MSc, BSc (Lond), MBACP, PgDip, PgCert
How I
Can Help You
Anxiety
Anxiety can result in sensations of unease characterized by a rapid heartbeat, muscle tension, dizziness & feelings of pressure, fear or panic. Anxiety may be experienced in episodes or feel as if it's almost consistent. It arises from the body's 'fight or flight' response, even where there is no real threat. Understanding the root causes of anxiety can help break negative thought patterns and enable us to recognise the reality of our fears.
Anxiety may be experienced in various ways, depending on the individual and their life events. Below are a number of different anxiety disorders:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Persistent, excessive worry about everyday events which is often accompanied by physical symptoms like fatigue, muscle tension, and difficulty concentrating.
Panic Disorder: Sudden, intense episodes of fear or discomfort, known as panic attacks, which may include symptoms such as a racing heart, shortness of breath, chest pain, and dizziness.
Social Anxiety Disorder: Intense fear or avoidance of social situations due to concerns about being judged, embarrassed, or scrutinized by others.
Phobias: Excessive fear of a particular object, situation, or activity, such as heights (acrophobia) or flying (aviophobia), which leads to avoidance behaviour.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Recurrent, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) that provoke anxiety, often relieved by repetitive behaviours (compulsions), such as excessive handwashing or checking.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Anxiety following a traumatic event, characterized by flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance, and avoidance of reminders of the trauma.
Health Anxiety: Preoccupation with the belief that one has or might develop a serious illness, often leading to repeated health checks or avoidance of medical care.
Separation Anxiety: Excessive fear of being apart from a loved one, commonly observed in children, but it can also occur in adults.
Each of these anxiety disorders can vary in intensity and impact, and they often require tailored therapeutic approaches.
Depression
Depression can be a persistent feeling of sadness & loss of interest that affects how you feel, think & act. Everyone has times when they feel low, depression is when you feel this way for weeks or months at a time and it affects your ability to get on with and enjoy your life. It’s a common mental health problem & it’s not a sign of weakness, so, if you feel depressed you’re not alone.
As well as low mood, depression symptoms can include feeling very tearful, irritable or angry, losing interest & motivation in things you previously enjoyed. Depression can leave people feeling like they are isolated but at the same time they want to hide away from others. It often manifests in symptoms such as fatigue, changes to your sleep & appetite, a difficulty to concentrate, even unexplained aches or pains.
There’s not a single cause of depression, a reason may be a life change, such as divorce, job loss, bereavement, or having a baby. A breakdown in relationships and arguments can trigger depression too. Even a lack of sunlight can be a factor, known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). People who put their own needs last and others first, giving too much to others can be particularly susceptible to depression. Although, sometimes there may not seem to be an obvious reason for experiencing depression. Psychodynamic Therapy can help explore how past experiences and unconscious processes may be influencing current depressive symptoms.
Without treatment, depression can affect people for years but the good news is there are a variety of treatments including counselling which work well with depression. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns that contribute to depressive symptoms. CBT equips individuals with practical skills to challenge unhelpful beliefs and develop healthier coping strategies. Understanding your emotions & thoughts can foster self-awareness, resilience & self-acceptance, helping to bring light back into your life.
Relationships
Therapy can provide a non-judgmental space to help identify issues in all types of relationships & help to find a way through those problems (Couples Counselling, Family Therapy, Friends & Peers). It can support you with small or major relationship issues, helping improve the way you relate to those around you and allow you to break free from old patterns of behaviour. But a relationship doesn’t have to be in crisis, therapy can be a way in which we can help prevent relationship issues from growing.
Therapy can help us gain self-awareness which is key in being able to recognise when our buttons are being pressed, and finding ways to manage our activated emotions. When we are aware of how we are triggered you can understand what is happening to you, rather than assuming someone else is out to get you. When we feel agitated or unsettled, it’s good to question if this is really about what’s happening now or if a past memory has been triggered. The situation or person we are with may trigger memories, but may not be responsible for the feelings we are experiencing. Early traumatic memories can be experienced like emotions, resulting in the body being flooded with a feeling we attribute to the people or situation we are with, when it reality it belongs in the past. When we realise this, we can find ways to help one another rather than arguing.
If people expect conversations to turn to arguments, they don’t feel safe from the start, and are already defensive before they begin to talk. As a result, some people in relationships end up not talking at all, or repeating the same rows over and over again. Effective communication (verbal & written such as text and email) is key in all our relationships to connect & understand each other and their different points of view, therapy can facilitate this.
