Is it ever too late in life to change? Despite many decades of accomplished professional practice and conspicuous recognition for his achievements, the psychotherapist Irvin Yalom was stunned to discover he still had personal work to do.In his memoir, Becoming Myself , he recalls attending an … [Read more...]
What are Feelings Anyway?
Everyone knows what a feeling is, right? Well, it turns out that this is not the case and many of us are either unable to experience feelings at all, or get thoughts and feelings mixed up.Early on in my training I had a tutor who would tell us ‘when in doubt, hunt the feeling’. It is arguable … [Read more...]
Online Therapy: Good for Some, but not Everyone
Therapy over the phone and in more recent years on video has been around for a long time, but since the recent pandemic it has become normalised with lots of online therapy platforms emerging and an abundance of “mental health” apps.At Brighton and Hove Psychotherapy we offer both face-to-face … [Read more...]
The Psychology of Mindful Eating
Mindful eating is based on the concept of mindfulness which in essence means engaging all your senses and eating without distraction. The aim is to be more present and aware during food preparation and mealtimes to reduce overeating, eating too quickly and ‘comfort eating’ (eating to deal with … [Read more...]
Defining Happiness
Happiness is linked to a sense of joy, ease, and gratitude. It is also linked with a general positive evaluation of one’s life, past and present, which usually contributes to positive expectations or and looking forward to the future.An ability to sustain a state of happiness depends on many … [Read more...]
Why we need a ‘Secure Base’
At the heart of the process of psychotherapy is trying to see more clearly what our basic needs as human beings are and how they can be met. Most clients seeking treatment are feeling uncomfortable because of difficulties in this domain.The sense of discomfort is often compounded because, … [Read more...]
On Living as Becoming (Part Two)
We seem to be in a world slipping deeper into seeking safety, transparency and the need for power and control to sanitise life. All as an apparent response and remedy to pain and suffering. A desire for continued uninterrupted happiness and security. We seemingly long for the place where happiness … [Read more...]
Client or Patient; Patient or Client – Does it Matter?
A topic of certain difference, and at times discussion in the field of psychotherapy, is whether we refer to those we treat as ‘clients’ or ‘patients’.Why might this matter?On the face of it, it should arguably matter little to someone attending psychotherapy, as to what the therapist calls … [Read more...]
The Psychological Impact of the Recession
So we are officially in a recession in the UK. And not just any recession, but ‘the longest ever recession’ is predicted ‘since records began’. The word ‘recession’ is one that fills most working-age adults with a sense of dread, only further exacerbated not only by the suggestion that it will be … [Read more...]
I’m the Problem – It’s Me!
Are you curious to know the most popular song in the world right now? Of course, you might not have been able to miss it.This autumn, a musical milestone was achieved by Taylor Swift, who has become the first musician to claim all ten top slots of the US Billboard Top 100. Of her ten conquering … [Read more...]
Why do People Watch Horror Movies?
Horror as a genre of ‘entertainment’ has, I would suggest, always been a part of the human experience, as it is through this collective narrative that we give shape and form to a world in which we have very little control. Long before movies existed and extending back to before the written word, our … [Read more...]
Is starting psychotherapy a good New Year’s Resolution?
Most of us make some sort of New Year’s resolution, whether overtly or covertly. The new year can feel like an opportunity to put the past behind us and to start afresh.Whether or not we actively name and own our New Year’s resolutions, most of us can also attest to the best held intentions for … [Read more...]
New Year’s Resolutions – why change might be so difficult
The start of a new year feels like a good time to make resolutions to change your life. Cut down on drinking, learn something new, be more efficient, be kinder, be more sociable or get fit.Gym memberships regularly peak in January, increasing by 10%-20% but how many of those new memberships are … [Read more...]
On Living as Becoming (Part One)
Who would have known a recent visit to Alexandria Park in Hastings and a guided tree walk would inspire this work in progress. The Park happens to have a very diverse and nationally significant tree collection planted by Robert Manock in 1882, and subsequent others.Much of what was conveyed was … [Read more...]
Five Top Tips for Surviving Christmas Day
Christmas can be an emotionally challenging and difficult time for many of us. There is such expectation on how Christmas ‘should’ be. Yet like the weather fails to deliver on the ‘winter wonderland’ scenes on the TV adverts, for many of us, our family experience often falls far short of the loving … [Read more...]
