Affairs and betrayals
Affairs and betrayals can break trust and greatly affect the well-being of everyone involved. Relationship counselling provides an opportunity for individuals to work through hurt... Read more
Alcoholism
Alcoholism, also known as alcohol addiction or alcohol dependence, describes the repeated misuse of and dependence on alcoholic substances. On this page, we'll explore alcoholism,... Read more
Anger management
Feeling angry is a natural response to certain life experiences. It’s a basic emotion; occurring at times when we come under attack, feel deceived, insulted or frustrated. W... Read more
Anorexia nervosa
Anorexia is an eating disorder that sees sufferers restrict their food intake. Often this is due to a fear of weight gain, an attempt to regain control and/or as a way to cope with... Read more
Antisocial personality disorder
Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) can affect people in various ways, such as a lack of empathy and insensitive behaviour. Here we take a look at the symptoms, causes, and the... Read more
Asperger's syndrome
Asperger’s syndrome is part of a group of neurodevelopment conditions collectively known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). While Asperger's Syndrome is no longer an official... Read more
Attachment disorder
From birth, we develop a bond with our main caregivers. When this bond is not formed, this can lead to attachment difficulties that continue into adulthood. Here, we’l... Read more
Attachment disorder in children
Attachment disorder is a condition that can develop in young children who have, for whatever reason, not been able to establish an emotional connection (known as the attachment bon... Read more
Avoidant personality disorder
Many of us can feel shy in certain situations but for around 2% of the population, extreme shyness and fear of rejection make forming relationships near impossible. This is known a... Read more
Behaviour problems
Children can behave in ways we find to be inappropriate for many different reasons, such as being tired, hungry, overexcited, frustrated, or even bored. Pushing the limits can be n... Read more
Bereavement
If you have experienced the death of someone who was important to you, you might be finding it difficult to adjust to the changes happening in your life right now. Grief can shake... Read more
Binge-eating disorder
Binge-eating disorder (BED) is a mental health condition that causes people to eat large quantities of food, often feeling unable to stop. Read more
Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition characterised by dramatic shifts in mood, energy, behaviour, and thinking. On this page, we'll explore what bipolar disorder is, inclu... Read more
Blended family
Families come in all forms, and sometimes the way we define our family unit can change over time. This can mean old relationships fall apart and new families are formed. A blended... Read more
Boarding school syndrome
Counselling allows a safe space for people struggling with boarding school syndrome to express feelings such as abandonment, guilt, and sadness. Here, integrative counsellor and bo... Read more
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), otherwise known as body dysmorphia, is a condition that causes a person to have a distorted view of their appearance. Considered an anxiety disorder... Read more
Borderline personality disorder (BPD)
Borderline personality disorder (BPD), also known as emotionally unstable personality disorder (EUPD), is a type of personality disorder. You may be diagnosed with a personali... Read more
Bulimia nervosa
Bulimia nervosa is a type of eating disorder that involves eating large quantities of food (known as bingeing) and then purging to 'get rid' of the food. Here we will look at bulim... Read more
Career counselling
Career counselling is an option for when an individual needs confidential support and advice about areas of study and possible career movements, developments or changes. It provide... Read more
Carer support
Currently, in the UK there are 6.5 million carers - which equates to one in eight people. These are people who care for someone who is disabled, ill, older or suffering from a ment... Read more
Child counselling
Child counselling offers young people a safe space to discuss and work through anything they may be struggling with. This could include family worries, exam stress and mental healt... Read more
Childhood bereavement
For a child, the world in many ways is still relatively unknown. Experiencing the harsh realities of the death of a loved one, and encountering grief for the first time, can make t... Read more
Childhood bullying
Most people have been teased by a friend or a sibling at some point in their lives. It’s normally playful, friendly and both of you will find it funny. But, sometimes it&rsqu... Read more
Childless not by choice
Involuntary childlessness (also known as childless-not-by-choice, or childless by circumstance) refers to people who have wanted to be parents, but who have not been able to due to... Read more
Children’s learning difficulties
A person with learning difficulties may be described as having problems developing their knowledge and skills to the normal level expected of their peers, and others the same age. Read more
Christian counselling
Christian counsellors aim to support people towards personal growth through a caring therapeutic relationship. Here, integrative and Christian counsellor, Christel Ceraline (MACC A... Read more
Chronic fatigue syndrome/ME
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), also known as myalgic encephalopathy (ME) is a long-term condition that can make it difficult to carry out daily activities, lead to changes in life... Read more
Chronic illness
A chronic illness is a long-term health condition that currently has no cure. These conditions can usually be managed by medication and other treatments to improve quality of life.... Read more
Climate and eco-anxiety
We can all feel worried about the future of our planet from time to time, but eco-anxiety is more than this. It is a fear of environmental doom. This can make people feel hopeless,... Read more
Dependent personality disorder
Dependent personality disorder is a mental health issue where sufferers exhibit an excessive need to be taken care of, resulting in needy and submissive behaviour. Read more
Depression
We all have times when we feel sad, but depression is something that affects your daily life, making it hard to find enjoyment in day-to-day activities. We take a look at what depr... Read more