Abuse
Abuse involves the actions of a person that intentionally causes another harm or distress, and it can often be repeated regularly. People can attend therapy without the intention of discussing historical abuse or the abusive situation they may find themselves in. It can take time & trust for them to feel safe, unjudged & comfortable with their therapist to talk about it. Abuse can be in a variety of forms, as shown below:
Psychological Abuse
Psychological abuse involves a pattern of behaviour over a period that makes you feel bad about yourself. An example of this could be 'Gaslighting'. Gaslighting is a form of psychological manipulation where a person makes someone else question their memory, or reality, often to gain control or power over them. It typically involves denial, lying, or distorting facts, leaving the victim confused, doubting themselves, and feeling dependent on the manipulator. Psychological abuse can also be called mental abuse or emotional abuse.
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse is when someone deliberately hurts another person. It involves a wide range of physical violence such as hitting, kicking, spitting, biting, scratching, hair pulling, throwing things and burning someone else.
Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse describes any type of unwanted sexual activity . It can happen in person or online (with photography & sexting), at home or at school, and can be with someone you know, a stranger, or even a family member or partner. Perpetrators often use force, make threats or take advantage of victims not able to give consent. Some people blame themselves, have been manipulated to trust the abuser or feel they will be punished for reporting abuse, and so often do not report it.
There can be an initial period where the victim is groomed, with the perpetrator being kind, attentive, buying things for the victim, and gradually building trust. Often the victim can become isolated from their family & friends, enabling the perpetrator to become indispensable, gaining them further control over the victim. When the abuse begins there may be threats to the victim’s safety to prevent them from telling others of the abuse. Victims will be undermined and told they won’t be believed, they may even believe they are to blame, leading to shame & making it even more difficult for them to seek help.
The memories of sexual abuse can appear in flashbacks, nightmares and intrusive thoughts, with the victim feeling they are repeatedly reliving the trauma. Sufferers of sexual abuse can often use poor coping strategies to manage their pain, including: self-harm, drugs, alcohol & food. Victims can also experience dissociation, which allows survivors to disconnect from their trauma so they don't have to deal with their memoires. Childhood Sexual Abuse may not always be addressed until issues emerge in adulthood. Victims can find it difficult to talk about their abuse, feeling they may be judged. Therapy can provide survivors with a safe space to be heard without judgement. Some may never speak of their abuse but instead work on coping strategies, rebuilding their self.
Domestic Abuse
Domestic abuse can include physical, emotional and sexual abuse in a couple or between family members. It includes between siblings, parent with child or child with parent.
Financial Abuse
Financial limits or controls the victim's ability to use their own money and financial resources. The abuser could be the breadwinner and withhold their money from the victim, or be putting debt into the victim's name.
Trauma & Post-Traumatic Stress - PTSD
Experiencing symptoms connected to traumatic events is common and can be profoundly debilitating. Trauma stems from stressful experiences, whether single incidents like accidents, natural disasters, or violent attacks, or prolonged violence or abuse which can then crush your sense of security, making you feel helpless and vulnerable.
For some, trauma leads to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), where your natural recovery is delayed, resulting in intrusive thoughts, hyper-arousal and avoidance of traumatic triggers. What happened years ago may still feel like it’s happening today, and can be accompanied by sudden feelings of intense fear or anxiety. Counselling provides guidance through the healing process, helping individuals manage symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, and detachment, while equipping them with skills to regain control and live more freely. Overcoming trauma is brave & therapy can provide the support & guidance you need to help you heal.
Loss & Grief
Understanding Bereavement
Bereavement describes the sense of loss and grief we experience after the death of a person or animal we care about. It's normal to feel a range of emotions, including anger, sadness, loneliness, guilt, and anxiety during this time. These emotions vary greatly between individuals, and there is no right or wrong way to feel. Bereavement can leave people feeling confused, afraid, dislocated from their usual sense of self and overwhelmed by their emotions. It’s important to give yourself time to grieve and remember that it's a unique experience for each of us. There is no 'one size fits all' way of coping with bereavement, and what works will depend on each individual. Part of learning how to deal with bereavement is adjusting to living in a world without your loved one.
The Five Stages of Grief
Kübler-Ross suggests there are 5 stages of grief that fit to most people's experience of loss.
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Denial : After a bereavement, emotions can be overwhelming. Denial can be a defence mechanism to help cope while struggling to process events.
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Anger: It's natural to feel angry after being bereaved. Anger allows us to release emotions about our loss, whether directed at ourselves, the deceased, or the circumstances.
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Bargaining: You may negotiate with yourself, fate, or a higher power to undo or change the loss, wanting to go back and prevent it.
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Depression: As we process our grief, strong, painful feelings of sadness, loss, and yearning can emerge. These emotions can last a short time or years, and may come and go.
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Acceptance: Emotions begin to stabilize as we learn to live with the loss. While sadness and regret may remain, we can start to accept our new reality and find enjoyment again.
