Episode 14: Cultivating Good Mental Health with Lee Pycroft

10 Dec

Healthily | 12/10/20

As we approach the end of the year it’s safe to say that many of us are taking stock on an extraordinary year and reflecting on what it’s meant for us. Looking after our mental health should always be a priority, but this year it feels to me to be even more pressing. In today’s conversation, I talk to psychotherapist Lee Pycroft about ways in which we can cultivate good mental health, because sometimes understanding a little more about what we need as humans to be emotionally healthy can have a profound impact on how we move through difficult times.

Lee’s story is fascinating, as she started her career as a high profile makeup artist working with A list celebrities, but after going through some mental health challenges, she started an initiative that used makeup and beauty therapies to help support the well-being of people in the vulnerable sectors. She’s since trained as a psychotherapist, and offers a diverse skill set that supports people to feel at their best inside and out. But I’ll leave it to Lee to share the full story on the wonderful work she’s doing in the podcast, as well as offering guidance and advice on simple measures we can take to look after our mental health.

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TAKEAWAYs

✔️ Transition from Makeup to Mental Health:

Lee used her skills in makeup to support emotional wellbeing, initially in vulnerable communities.
She observed significant emotional shifts in people when given attention, care, and a chance for self-expression.
This experience inspired her to train as a psychotherapist to explore the therapeutic science behind these shifts.

✔️ Emotional Needs as a Foundation:
Lee emphasizes that mental health depends on fulfilling core emotional needs, including:

Safety & Security: Feeling physically and emotionally safe.
Autonomy & Control: Having the ability to make choices in life.
Community & Connection: Belonging to a supportive social network.
Attention & Recognition: Receiving and giving meaningful attention.
Competence & Achievement: Engaging in purposeful, growth-oriented activities.
Privacy & Reflection: Time to process experiences and consolidate learning.
Status & Meaning: Feeling valued and contributing to something larger than oneself.

Focusing on meaning and purpose—like helping others or being part of a cause—can greatly improve mental resilience.

✔️ Practical Strategies for Mental Health:

Breathing Techniques: Diaphragmatic breathing or phrenic nerve exercises to calm the nervous system.
Mindfulness & Observation: Activities like mindful walking or focusing on nature help shift attention outward and reduce rumination.
Imagination & Visualization: Use mental imagery to access calm or revisit moments of personal strength and courage.
Environmental Awareness: Morning light exposure sets circadian rhythms, regulating mood, sleep, and stress. Avoid bright overhead lights in the evening to support melatonin production.

✔️ The Role of Beauty & Self-Care:

Engaging with beauty practices can be therapeutic when used to nurture, express, and reconnect with oneself.
It should be balanced with attending to deeper emotional needs, not just aesthetics.

✔️ Community & Support Networks:

Lee runs a supportive Facebook group, I’m Back, sharing beauty, wellness, and therapeutic tools.
Her private practice and online classes, Gloss in the Glass, combine makeup skills with relaxation and self-esteem work.

✔️ Actionable Tips

Conduct a personal emotional needs audit: Identify which needs are unmet and take small, achievable steps to address them.

Practice breathing exercises daily, not just in moments of stress.
Spend time outdoors in morning light to regulate your body clock.
Engage in meaningful activities that foster purpose, whether through helping others, hobbies, or learning new skills.
Incorporate mindful observation or movement to shift focus from rumination to the present moment.