Latest articles on counselling and therapy

I have been counselling couples for six years now, and I wonder why it is that, for some, seeing a counsellor to trouble-shoot and help revitalise their relationship is still a cause for alarm or embarrassment. We see doctors, dentists, opticians;...

Why is it that thoughts affect us so deeply? Pleasant thoughts of holidays, celebrations, and achievements are welcomed, and it is hoped that they will last forever. We don’t judge or criticise happy thoughts. However, we do judge and...

Anxiety is our natural response to fear. A long time ago, humans had to have a certain amount of anxiety to survive! Being faced with a rather large predator, we needed to feel fear and anxiety in order to run. Our mammalian brains would switch on...

'Being yourself' exercise I first devised this method of enquiry into meanings and words associations a few years back. I wish it can be said that it was a somehow spontaneous, technical, or practice skill exercise, but it is, in fact, a...

Why do we behave in a destructive or unhelpful way when we communicate with certain people? We are constantly in contact with others, whether that is at work, with family, or in personal relationships. Sometimes, interactions and behaviours can...

In everyday communication, much use is made of initials and abbreviations. Although sometimes helpful, the overuse of initials can give rise to confusion. A careless reference can cause uncertainty as to what the initials represent. Alternatively,...

In the US and Canada, counselling is seen as a normal thing for someone to do and is just like going to see a GP for a physical illness. In the UK however, we are not so comfortable with the idea of seeing a therapist. Though it is encouraging that...

Whilst men and women suffer from similar difficulties regarding their mental health, there is a difference in the way they address them. Women tend to be more open in discussing their feelings and emotions, whereas men have a tendency to keep it to...

Eye movement desensitisation reprocessing (EMDR) is recommended for post-traumatic stress by NICE. The therapy involves using eye movements, taps, or buzzers to create bi-lateral stimulation, and access the traumatically-stored information and to...