A common reason that some people come to therapy is because of difficulties in managing their emotions. We all experience emotions and it is part of being human, but sometimes our emotions can become dysregulated and feel overwhelming, unpredictable, or out of control. We might feel that our emotional response is somewhat out of proportion…
Our early experiences can shape how we relate to ourselves and others in the present. Often, the survival strategies we developed in childhood can remain with us well into our adult life. One lesser-known but very important survival response is called ‘fawning’, and is often discussed in the context of the other well-known responses of…
We all experience negative thoughts and sometimes these thoughts can be painful, undermining and leave us feeling worthless. Some people simply try to tolerate them, and others might feel they are deserved – or even criticise themselves for having them in the first place. But is there another way to work with negative thoughts? What…
In a previous blog we discussed the links between exercise and mental health and how exercise can be hugely important for raising and maintaining our mood. In this blog, we will discuss how the healthy habit of exercise can sometimes become addictive, and can actually harm both our physical and mental health. When healthy habits…
There has been a growing interest in Buddhist thinking over many years, which is perhaps influenced by the popular practice of mindfulness to help with anxiety and many other emotional issues. Often people will come to psychotherapy and use the technique of mindfulness as part of their therapeutic journey. Some then become curious about the…
We have all heard it: exercise is good for you. Exercise can help combat or improve symptoms of a wide range of health conditions from high blood pressure, cardiovascular conditions, diabetes, some cancers, depression and anxiety to name but a few. It can help prevent some of these conditions in the first place, promoting bone…
People often come to therapy who are struggling with their emotional sensitivity. Feeling things deeply, they can find living in the world a challenging and sometimes painful experience. The question ‘Am I too sensitive?’ can arise, along with a wish to be less sensitive. But can we be too sensitive? Emotional sensitivity is a natural…
Spirituality is an often-used term these days, and around 20% of the population in the UK define themselves as spiritual, but not in the religious sense. So what does it mean to be spiritual? There are many definitions of spirituality but generally we could say that it involves having a sense of something bigger than…
We spend much of our lives online these days and increasingly more services are available online that traditionally would have been conducted face to face. This is the same with psychotherapy and counselling, and there is a growing availability of online therapy services around on the internet. So, is online therapy for you? There are…
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), also know as Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder, is a thought to affect between 0.7 and 2% of the general population. While estimates vary, it is considered that the disorder is predominantly diagnosed in women (75%). So what is BPD? On a generic level, BPD is characterised by having difficulties in how…
We spend much of our lives online these days and increasingly more services are available online that traditionally would have been conducted face to face. This is the same with psychotherapy and counselling, and there is a growing availability of online therapy services around on the internet. So, is online therapy for you? There are…
The term ‘mindfulness’ is much spoken about these days, especially in relation to mental health and wellbeing. But what does it really mean? Mindfulness generally relates to a meditation practice that has its origins in Buddhism. It is thought that the Buddha was practicing mindfulness when he gained enlightenment, and it is one of the…