Have you ever wondered about the impact of really being listened to? Can it actually make a difference to our lives?   I bet that most of you reading this have been told, at some stage, possibly even by the most well meaning of loved ones, to ‘get over it’ or ‘stay strong’. How…

  “Sometimes the mind can be an overwhelming, intense and very challenging place. I hope this may help to give someone a little peace of mind.”     A YouTube video from Jonny Benjamin on Thoughts.   Jonny was diagnosed with Schizoaffective Disorder in 2007, which is a combination of Schizophrenia and Depression. He made…

According to statistics, roughly a quarter of the population will experience some kind of mental health problem in any given year so chances are even if you don’t fall into that percentage yourself, someone you know will. Supporting yourself or an other through an experience like this can be overwhelming and often times people are…

  I wanted to share a concept from Transactional Analysis with you. One that I have found extremely helpful in certain circumstances or situations and a theory that can be really beneficial in aiding self awareness, a prime objective of any Psychotherapy or Counselling.   The OK Corral     The diagram above is The…

  We live in an age of infinite options and choice. There is normally always an alternative, or several. We live in a time of high demand and constant information being thrown our way. This can be overwhelming and confusing. When looking for a Therapist most people search on the internet, which is both a…

  I wanted to share with you a great article on the idea of Shame, written, not by myself, but by my principle trainer, Bob Cooke. As Bob’s work has greatly informed my own it seems appropriate that I look to his writing to both aid my clinical work and also to inform clients of…

  Recently I was lucky enough to attend a training day run by PODS. PODS are an organisation, specialising in recovery from Dissociative Disorders who provide training, support and resources for both survivors, their supporters and professionals working with those who have DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder). It is thought that so much as 1.5% of…

  ‘Sometimes we’re afraid to admit that we’re sad, that we’re anxious, that we can’t do it all’ – Nathan Blansett   Below is a wonderful blog written by my good friend and colleague from Seraph Psychotherapy, based in Hull. I am sharing this with her permission as depression is something I have been thinking…

  ‘Real treatment, he says, requires an intimacy between therapist and patient that is born from a solid bond of trust.’ Below is an article I came across, written by Barbara Jamison, in which she reviews some of Yalom’s ideas, discussed in his book ‘The Gift of Therapy’ in which he extols the virtues of…

‘You shouldn’t feel that way’   I have lost count of the number of times I have heard people recite experiences that begin and end with the summation, ‘You should not feel that way’.   For me, I lump that phrase alongside ‘Cheer up, it might never happen’ or ‘Pull yourself together’. A client of…