‘I’ve steered many people in the right direction’: Strictly star Shirley Ballas reveals she sought advice from her therapist after receiving ‘suicidal’ messages from fans
Strictly Come Dancing star Shirley Ballas admits she turned to her counsellor for support after being inundated with messages from people struggling with their mental health during lockdown.
The 60-year old judge returned to therapy in 2020 after feeling ‘overwhelmed’ while writing her warts-and-all memoir, Behind The Sequins: My Life.
And she admits to using her sessions for advice regarding how to help others after receiving a flurry of desperate messages from followers on social media.
Here to help: Strictly Come Dancing star Shirley Ballas admits she turned to her counsellor for support after being inundated with messages from people struggling to cope with lockdown
Appearing on Wednesday’s edition of Morning Live, she explained: ‘Some are kind of in a bad place, they can’t handle lockdown, they become suicidal and one thing after another.
‘So I thought that I would get some more counselling, to learn some more tools, put my own feelings aside and then try to help the other people who are direct messaging me, which I love by the way, and I feel I’ve steered many people in the right direction.’
The professional dancer attempts to lift spirits by leading an online dance class every Tuesday and Thursday, with boyfriend Danny Taylor often getting involved.
Opening up: Appearing on Wednesday’s edition of Morning Live, the Strictly judge admitted she turned to her therapist in order to help those in need
Reaching out: I thought that I would get some more counselling, to learn some more tools, put my own feelings aside and then try to help the other people who are direct messaging me,’ she said
She added: ‘I’m not a counsellor, but I can be there as a support for people, I can make them laugh on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.
‘I’ve been teaching Danny to dance, my boyfriend, and anybody can dance and move, and it makes you feel better.
‘But actually going to a counsellor again and saying help me with these tools so I can help other people was very important.’
Let’s get physical: Shirley was on the show to lead another workout with hosts Oti Mabuse and Gethin Jones
Tough time: The judge also revealed she’s found Britain’s latest lockdown a struggle, but has managed to cope by being organised
Shirley – on the show to lead another workout with hosts Oti Mabuse and Gethin Jones – also revealed she’s found Britain’s latest lockdown a struggle, but has managed to cope by being organised.
She said: ‘It was a little difficult when we went into that third lockdown, I’m not going to lie. I resumed back to my boot camp lifestyle, which was making lists, sticking to my lists, getting up at seven and making sure I had my little workout time for myself.
‘I’ve learned to garden, I’ve learned to cook last year, so I’m still implementing those things.
‘Staying busy, a little bit of meditation, and then dancing round the kitchen because I was working out running and then I broke my foot, so I went back to dancing and I enjoyed putting the music on and relaxing.
‘You know, posture, smile on your face when we feel a little bit [down], I find that if I change my state and I sit up straight and I stand up straight and I try to do everything a little bit more the body takes that on and I feel better.’