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Once a week we talk with a living breathing human being who is kind and curious.

ADHD can manifest in a number of ways and everybody affected by it will respond somewhat differently.

In my last post about conflict between parents and adult children I introduced the concept of identifying and changing the power dynamic within the relationship. When children are young, parents tend to have all or most of the power - they are in charge. As children become adults, this power dynamic will need to shift. What could possibly go wrong?! What Is Power? Power can be defined in many different ways. I tend to think of it as the ability to make decisions for ourse

Making major life changes without an outside impetus is much harder than when external circumstances leave us with no choice.

Relationships are difficult. How we balance two or more people's needs so that everyone gets enough of what they want most of the time is invariably a tricky business.

Despite assurances from the medical profession that there is nothing seriously wrong, we find ourselves stuck in a loop of hyper-awareness and fear.

What does it mean to be empathic? How can we use this way of being with others to resolve conflict and promote understanding whilst at the same time keeping ourselves emotionally safe? If too much or not enough empathy is a problem for us, how might counselling and psychotherapy help? A Definition Of Empathy The Cambridge English dictionary defines empathy as follows: 'the ability to share someone else's feelings or experiences by imagining what it would be like to be in th

Work can be rewarding in many ways. It can give us a sense of purpose and achievement, structure to our lives, respect from others, companionship and, of course, money. But sometimes we can find ourselves stuck in a toxic working environment that is at best holding us back, and at worst seriously affecting our mental and physical health. How might counselling and psychotherapy help? The Causes Of Work-related Stress Most of us have experienced times when our jobs have become

Most of us have experienced intrusive thoughts at some point in our lives. They often arrive at times of high stress and can fill our heads with unhelpful 'what if' scenarios and irrational fears that leave us preoccupied or distressed.

Retirement, although possibly longed for, involves huge change . Some of us navigate the transition from working to not working without any major difficulties. For others, the change can bring tension (for ourselves and for those close to us) as we struggle to deal with the various losses involved as well as adapting to a new and unfamiliar rhythm of life. How might counselling or psychotherapy help? The Pros And Cons Of Ending Work Many people look forward to retirement w

At various times in our lives we will be faced with deciding how best to support family, friends, colleagues - and sometimes strangers - who are in distress.

Could it be that our response to change itself is preventing us from experimenting with more fulfilling ways of being in our own skin and relating to others?

Many couples struggle to find a way to communicate effectively . Without a solid platform from which to discuss tricky subjects safely and productively we may flounder around feeling unhappy, angry and stuck. There might be rows, silences and slammed doors but no matter how much energy is expended nothing changes; the difficulties within the relationship stay the same. How might counselling and psychotherapy help? Feeling The Pressure Communication difficulties often arise -

Could black and white thinking be hindering you from making friends, forging a career or finding a life partner? Many of us can get stuck in an old pattern of behaviour where a relationship or situation is seen as either all good or all bad and something that starts well may quickly end in hurt, upset and withdrawal. How might psychotherapy and counselling help? Black And White Thinking Defined Black and white thinking describes a simplistic and rigid way of experiencing th

How we deal with loss is fundamental to our mental and emotional well-being.

Many of us struggle to find the right balance of assertiveness in relationship with a partner, family members, friends or at work. Something is getting in the way of being able to firmly state our own needs, negotiate with others and reach a compromise that is satisfactory for all.

In our efforts to connect to someone are we inadvertently pushing them away?

Over the years, we will all develop strategies for being in the world . Most of the time these personal guides for decision-making are useful to us. Sometimes, however, we might have become over-reliant on one particular strategy and not noticed that it is no longer serving us well. How might psychotherapy help? Common Strategies For Dealing With The World In my view it is important to have robust and varied ways of approaching the world; effective personal plans of action p

Are fears of being judged, shamed or made to feel inadequate getting in the way of seeking help?

Many people coming to counselling or psychotherapy for the first time describe how they cannot stop themselves from dwelling on old hurts or mistakes from the past. The memories are, without exception, negative and often evoke feelings of frustration and shame. How can counselling or psychotherapy help? The Stuck Record Rationally, we probably know that repeatedly thinking about the times we have failed in some way or have felt misunderstood and let down by others does us n