and sector, organise site visits and take you to networking events. Enjoy an unforgettable business experience in beautiful Devon!

Business English Consulting Service Ltd Improve your Business English in Devon. The BECS team will train and coach you. You can build your own business and professional network as we will introduce you to peers of your industry or sector, organise site visits and take you to networking events: an Exclusive Business English Experience.

The BECS's Mental Health Retreat in Devon can now be booked on Retreat Finder:
https://www.retreatfinder.com/programs/mental-health-retreat.html

If you book direct with us, you have a better choice of venues: enjoy the 5-star luxury of Boringdon Hall Hotel & Spa, Hotel du Vin in Exeter or your own holiday cottage at Dartmoor National Park.
www.mental-health-retreat.com

Mental Health Retreat in Devon, UK, Plymouth, England, United Kingdom | Retreat Finder BECS is an award-winning training company founded in 2004 by An Swinnen, specialising in mental health talks, courses and the Mental Health Retreat. A team of psychotherapists design a customised mental health retreat for each client.

HOW TO LOOK AFTER YOUR MENTAL HEALTH?

We know how we should look after our bodies, but do you know how you look after your brain and improve your mental health? Here are some tips:

1) Sleep is underrated in our society. You often hear "I will sleep when I am dead". Science shows that a lack of sleep causes health problems, so there might be a link. During REM sleep you re-run unresolved issues in clear and metaphorical (dreaming) language, so you can deal with these during the night and then carry on with your life the next day. It also aids concentration, memory and learning. REM sleep comes in 4 to 6 cycles and takes up about 20% of your sleep, so make sure you get about 8 hours of sleep.

2) Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that regulates our general mood and appetite. If you produce a constant flow of serotonin, you feel happy and brave, so you cope wonderfully. How do you produce serotonin? By doing things you like, having positive interactions with the people around you (even strangers) and having positive thoughts. If you are depressed, you produce a lot less serotonin and your doctor might prescribe antidepressants which help to artificially produce more serotonin and noradrenaline.

3) The brain is 80% water, so make sure you drink enough on a daily basis. If not, it can cause symptoms like brain fog, fatigue, dizziness, confusion and brain shrinkage. Alcohol stops the flow of serotonin by more than 75%, even after one drink, so be aware.

4) Exercise fights depression, anxiety and anger. It improves your brain's executive function and helps the boss in your brain do a good job. Exercise boosts brain-building hormones and stimulates brain growth, even with older people, so get moving.

5) A lot of stress is caused by personality clashes. A person's personality refers to "the way they are most often". We are born with our personality which can be found in the frontal area of our brain. William Marston's DISC personality theory explains what personality mix you are and how you can deal with other personalities, so conflicts can be avoided.

Would you like to learn more? BECS offers Brain Based Stress Management talks and courses delivered by clinical solution-focused psychotherapists (becsltd.com/mental-health). Do you feel you need some time out? BECS also organises a mental health retreat in Devon (mental-health-retreat.com). No time to spare? The five tips can be found in our books "The Mental Health Survival Guide (Because It's A Jungle Out There)" and "Brain Based Stress Management" (becsltd.com/shop).

An Swinnen, our Managing Director, will be in Belgium from 10 to 20 January. Are you interested in business, management or mental health training in Belgium or the "Exclusive Business English Experience" or "Mental Health Retreat" in Devon, SW England? Let's arrange a chat over coffee.

www.becsltd.com
www.englishandbusiness.com
www.mental-health-retreat.com

We wish everyone on Facebook a Merry Christmas from the BECS office in Sutton Harbour at Britain's Ocean City.
www.becsltd.com
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Check out the BECS YouTube Channel:

BECS, Your Training Provider - YouTube BECS, Your Training Provider. We provide business, management and mental health training worldwide and offer the "Exclusive Business English Experience" and ...

Are you looking for a Christmas present for someone who is struggling?

The Mental Health Survival Guide (Because It’s A Jungle Out There) tells you what you REALLY need to know about mental health. Top tips and useful information, illustrated with cartoons designed to put a smile on your face.

The Mental Health Survival Guide (Because It's A Jungle Out There): 2 (The Survival Guides (Because It's A Jungle Out There)) The Mental Health Survival Guide (Because It's A Jungle Out There): 2 (The Survival Guides (Because It's A Jungle Out There))

The end of 2023 is in sight and many of us are rushing around to buy Christmas presents for our family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. If you still need to get presents that make a difference, have a look at our books: "The Mental Health Survival Guide (Because It's A Jungle Out There)", "Brain Based Stress Management" and "The Business Survival Guide (Because It's A Jungle Out There)". You can find them in book shops, Amazon and our online shop: www.becsltd.com/shop

We are looking forward to attending "Going Global", the top international trade conference which runs alongside "The Business Show" at ExCeL in London on 22 and 23 November.
www.englishandbusiness.com

We have added "Helping Children's Brain Development and Mental Health" to the Brain Based Stress Management course. We can help. Get in touch.
www.becsltd.com/mental-health/

Our book Brain Based Stress Management, which scores 4.8/5 on Amazon, has a corresponding 1-5 day course. Interested?

Day 1: How does the brain work and how do I look after my mental health?

Day 2: Why do others stress me out and what can I do about it?

Day 3: How can I solve my problems and reduce stress?

Day 4: Why can't I change and what can I do about it?

Day 5: Helping children's brain development and mental health

www.becsltd.com/mental-health