Periods of transition can be some of the most demanding times in our lives. Whether brought about by loss, change, illness, relationship difficulties, or an inner sense that something needs to shift, these moments can affect us physically, emotionally, psychologically, and intellectually. At times, it can feel as though we are walking into the depths…
The psychotherapy of depression and anxiety Depression and anxiety are among the most common reasons people seek counselling or psychotherapy. They are also broad terms that can describe a wide range of emotional and physical experiences, many of which can be difficult to recognise, access or articulate. Understandably, most people want relief from the distress…
When people think about psychotherapy, they often imagine it as a deeply personal journey focused on dealing with emotional pain, improving relationships, or overcoming life’s challenges. While this is true, psychotherapy also has a wider impact. By helping individuals become more self-aware, compassionate, and authentic, it has the potential to contribute to a healthier, more…
Being in personal therapy is an important pillar of being a good psychotherapist. Psychotherapists registered with the UKCP and BPC, or attached to credible training institutes, are required to be in personal therapy with a senior professional for the duration of their training. Face to face, once weekly, at a minimum, for at least four…
The rise of one-sided relationships is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. We are seeing it in the growing phenomenon of intimate relationships with chatbots. We are seeing it in the rise of misogyny, more recently exposed in Louis Theroux’s latest documentary on the manosphere where men who want relationships with women entirely on their own…
People rarely join cults because of a lack of education, intelligence or judgement. Many individuals who end up in such groups are highly educated professionals with no shortage of resources. Despite claims that ‘anyone’ could join a cult, clinical experience suggests otherwise. People who are gradually seduced into cults – always initially masked as something…
Clinical supervision is a requirement for both trainee and experienced psychotherapists and counsellors. Beyond its regulatory function, it is a central pillar of ethical practice, professional development, and ongoing learning. At its core, supervision is a relational process that supports clinicians in thinking more deeply about their work and about the emotional worlds of their…
Why psychotherapists must remain vigilant about boundaries Despite training, supervision, and ethical guidelines, psychotherapists—like all human beings—remain vulnerable to lapses in judgment. At best, these take the form of clinical misattunements. At worst, they can result in serious boundary violations with lasting harm. Understanding the structural and psychological functions of boundaries is essential to safeguard…
The image above* is of Jim Jones who led the Jonestown massacre in November 1978 where 909 people died, a quarter of whom were children. Jim decided that the children should be the first ones to drink the poison. He matches the broad definition of a cult leader, which I compiled from a range of…
In my two previous articles, I have defined a cult and the mind-control process. Now, I would like to talk about what makes people join a cult and why we should care. No one joins a cult Firstly, people don’t join cults: they join a course, an activity, a personal development workshop, a meditation class,…
Brainwashing or thought reform is not a one-off event but a gradual process of breaking down and transformation. Thus, thought reform is a concerted effort to change a person’s way of looking at the world, which will change his or her behaviour. To understand more about mind control, or brainwashing, I will explain it in…
I have previously written about the psychological impact on children who grow up in cults. But what is the definition of a cult? I’m going to share with you how some academics in this field describe a cult – there are five key attributes that can help us with this explanation. Let’s go through each…