Relationships, networks and connections

How many of us are seldom more than an arms length from our mobile phone? Our bags, clothing, even our sports wear is designed with special pockets for its’ safe keeping. For most of us it has infiltrated every sphere of life, a constant companion. Staying connected has never been so easy. Mobiles are for…

A glass jar filled with pens.

Why do I do that? A Dramatherapist looks beneath the surface

I am a dramatherapist and I am talking today about one of my favourite subjects. I am going to explain the benefits of working with creativity in the therapy room. When we are being creative we are using a part of our brain which does not relate to logic or linear time. This part of…

A woman in front of a window.

Don’t just do something, sit there! On the role of manic defences

We have all heard the phrase. Often shouted at a moment of crisis on a television programme or film: “Don’t just sit there, do something!” As if ‘doing something’, anything at all, will make a difference. Of course, the reality is that doing something does make a difference, if not to the outcome of the…

A busy train station with people moving around.

A consideration of some vital notions connected to Existential Therapies

This blog follows on from my previous blog – Existential Therapy. This is how I have interpreted some vital notions connected to existential therapies. Existential therapy is a diverse approach which is used to understand and clarify a client’s problems and possibilities for living their existence. Below are some more of the vital principles (as…

Hands typing on a laptop.

Online Therapy

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…

A blond woman facing a long empty stretch of road.

What is the difference between fate and destiny?

Many people will use the terms ‘fate’ and ‘ interchangeably and it can often not only be difficult to differentiate between the two, but also to understand what is actually meant by them. Both terms essentially refer to predetermined events that lie outside of our control and thus imply some sort of ‘higher power’ rendering…

A group of three people in conversation.

The Therapeutic Relationship and the Unconscious

Freud believed personality and behaviour come from the unique interaction of conflicting psychological forces that operate on different levels of awareness: the preconscious, conscious and unconscious. He believed these play an important role in behaviour. During therapy, we tap into our unconscious mind to discover more. How Therapy Works Therapy is often referred to as…

Back of heads of two young men sitting on a bench.

How do I choose a psychotherapist?

Deciding that you want or need psychological help can be a difficult position to arrive at. Choosing the right practitioner to work with can feel like a daunting task with so many different fields of talk therapy, types of therapy and professional bodies overseeing the field. This blog is a guide to helping you find…

Silhouette of two people sitting outside on camping chairs as the sun sets.

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 body. The rise of mindfulness-based therapies that explore therapeutic…

A laptop screen showing a smiling person interacting with another in front of the laptop.

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 challenges faster. Brett…

A couch with a coffee table and a take away cup of coffee on the table.

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:

Two hands meeting to form a heart shape.

A Couple State of Mind  

This is the first in a series of blog posts about couples therapy. In this post I want to talk about what Mary Morgan from Tavistock Relationships calls a ‘couple state of mind’. Why if our partner is ‘right’ for us don’t they understand us completely? There are limits to how much we can ever…