As part of Mental Health Week, the Gibraltar Mental Welfare Society will host a talk by Héctor Lozano, General Health Psychologist and Director of Ocnos Psychology Clinic at the John Mackintosh Hall Lecture Room on 14th May at 7:00pm.

A statement from the Gibraltar Mental Welfare Society follows below:

The Gibraltar Mental Welfare Society will host a public talk by Héctor Lozano, General Health Psychologist (collegiate number AN 11777) and Director of Ocnos Psychology Clinic, as part of Mental Health Week. The event will take place at the John Mackintosh Hall Lecture Room on 14th May at 7:00pm.

Titled “The Psychology of the First Step: From Worry to Action,” the talk will explore why taking the first step towards change can feel so difficult and how it becomes possible. It addresses one of the most common yet often misunderstood psychological challenges: the gap between recognising the need for change and initiating action.

Drawing on evidence-based psychological approaches, Lozano will present a clear and practical framework for understanding this process. The session will examine why people often delay asking for help, focusing on the roles of avoidance, fear, and emotional discomfort. It will also explore how waiting to “feel ready” can reinforce inaction and maintain psychological stagnation.

A central component of the talk will highlight how small, manageable actions can generate meaningful momentum. Through practical examples, attendees will be introduced to what “taking action” can look like in everyday life, both in relation to their own wellbeing and when supporting others.

The overall aim is for participants to leave with a clearer understanding of why starting can feel so challenging, alongside a more grounded and hopeful perspective on how change begins in practice.

Héctor Lozano brings a distinctive interdisciplinary perspective shaped by his background in psychology, education, and architecture. His approach is practical, structured, and context-sensitive, focusing on understanding difficulties, developing specific skills, and supporting their application beyond the therapeutic setting. He works primarily with anxiety, stress, perfectionism, and everyday psychological challenges, and has particular expertise in supporting adolescents with high abilities (giftedness), informed by over ten years of experience as a Secondary School teacher.

Having lived and worked in London for several years, Lozano has been delivering therapy and professional services in English since 2012, including within international and multicultural contexts.

This event is open to educators, professionals, and members of the public interested in gaining an accessible, evidence-based understanding of how change begins, and how to take the first step