Why we all need to be seen.

What is meant by the term ‘Stroke’? Transactional Analysis employs the term ‘strokes’ to denote any form of social inter-action where another’s presence is recognised. Therefore any transaction is also an exchange of strokes. While the general term ‘stroking’ might be used to imply close, physical contact, in reality and practice it may present in…

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Our Reactions

Reacting in ‘the same old way’ in Psychotherapeutic terms probably means you are engaging in Script behaviour that may no longer suit your needs or who you are. I addressed the concept Life Scripts in my previous post. As a child, when this Script was developed maybe you didn’t have a choice. Maybe you learnt…

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You Shouldn’t Feel That Way You Feel

‘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 mine once…

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What can Depression feel like?

  Stephen Fry has experienced mental health problems, including two suicide attempts, for most of his life. At the age of 37 he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Bipolar affects hundreds of thousands of people in the UK and sadly, like many other mental health problems, is still shrouded in prejudice and stigma.   In…

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Useful Contacts

  Asking for support is not always easy. In fact sometimes it can feel daunting and even overwhelming for some. There are services out there which are available to everyone however. Below is a list of contact numbers and websites that you may find useful.           Talking really does help.  …

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Confused about therapy?

  When deciding on a therapist there is a lot to take into account, or at least it can feel that way. Like most things these days there is a lot of variety out there and sometimes it can be confusing and hard to know where to begin.   What do you look for? What…

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The Doodle Chronicles

  Mental Illness can be tough, even impossible, for some to talk about. It can also be challenging to understand if you have never experienced it yourself and, a lot of the time, even those close to us can struggle to grasp what is going on, no matter how hard we try and explain. This…

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Understanding Mental Health

  Why Mental Health Matters   According to recent statistics from The Mental Health Foundation about a quarter of the population will experience a mental health problem of some description in the course of a year, with anxiety and depression being the most prevalent in Britain.   If you or someone you know is struggling with…

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Transactional Analysis and Depression

  Transactional Analysis is a style of Psychotherapy. When looking at the treatment of depression, therapy is a useful and invaluable tool and can have a powerful and lasting impact.   Below is a short video from Mark Widdowson, who has conducted research on the effectiveness of Transactional Analysis in treating depression.   katycounsellingherts@outlook.com

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I Had A Black Dog…..

  “At its worst, depression can be a frightening, debilitating condition. Millions of people around the world live with depression. Many of these individuals and their families are afraid to talk about their struggles, and don’t know where to turn for help. However, depression is largely preventable and treatable. Recognizing depression and seeking help is…

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