How martial arts boosts mental health

Aren't martial arts only about beating people up? Don't only those who like fighting sign up for these sports? In her interview for The Emil Barna Podcast, Vickie Simos debunks these ideas and talks about how martial arts can increase confidence, reduce anger, and lead to an overall boost in mental health.

Click the podcast link below to listen.

Emil Barna is a Psychotherapist specialising in treating anxiety, stress, and the impacts of trauma. He’s helped hundreds get better through evidence-based and novel treatments. Emil has a Master’s degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy with demonstrated experience in private and community health. His research and teaching interests include different approaches to treating post-traumatic stress, the human stress response, confidence-building, and self-awareness. Subscribe to the Emil Barna Podcast or visit his website barnacc.com

Vickie Simos is a qualified counsellor and psychotherapist who is also a Fourth Degree Black Belt in the Filipino martial art of Doce Pares Eskrima (stick fighting) and a Second Degree Black Belt in Anjukanpo Karate. Vickie is a Silver Medallist World Stickfighting Championships, Pan Pacific Gold Medallist for Stick Fighting, and a qualified Personal Trainer. Vickie is the founder of Thelo Active Therapy, an initiative that combines martial arts and mainstream therapy. In 2017, Vickie published her memoir called The Boxer Within where she reflects on her experiences with depression and anxiety and how martial arts helped her overcome those mental issues.