You have identified that you might like some therapy and put together a shortlist of possible therapists. Now what? Most therapists – including me – offer a free, initial conversation. Usually, it’s restricted to between 15 and 30 minutes. It’s a good idea to set up a couple of these, so you can ‘try out’ more than one therapist and see who appeals to you. Starting therapy can be taxing – sifting through therapy directories, reading different profiles – and also vulnerable-ma

Interesting the responses to the film Hamnet. I have spoken to people who said they felt it was 'too much', that the second half was exploitative, and that the music was ramped up to manipulate their emotions. To manipulate their emotions, or perhaps simply an invitation to feel them? The film, to my mind, invited us to confront the horror of losing a child, and the complexity of grief. How it is messy, exhausting, alienating and frightening. It reminded us that we are all fa

What prompts someone to step into the therapy room? It can be because they want support with a major life event – a bereavement, illness or divorce – but often, it’s because their old defence mechanisms and coping strategies are starting to fail. Defence mechanisms are anything that stands between you and really feeling and experiencing. You might use humour, to defend against humiliation or a sense of failure. You might protest too much – “I’m fine, really, it’s all complete

Therapy is a considerable commitment of money and time. So how can you get the most from your sessions? Find the right therapist for you...

It’s that time of year when many young people are preparing to leave home. University or a new job beckons, and for some parents that...

I recently put my prices up. This prompted some reflection on the relationship between therapy and money – why paying for care can feel liberating or complicated, and why therapists charge what they do. Therapy as a service At its core, therapy is a service. Just as you pay for a manicure, or a plumber fitting a new tap, you pay for 50 minutes with a therapist. Therapy is also so much more – and this is where paying for it can feel uncomfortable. It is a relationship. You sha

Let’s begin with a statement of the obvious: the human mind is complex, and our understanding of it continues to evolve. Numerous schools...

We are all grown-ups here, correct? Well, maybe… It might be tempting to imagine that once we hit 18 or 21 or 30 that we are fully...

We all know people who are worriers. They habitually worry, they obsess and they may find themselves lost in repetitive fantasies that...

In early January, we wish each other a happy new year. It is a traditional greeting, lightly said, but speaks of the value we place on...

The festive season can stir up complex feelings around family relationships, money, diet and stress, that can all be addressed in therapy

Many of us have certain times of year that feel particularly challenging or uncomfortable. November can be one of those times. The clocks...

Every September, Macmillan Cancer Support encourages people to hold a coffee morning to raise money for the specialist health care,...

September can be a glorious month, full of back-to-school energy, fuelled by the rest and renewal of an August break. Of course, it can...

Seeking out therapy is not always straightforward. If I fall off my bike and break my arm, I go to A&E. But what happens if I am feeling...