Be kind to yourself and allow the experiences of loss to happen naturally. The first task of bereavement counselling is to normalize what people are feeling, and support them in adapting to their new reality. Memories that were once painful can become cherished. Allow yourself time and space to feel your emotions. Grief doesn’t progress in a linear way and can be messy and uncomfortable. It is a deeply personal journey, and seeking support through therapy can help you navigate through this difficult period of your life.
Beyond Death: The Many Forms of Loss
Loss isn't limited to the passing of a loved one, it also encompasses a wide range of life changes. Loss could include the loss of a relationship, friendship, job, property, or health. Such losses can leave you grappling with uncertainty & change. It's normal to feel a mix of emotions such as anger, shock, guilt, and grief during this time. Loss can make you feel fragile, as if your world has been completely uprooted, leaving you questioning yourself. The feelings of uncertainty and lack of control can influence your thoughts, emotions, and behaviour; sometimes causing difficulties in the functioning of daily life. Stress levels may increase in loss and some may even experience episodes of panic. This sense of life spiralling out of control can lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as excessive drinking, which can create further issues.
Addiction
The Myth of 'The Stereotypical Addict'. There’s no single way an individual with addiction looks or behaves. Addiction often remains hidden, and those affected can still be successful in other areas of life. Addiction can come in many forms, leaving you feeling exhausted & isolated. You can be addicted to substances (drugs, alcohol or nicotine) or behaviours (gambling, theft, sex, shopping, or pornography). Addiction can infiltrate every aspect of life, your health, relationships, work, and social connections. The consequences of substance abuse may include: neglecting responsibilities at work or home; encounters with law enforcement or emergency services due to excessive consumption; or risky behaviours like driving while intoxicated.
How Addiction Counselling Helps
Addiction may stem from trauma, life changes, or as a self-soothing mechanism that turns harmful over time. Substances like drugs or alcohol can chemically influence feelings, while behaviours such as gambling can stimulate brain chemistry, creating dependency. Therapy helps address the roots of addiction, empowering individuals to overcome destructive habits. By providing a non-judgmental space to discuss their challenges, therapy enables addicts to reflect on their past, understand their present, and chart a course for a healthier future. It can also address issues such as the denial of an addiction, or society's stigma of an addict. Counselling can be a transformative journey, equipping individuals with the tools and strategies to move forward and rebuild their lives free from addiction.
It should be noted that therapy can also be very beneficial for those who live with, or have a loved one who has an addiction, such as the partners, parents or children of an addict. Therapy can help these people cope with life influenced by addiction, and learn how the addiction of others has effected their own life and mental health.
Stress & Burnout
Stress can be due to one big event, or lots of little issues building up. Stress may be a response to the pressure we feel when we have too much work to do, or it could be related to worries about responsibilities, relationships or a change in circumstances, like the uncertainty of moving house. While stress isn’t always negative (it can serve as motivation), it becomes harmful when it persists for too long. Prolonged stress can take a toll on both our mental and physical health. Our bodies release cortisol when we are stressed, which can affect us physically, mentally, emotionally and change our behaviour. Chronic stress can result in mood swings, irritability, or feelings of being overwhelmed.
When stress persists it can heighten feelings of worry, fear, and sadness, potentially contributing to anxiety disorders or depression. It may impair concentration, memory, and decision-making abilities, making daily tasks more challenging. Difficulty falling or staying asleep is common, exacerbating mental health issues and leaving individuals feeling exhausted. Long-term stress can lead to emotional exhaustion, reduced motivation, and feelings of detachment from work or personal life; known as 'Burnout'. If unaddressed, chronic stress can increase the risk of developing more severe mental health conditions, and may contribute to poor coping mechanisms such as substance abuse or social withdrawal.
The key to managing stress is taking small, practical steps. Talk to someone you trust, whether it be a GP or counsellor, to express what you’re going through. Counselling helps by building healthier coping strategies, reducing stress, and regaining a sense of control over your life. Regular exercise like running, swimming, or even walking can lower cortisol levels and release endorphins, boosting your mood. Relaxation techniques such as meditation, yoga, tai chi & breathing exercises help calm the mind and body. By focusing on the present moment, mindfulness can reduce worries about the past or future, aiding in clearer thinking and relaxation.
Self Harm & Suicidal Ideation
Self Harm
Self-harm involves intentionally causing harm to oneself, it is often triggered by overwhelming emotions, & has been adopted as a coping mechanism. Psychotherapy can help provide healthier alternatives to self harm, and a safe space to explore these feelings. If you feel at serious risk it’s vital to seek urgent medical care. People may self-harm in various ways, ranging from minor to high-risk actions. While cutting, scratching, or burning are common forms, self-harm can also include unhealthy behaviours like risk-taking, destructive relationships, or substance abuse. It is crucial to understand self-harm in a broader context of the individual's life.
