We all dream - whether we remember them or not. And there is plenty of fascination about dreams and what they may mean, ranging from nothing at all, to being a means and method of understanding a patient’s unconscious.In 1899, Sigmund Freud wrote The Interpretation of Dreams outlining his theory … [Read more...]
Understanding motivation: insights from neuroscience
Motivation is the spark that drives our behaviours, whether it's waking up early for work, pursuing a personal goal, or simply seeking enjoyment in daily life. But what exactly fuels this drive? Modern neuroscience offers fascinating insights into the mechanisms behind motivation and its role in our … [Read more...]
The psychology of cults: part two – what is brainwashing?
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 … [Read more...]
The therapeutic journey: a pilgrimage to the soul?
As a psychotherapist, I've come to understand healing as a profound journey—not unlike the transformative experience described in the photo of the welcome sign below, sent to me by a colleague who has recently walked the Camino de Santiago.Just as pilgrims leave behind their familiar … [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
In my last blog I wrote about goals for change and linking these to our values. When someone decides to come into therapy it is often because they would like to make changes and it can help to set goals as a means of knowing when these changes have been achieved.Given this is a time of year when … [Read more...]
Twixtmas – surviving that dreaded time between Christmas and New Year
Twixtmas, that time between Christmas and New Year seems to be a particularly difficult time for many. Why is this?The build up to Christmas and the accompanying excitement for some, and anxiety for many, can leave us feeling depleted and down in the immediate aftermath of the big … [Read more...]
How to minimise Christmas stress if you’re hosting
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, it often fails to deliver on the ‘winter wonderland’ scenes on the TV adverts. For so many of us our family experience often falls far short of … [Read more...]
Surviving family festivities: a psychoanalytic journey through the twelve days of Christmas
As the holiday season descends upon us like a glittering, tinsel-laden avalanche, many find themselves navigating the tricky or sometimes treacherous emotional landscape of family gatherings. Fear not, dear reader, for psychoanalytic psychotherapy could offer a guiding star, a beacon of hope to lead … [Read more...]
How do you get self-esteem?
Self-esteem is often spoken about and seen as something that we should be aspiring towards. However, what is less clear is exactly what constitutes ‘self-esteem’ and how we can best define this concept.What is self-esteem?Well, according to Jordan Peterson it simply does not exist. However, … [Read more...]
The psychology of cults: part one – what defines a cult?
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 … [Read more...]
What is the role of creativity in psychotherapy?
In this article, I discuss creativity as foundational to being human, how it enables an emotionally and psychologically fulfilling life, and its relationship with psychotherapy.Everyday creativityWhen we think of creativity we tend to think of world-renowned artists such as Leonardo da … [Read more...]
To be creative as an adult
To some, the suggestion of being creative conjures exciting ideas of creating art, music and stories. To others it invokes a sense of dread, with a belief that creativity must be accompanied by a special talent, accomplishment and validation from others. This could be from negative experiences of … [Read more...]
In support of vulnerability
What does vulnerability mean to you? Is it part of being human, something to acknowledge and embrace, or do you find ourselves shying away from it?Vulnerability is part of what connects us to others. By being open, revealing something of ourselves and seeing that in others, we build connections. … [Read more...]
Learning to embrace uncomfortable emotions
Is there an expectation that we will not have uncomfortable emotions?To have different emotions is to be human. Life is about feeling emotions. We notice our emotions and label them. Emotion is normal, we have to feel it to get past it.How we look at things and process information is based … [Read more...]
