When you begin therapy you enter into a particular (perhaps peculiar) type of relationship, one with well-defined boundaries and ethics. Beyond its method and structure, at the very heart of this relationship lies empathy.As a therapist empathy means doing all you can to understand your client … [Read more...]
Being Embodied in Therapy: feeling and listening to your body
Therapy is often called a ‘talking therapy’ but what is talking exactly?Generally speaking, what someone says is what therapists consider and explore in session. Body psychotherapies are often the exception because language and thought are understood as different aspects of being in and as the … [Read more...]
What is Social Unconsciousness?
Social unconsciousness is a term used by Earl Hopper to describe the effect of living in a world where we are connected by our common histories, culture and social, political and economic environment. But how does this affect us? With so much taking place in our ever-changing world, this has a … [Read more...]
Why does psychotherapy matter in the modern world?
On the face of it, a process that is long-term, happens at the same time, on the same day, each week, would seem to be in stark contrast to modern life.We are promised, and expected to subscribe to, a world where our wants and needs can be met almost instantaneously, where we can have things … [Read more...]
How to find a Therapist
When it comes to therapy, the therapist you choose can be the difference between getting the most out of your therapy and getting nothing out of your therapy. Having a therapist whom you feel comfortable opening up ensures you can talk about your issues in a safe space enabling you to overcome … [Read more...]
Emotional Well-being
When most people hear the words ‘mental health’ perhaps what they are most likely to think of is mental difficulties, or mental ill-health. I always think it’s such a shame that ‘mental health’ has these negative connotations, whereas just the word ‘health’ doesn’t seem to. I am a big … [Read more...]
Psychotherapy can change your life – but you may not want it to
Anyone who is or has been in “psychotherapy proper” will tell you that it can be really hard work.First, you begin by telling a total stranger about the most intimate things in your life. Things you never even said out loud because it was all too difficult to admit to yourself, let alone to … [Read more...]
A few questions to ask if you are having relationship difficulties
When do you think these difficulties started?It is important to recognise when things began to change. On the other hand you might realise that to some extent it has always been like this but it is only now that you recognise that.Think back to the time when things began to change what else … [Read more...]
The Contemporary Consulting Room
Following on from the post featuring Andrew Robinson’s photographs of the rooms at Brighton and Hove Psychotherapy, I want to think about the objects in the room in which therapy takes place.“Both room and house are psychological diagrams that guide writers and poets in their analysis of … [Read more...]
What is Relational therapy?
A central idea of relational psychotherapy is that our thoughts, feelings and behaviours (healthy and unhealthy) are directly related to our interpersonal relationships. Relational therapy is therefore about our self-with-other experience. We are all creatures of familial, social and political … [Read more...]
Men, Sex and Aging in Relationships
I have previously written about women and the menopause, I am now turning my attention to men, sex and aging in a heterosexual context.Research indicates sexual activity declines with age however as we see older people being portrayed as healthy, attractive and vigorous, we are more likely to … [Read more...]
An Interview with Mark Vahrmeyer – Viva Lewes March ’19
Mark Vahrmeyer was recently approached by Viva Lewes for an interview on 'Mending the Mind. Below is a scanned copy of the full interview: Mark is an integrative psychotherapist with a wide range of clinical experience from both the public and private sectors. He currently sees … [Read more...]
The role of ‘attunement’ in relationships with babies and young children
Babies are not born with the neurological capacity to understand distress, or even to differentiate between discomfort and mortal danger. To ensure their survival therefore, babies are biologically programmed to communicate all forms of distress to their primary caregivers through very primitive … [Read more...]
How are you going to Spend Your Emotional Currency in 2019?
Perhaps it seems odd to you to even think of emotions having an intrinsic value, isn’t it all rather cold and controlling. However, alongside purchasing a house, a car or other valuable object our relationships will need energy and investment of time to make them work well. So in the next … [Read more...]
Looking to Grow Your Practice?
We are looking to grow our practice and are interested in hearing from UKCP registered psychotherapists and psychologists who may wish to join us as we expand. Check out our advert going out in the latest edition of New Psychotherapist this month: … [Read more...]