Pop star Jessie J, has just been diagnosed with breast cancer. She’s informed her fans she’s going to ‘disappear’ for a while, to begin her recovery. To be human is to have a body that sometimes lets us down. We are all fallible. From the relatively minor disappointment of being unable to breastfeed, to the … Read more
Orthorexia, the interest in healthful eating that ironically diverts into an unhealthy obsession, has gained greater attention in recent years. Possibly, in part, due to the Instagram influencers. All those ‘wellbeing experts’ who advise on optimum nutrition, while having little in the way of official qualifications. And, also sadly, due to some tragic cases where … Read more
I’m giving my site a refresh soon, so I’ve begun the process of reading over old blogs and deciding what stays and what goes. And I was struck by how I’ve, mistakenly, given the impression that I’m excellent at managing my own emotions. Which is just not true. A lot of these blogs centre on … Read more
Are you therapy curious? Undecided whether you want to commit to counselling, but intrigued enough to want to know more? Or do you intuitively know you need it, but the myth of the glacial, psychoanalyst from Woody Allen films has given you cold feet? What goes on in the counselling room can feel intensely mysterious, … Read more
The research around self-esteem is plentiful. Here’s what we know…self esteem is improved by regular exercise, and setting and achieving goals. Also, by using self-compassion, and forming strong, genuine connections with those around you. But what’s missing from this list is knowing exactly what works for you. The guidelines are good, but they’re never going … Read more
World Mental Health Awareness Week is coming (12th-18th May 2025). And we’ll all be wearing blue, and looking for Insta opportunities to show our support. Because mental health is undoubtedly, and undeniably very important. But World Mental Health Awareness Week leaves me luke warm, at best. And I make no secret of this. While I’m … Read more
Self care is lauded as the panacea to all ills. Set your boundaries, take a rest and do what brings you joy. It all sounds so sensible and easy. So what are the challenges to good self-care? why do so many of us feel self-care is self-indulgent, self-regarding and all a bit unnecessary? if not, … Read more
You’ve considered the cost of counselling, picked a properly qualified therapist and even manged to find a suitable day. But unless you can overcome the mental barriers stopping you from getting therapy, you might stay stuck. Trapped in a loop of making and then cancelling appointments. Or selecting the counsellor you like the look of, … Read more
Self-esteem and neurodiversity is a hot topic at the moment. After many years of barely being mentioned, it now dominates social media, demands column inches and frequently features on the news agenda. Most of us know the deflating feeling of struggling with a subject at school, or of desperately trying to manage a difficult social … Read more
Forgiveness and self-esteem may seem to be only loosely linked. But dig deeper, or examine your own experiences, and you’ll know that holding a grudge brings up some hard feelings. There’s anger (a lot of it), righteous indignation, bitterness. And, beneath all that, there can be a stagnant sense of guilt or shame. Because, despite … Read more
When you hear the word low self-esteem, what do you imagine? Perhaps, a woman, round shouldered, stooped, hiding behind her hair. Everything about her demeanour suggests she wants to disappear. But there are just as many women who hide their low self-worth well. So well, they hide it even from themselves. And, unless you were … Read more
We’ve all heard the cliches it’s good to talk, or a problem shared is a problem halved. But how do you manage counselling when you find talking hard? And even if you’re confident chatting about the minutiae of everyday life, really opening up your emotions is different. It can expose you to a whole new … Read more
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