How to choose a Therapist (the short hand version).

**Because we start life connected to our mothers the eternal struggle is the need for connection versus the need for independence….we are hard wired for connection** Relationships are the most powerful tool for psychological health we have at our disposal.  Finding a therapist you want to have a relationship with is really essential and vital […] Read more »

Life Scripts.

Written by Katy Lee. ‘Each person decides in early childhood how he will live and how he will die, and that plan, which he carries in his head wherever he goes, is called his script.’ (Berne, E, What Do You Say After You Say Hello? 1972, p31) The theory of script, as developed by Eric Berne and his […] Read more »

Yes, I’ve tried ginger…

I wrote this article for publication in a health magazine several years ago. I thought it worth posting again here for anyone who might be struggling in pregnancy. Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is a rare disorder characterized by severe and persistent nausea and vomiting during pregnancy that may necessitate hospitalization. www.rarediseases.com  It hit around week five […] Read more »

Getting Back on Track: What to Do After Relapse

 A guest blog by Kimberly Hayes   Getting Back on Track: What to Do After Relapse   For many on the journey to recovery, there may be stumbles. Sometimes, relapse is a part of the path to sobriety. It isn’t a failure. It’s a moment to learn more about yourself. If you have relapsed, this […] Read more »

Alternative Recovery Methods For Addiction.

Alternative Recovery Methods For Addiction. A guest blog by Kimberly Hayes. The most popular recovery method for addiction in the United States is, by far, the 12-step program. Designed by Alcoholics Anonymous, the 12 steps are highly religious in focus and involve accepting yourself as an addict for life. While this has worked well for many […] Read more »

Can Bad Feelings Ever Be OK?

Bad feelings don’t make you a bad person. Nor do they make you ungrateful. Everyone is inclined to the odd intrusive thought now and then. It’s healthy and natural. These thoughts can feel ‘bad’. The kind of thoughts we feel we ‘shouldn’t’ be having or the kind of thoughts that make us question what kind […] Read more »

Why we all need to be seen.

What is meant by the term ‘Stroke’? Transactional Analysis employs the term ‘strokes’ to denote any form of social inter-action where another’s presence is recognised. Therefore any transaction is also an exchange of strokes. While the general term ‘stroking’ might be used to imply close, physical contact, in reality and practice it may present in […] Read more »

Our Reactions

Reacting in ‘the same old way’ in Psychotherapeutic terms probably means you are engaging in Script behaviour that may no longer suit your needs or who you are. I addressed the concept Life Scripts in my previous post. As a child, when this Script was developed maybe you didn’t have a choice. Maybe you learnt […] Read more »

You Shouldn’t Feel That Way You Feel

‘You shouldn’t feel that way’ I have lost count of the number of times I have heard people recite experiences that begin and end with the summation, ‘You should not feel that way’. For me, I lump that phrase alongside ‘Cheer up, it might never happen’ or ‘Pull yourself together’. A client of mine once […] Read more »