Depression and anxiety in children
Counselling for children struggling with their mental health provides a safe, confidential space that can help them express and understand their emotions. Read more
Disabilities
In the UK, there are over 14.1 million people with a disability, impairment or limiting long-term illness. Here, we will explore the types of disabilities, and the options availabl... Read more
Discrimination
Discrimination is the act of treating someone unfairly because of who they are, their beliefs or because they possess certain characteristics. Read more
Dissociation
Dissociation refers to the mental process of disconnecting from your thoughts, feelings, memories, or identity as a way of trying to protect yourself. We explain more about the sid... Read more
Domestic abuse
Domestic abuse (also known as domestic violence) can involve physical, emotional, mental, financial and/or sexual abuse. Usually, it happens with someone you are close to, either w... Read more
Drug addiction
There are many reasons why someone may start using drugs, from curiosity and peer pressure to seeing family members use and trying to cope with difficult emotions. For some pe... Read more
Eating disorders
Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions that affect people emotionally, physically and socially. They centre on a person's relationship with food, eating and themselv... Read more
Emotional abuse
Emotional abuse (also called psychological abuse) is a type of abuse where someone tries to use emotions to manipulate, embarrass, shame, blame, criticise, or otherwise try and gai... Read more
Family issues
We all start life with a family, whether that family is blood relatives, adopted parents, or a foster family. Our families influence almost every aspect of our lives, from our firs... Read more
Feeling sad
Feeling down? You're not alone. Everyone feels sad or experiences a low mood at times. Sadness is a natural human emotion and, like other emotions, sad feelings come and go; they&r... Read more
Gender dysphoria
Gender dysphoria is a term used to describe the distress a person feels when their gender does not match the sex they were assigned at birth. Here we look more closely at what gend... Read more
Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)
Generalised anxiety disorder (also referred to as GAD) is a long-term condition that causes sufferers to feel anxious about a variety of situations/issues, rather than one specific... Read more
Health anxiety
We all worry about our health from time to time. However, when it's when these worries start to take over your life that things become problematic. Read more
Hearing voices
Hearing voices is not as rare as you might think. Many of us will have heard noises or voices that others haven’t heard at some point in our lives. It’s estimated that... Read more
High sensitivity
Do you often walk into rooms and know when there’s been an argument? Do TV shows and movies seem to affect you more deeply than others? Perhaps you feel like the only one who... Read more
Histrionic personality disorder
Around 10% of the population is thought to have a personality disorder of some sort, however, there are no accurate or reliable figures on how many people in the UK may specificall... Read more
Infertility
If you want to have a baby, experiencing fertility problems or infertility can be a hugely emotional time. Getting the right support can help you navigate your situation and find a... Read more
Internet addiction
Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD) is the term used to describe excessive Internet use that affects a person's daily life. While in many ways, it's a positive step that we can conne... Read more
Kink-aware therapy
What is a BDSM-aware or kink-aware therapist, what can they help with, and how can you find the right therapist for you? We explain more. Read more
Learning difficulties
A learning disability is described as: a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind significant impairment of intellectual functioning significant impairment of adapt... Read more
Learning disabilities
There are approximately 1.5 million people in the UK with a learning disability. A learning disability affects how someone manages everyday activities and learns new things. Here w... Read more
LGBTQ+ counselling
Our sexuality and gender can form a big part of our identity and those who don’t fit society’s heteronormative ideal can come up against more challenges. Those who iden... Read more
Loneliness
Loneliness is something we all may experience at some point in our lives. For many, it’s a feeling that only lasts a moment, appearing in certain situations. But others may f... Read more
Low self-confidence
Low self-confidence is something that many of us experience but, over time, it can have a negative impact on our mental health. Here, we'll explore self-confidence in more detail,... Read more
Low self-esteem
Over time, low self-esteem can have a negative impact on our mental health. You may also find having certain mental health conditions impacts your self-esteem. Here, we will be loo... Read more
Mental health
When we talk about mental health, there is often a misconception about what it is and who it affects. First and foremost, mental health is not the same as a mental health issue or... Read more
Miscarriage
Miscarriage is the term used to explain the loss of a pregnancy before 24 weeks. Later loss (at or after 24 weeks of pregnancy) is known as a stillbirth. If you’ve been affec... Read more
Narcissistic abuse
Living with a narcissistic partner or family member can result in narcissistic abuse, also known as narcissistic abuse syndrome. This can weigh heavily on a person's mental health... Read more
Narcissistic personality disorder
We all display some degree of narcissism from time to time. For some, however, it is a permanent fixture. Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) gives those with the condition an... Read more
Neurodiversity
Originally used by the autistic community who were keen to move away from the medical model of autism, neurodiversity has become an umbrella term to describe the diverse ways of th... Read more
Non-monogamy
If you’re thinking about or practising non-monogamy and you need a little extra support, you’re not alone. Counselling can help you individually, or you and a partner o... Read more
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) involves intrusive and obsessional thoughts, often followed by compulsive urges. These obsessions can be overwhelming, and the only way a person... Read more
Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder
Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder is a condition where people get so caught up in rituals, routines and their preoccupation with orderliness and control that they compromis... Read more
Older people's counselling
The World Health Organization notes that by 2030, one in six adults will be aged 60 or over. With the population of over 80's expected to triple between now and 2050, we are set to... Read more
Panic attacks
When we feel anxious, we can feel uneasy and may experience physical symptoms such as chest pain and dizziness. For some people, this anxiety can become so intense that it triggers... Read more
Paranoid personality disorder
Paranoid personality disorder sits within a group of conditions called ‘cluster A’ personality disorders. Those with conditions from cluster A will experience odd or &l... Read more
Passive-aggressive behaviour
Also described as non-verbal aggression, passive-aggressive behaviour refers to when you are angry or upset with someone, but don’t or can’t tell them. Frustrating and... Read more
Perfectionism
Are you putting too much pressure on yourself to meet extremely high standards? Do you then find fault with yourself when you don’t meet these expectations? You may be a perf... Read more
Personality disorders
Living with a personality disorder may mean your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours are more difficult to understand and manage. This may also mean that your attitudes and actions... Read more
Physical abuse
Physical abuse is when somebody intentionally causes physical harm to another person. This can take many different forms and affect people of all ages. This form of abuse often co... Read more
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Post-traumatic stress disorder, also known as PTSD, is an anxiety disorder that some people develop after being involved in (or witnessing) something traumatic. The condition was... Read more
Postnatal depression
While having a baby is often a time of happiness, not all new parents experience this joy right away. Exhaustion, shock, and stress can lead to many feeling emotional and tearful a... Read more
Pregnancy and birth
Pregnancy, childbirth, and the first year after having a baby can be both an exciting and scary time. With as many as one in five women developing a mental illness during pregnancy... Read more
Race and racial identity
Mental health and race are two complex aspects of the human experience that intertwine intricately, often contributing heavily to lived experiences. The more diverse our societies... Read more
Redundancy
The dictionary defines redundancy as the state of being no longer needed or useful, and whether that description applies to machinery or human beings - the implications can be gloo... Read more
Relationship problems
Relationships are a key part of our lives. They bring happiness and support, but that doesn’t mean they’re easy. When we encounter problems in our relationships, it can... Read more
Schizoid personality disorder
Schizoid personality disorder is a relatively uncommon condition where sufferers have a significantly limited range of emotional experience and expression. As a result, they will a... Read more
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental health condition that affects people’s ability to think clearly and decipher fantasy from reality. This can lead those affected to become withdrawn,... Read more
Schizotypal personality disorder
Schizotypal personality disorder is characterised by cognitive or perceptual distortions, odd behaviour and the inability to maintain any close relationships. Research suggests th... Read more
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that comes and goes in a seasonal pattern. SAD is sometimes known as "winter depression", as symptoms are usually more app... Read more
Separation and divorce
Taking the decision to end a relationship is difficult, no matter what your circumstances are. Not only are there a lot of deep-rooted emotions involved, but there are also a lot o... Read more
Separation anxiety
Separation anxiety is a condition where the child becomes nervous and fearful when separated from a parent, carer or are away from home. Read more
Sex addiction
Sex addiction (or hypersexuality) can be defined as any sexual activity that feels irrepressible. This could be through sex with a partner, but may also involve masturbation, porno... Read more
Sex problems
Sex problems are common and can occur for any number of different reasons. In most cases, sexual problems can be linked to other challenges or difficulties you are facing within yo... Read more
Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse or sexual violence describes any type of sexual activity that is unwanted. There are many different types of abuse, including rape, child sexual abuse, female genital... Read more
Sexual assault
Sexual assault is a crime and can happen to anyone of any age. It’s an act that is carried out without the victim’s consent and is a form of sexual violence. Here, we t... Read more
Social anxiety
The term social anxiety, or "social phobia", is used to describe a long-term overwhelming fear and excessive self-consciousness in social situations. We take a look at what social... Read more
Spirituality
Generally, spiritual practices involve exploring a deeper sense of meaning and purpose, a sense of belonging, and a connection with the universe. Spirituality can work in tandem wi... Read more
Suicidal thoughts
If you need immediate help and are worried you can’t keep yourself safe, please: go to your nearest A&E department call 999 if you can’t get to a hospital as... Read more
Tourette's syndrome
Tourette’s syndrome is a neurological condition that involves repetitive involuntary movements and vocalisations, known as tics. These tics are deemed simple or complex depen... Read more
Trichotillomania
Trichotillomania, also known as trich or hair-pulling disorder, is when someone experiences an uncontrollable urge to pull out their own hair. They may pull out hair from their hea... Read more
Work-related stress
When you enjoy your job, it can provide happiness and fulfilment. But, when work is causing you stress and unhappiness, it can take over your life. On this page, we'll explore wor... Read more
Young people's counselling
As adolescents, the transition from childhood to adulthood can be daunting. Nowadays, young people can be exposed to pressure, whether that’s at home from family members, or... Read more