Grief is a process which we go through when we steadily adjust to the loss of someone. Grief involves experiencing a range of different emotions, sometimes uncomfortable and tricky ones. There is no right or wrong way to grieve, making it a very individual process. Grief also has no end, so once experienced, it’s something that will walk alongside people’s lives forever. And, despite the uniqueness of grief, researchers have proposed that for most people, grief comes in stages, introducing the concept of ‘The Stages of Grief’ — courtesy of Kübler-Ross (1969). While much of this is an accepted ..read more

Have you ever done something you know is bad for you but tried to make excuses for your actions? This could be a sign of cognitive dissonance.  We sometimes find ourselves doing things that don’t fit with our everyday beliefs. For example, we might eat something we know isn’t good for us whilst striving to have a healthy body. Or we might end up gossiping about someone when we hold the belief that being compassionate to others is a priority. Sometimes we do this without even thinking about it. We like to hold ourselves up to certain standards, but our actions do not always match up to wha ..read more

If you spend any time on social media, you may notice that society appears to be polarising. Moving further and further apart, now seems like a great time to work on our empathy skills and develop an open mind so we can work on bringing ourselves together again. To help with this, we spoke to integrative-relational counsellor Kayan Houssein. How can I be more open minded? I’ve been brought up with quite a closed-minded way of thinking but I’m ready to break that pattern. How can I start to be more open-minded? OK, so you want to become more open-minded, this is a positive thing, right? Yes, bu ..read more

Many of us have money on our minds but, for some, it’s causing a feeling of being trapped. What can we do about this and how can we take steps towards freedom? Here we speak to individual and couples counsellor Francesca Amor to learn more.  What can I do if I feel financially trapped? I’m unhappy in my relationship, but we live together and I can’t afford to leave. How can I cope? This could be a tricky situation; the first thing to do is not rush into quick decisions. Is there any chance of you rescuing what is left of the relationship? Maybe couples counselling can help. It could help ..read more

The theme for this year’s World Mental Health Day is ‘make mental health and well-being for all a global priority’. Discussing the theme that will be explored on 10 October, the World Health Organization says, “Stigma and discrimination continue to be a barrier to social inclusion and access to the right care; importantly, we can all play our part in increasing awareness about which preventive mental health interventions work and World Mental Health Day is an opportunity to do that collectively.”  To learn more about how we can reduce discrimination and promote equality, we asked counsell ..read more

Every night when we are asleep, we dream. In fact, studies suggest that we actually dream anywhere between three and six times a night. So, why is it that we can sometimes remember our dreams so vividly when we wake, and yet, more often than not, we have no recollection of what was going through our minds the night before?  What are dreams? Dreams are typically visual images or stories that go through our minds during sleep. They are a representation of our thoughts, feelings, and emotions. For people who are blind, their dreams tend to be based on sound, touch, taste, and smell.  D ..read more

Recognising that your behaviour may be emotionally abusive can be tough. Emotional abusers may not be actively aware that they are being abusive, however, it is possible to pick up habits, fall into negative patterns, or to even be influenced by the relationships and behaviours we have seen around us that may not be healthy. But how do you recognise these behaviours? And what can you do to change if you are emotionally abusive? What is emotional abuse? Emotional abuse can happen in any type of relationship. This includes with someone you are dating or married to, with a family member, or ..read more

A common manipulation tactic, triangulation (in psychology terms) refers to using threats of exclusion or manipulation, often behind someone’s back or through indirect communication. But what are the signs of triangulation, how does it impact our relationships, and how do we cope if someone we love is using it? What is triangulation? One of the better-known types of toxic behaviour, triangulation is a form of manipulation where one person uses threats of exclusion or manipulation to get what they want or to feel more secure in a relationship. Often used behind someone’s back, there is usually ..read more

There are lots of different therapy types available, depending on what you’re seeking support for. While it may feel intimidating at first, having this choice means you can explore which approach is right for you. One increasingly popular approach is somatic therapy. Here clinical psychologist Dr Selina Tour highlights this incredible therapy and how it can help. What is somatic therapy? Your questions answered Can you tell us what somatic therapy is and the premise behind it? The body is viewed as an important source of information – telling us important information about ourselves and our di ..read more

We know that the pandemic has taken a huge toll on adult mental health. A survey by the US Census Bureau found that 42% of adults reported symptoms of anxiety and depression in December 2020, compared to 11% in 2019. But new figures show the heart-breaking impact the pandemic has had on children’s mental health, too. Young mental health referrals doubled during the pandemic in England, according to NHS statistics. So, it is the perfect time to focus on how we are all feeling and teach children more about mental health.  Books are a fantastic way to help children with anxiety and to spark ..read more