Hello and welcome to the first Sanctuary blog of 2026. This will be a place where workshops will be summarised, shine a light on all that is happening in the Sanctuary Soul Care Centre, and, hopefully, share a bit of information that might equip you to stand stronger and smile wider.

On the 25th of October, we held our final workshop of the year, where attendees were equipped with fantastic tools that can be used to help with dealing with difficult people, emotional regulation, standing firm in the seas of life, and creating positive ways to navigate challenges in day-to-day life. To grasp everything taught that day, you’d have to have been there (and I implore you to make it to the next) as Wayne and Ingrid engaged us and made everything easy and practical. In this blog, I will shine a light on two concepts that were illuminated during Ingrid’s section of the workshop.

THINK

True Helpful Inspiring Necessary Kind

This is a tool to help navigate a difficult “discussion”. Instead of reacting in anger and saying something that you will come to regret, take a moment, take a deep breath, compose yourself, and then respond with an answer that aligns with the wise acronym. Not only is it more likely to help defuse the situation, but it also allows you to not have regrets later. We cannot control another’s actions, but we do have responsibility for our own, and our responses do influence those around us. It may be hard to implement this at first because words fly when the blood is boiling. The key to this is practicing beforehand, in everyday scenarios, taking time before we answer, and making sure. Once this is a habit, it’ll be easier to respond wisely when things get heated.

Gaslighting.

Gaslighting is a form of mental abuse that causes someone to doubt their own thoughts and, ultimately, their sanity. Serial gaslighters use it as a form of manipulation in order to attain power and control over your life.

Alright, sounds serious, but what does it look like in practice?
Well, there are six common types of gaslighting.

Countering: This is where you’re undermined, and you tend to question reality. For example, questioning if you really said something.

Withholding: Here, the antagoniser refuses to engage in conversation with you.

Trivialising: When your feelings are belittled. “It’s not that big of a deal, you’re overreacting.”

Denial: This is when occurrences are denied. “I never did that.”

Diverting: Intentionally changing the topic of conversation.

Stereotyping: Finally, this is when specific stereotypes are used in order to manipulate you.

Understanding gaslighting can help you stand firm in your beliefs and identity, without crumbling to the manipulation, without knowing what is happening. God made us, and He defines us, not other people. Living with Him as our anchor allows us to withstand the oppressive waves of manipulation.

We, as humans, have control over our mouths, no matter how difficult it may seem. Remember to THINK before we react and to be on guard against potential manipulation.
Please share this blog and check regularly for our next instalment. If you feel like you would like counselling or just to find out more about us, please get in contact with us.

— David-John Taylor