Everyone’s reasons differ, but self-harm often stems from struggles such as difficulties at home, school, or work, feelings of sadness or guilt, anxiety, depression, or trauma. Self-harm can provide a form of physical relief for some people, despite it often looking frightening to those who care for those who self harm. It can often be a way to relieve internalised feelings, anger, or communicate emotional pain or distress when it is hard to communicate this in other ways. Discussing self harm can be challenging, and the act may often be observed by those close to the self harmer rather than them disclosing it themselves.
If you do discover someone is self harming remember
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Stay calm: While panic is natural, it often worsens the situation.
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Listen: Providing space for them to talk to you can be hugely supportive.
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Avoid judgment: Your understanding & patience can help reduce the potential feelings of shame they have about their self-harm.
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Seek help: either with a GP or Psychotherapist.
Therapy can find healthier ways of coping. It allows a safe space to explore intense thoughts & feelings, providing relief from distress & helping to understand the root cause of these emotions. There are often complex feelings to be unravelled when understanding self harming behaviour. Therapy can also guide loved ones to provide better support. If you or someone you know is affected by self-harm, compassionate support is available.
Suicidal Ideation
Experiencing suicidal thoughts can be frightening and at points exhausting. Talking to a counsellor can enable you to explore the underlying feelings and experiences that are leading to these thoughts. Suicidal ‘ideation’, thoughts about intentionally ending one’s life range widely. Some thoughts may be abstract, while others involve vivid imagery of how one might act. These feelings often stem from believing life is too hard, or thinking others might be better off without you. Suicidal feelings evoke a broad spectrum of emotions, including sadness, fear, confusion, and even moments of calm or detachment. These overwhelming emotions can lead to changes in sleep, appetite, and self esteem, or withdrawal from loved ones.
Suicidal thoughts can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, or background, & are triggered by many different issues but include common factors such as: challenges with finance, housing, or relationships; traumatic experiences such as bullying, abuse, or loss; mental or physical health struggles including chronic pain; & stressful life events like the menopause, pregnancy, parenthood or medication side effects.
Role of Therapy
Therapy offers a confidential space to process and understand suicidal feelings. It enables us to discuss thoughts that may be attached to feelings of shame; or thoughts that we are unable to tell to those that care for us, for fear of frightening or burdening them. Therapy helps identify strategies to manage these thoughts and work towards minimizing their impact. developing healthier coping mechanisms.
If you feel at immediate risk:
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Pause for five minutes to assess your feelings, if possible.
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Reach out to crisis hotlines, emergency services, or trusted individuals.
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Remove access to anything that could cause harm.
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Distraction techniques can help, such as breathing exercises, connecting with nature, or focusing on creative activities.
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Long-term support, like counselling, therapy, & creating a 'safety plan', is crucial for persistent thoughts.
Supporting someone experiencing suicidal thoughts
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Stay calm and listen without judgment. Many struggle to express their feelings, so be patient.
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Acknowledge your uncertainty if you’re unsure what to say, and focus on empathy.
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Ask direct, open questions, like “Are you experiencing thoughts of suicide?”
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In critical cases, call emergency services or take the individual to A&E. Remember to take care of your own emotional well-being while supporting others.
If you’re struggling or supporting someone in crisis, there are resources and professionals available to help. You don’t have to face this alone.
If you feel you are in immediate danger from
suicidal thoughts, please seek urgent medical care.
Seeking professional help is a critical step toward healing.
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders can take many forms, often rooted in a need for a complete control or a lack of control around food, both can have a serious impact on mental and physical health. An eating disorder is characterized by an unhealthy relationship with food that begins to dominate your life. It may involve eating too much or too little, becoming overly focused on body weight and image, or exercising excessively. These disorders are serious and can even become life-threatening if left untreated. Seeking professional support early on is crucial for recovery. Counselling can help explore your habits around food, understanding what drives these habits, the emotional factors behind them, & will help develop healthier coping strategies.
Signs of an eating disorder vary from person to person but can include behaviours such as: avoiding meals; binge-eating; inducing vomiting ‘purging’; or engaging in extreme exercise. Individuals might avoid social situations involving food, or develop specific rituals around eating, such as cutting food into very small pieces. Physical symptoms can range from noticeable changes in weight to digestive issues, sleep disturbances, or irregular menstrual cycles in women and girls. In more severe cases, symptoms like dizziness, brittle nails, and hair loss may also occur. However these symptoms and behaviours are often hidden from those who know an individual with an eating disorder, as sufferers may eat in private, secretly store food and wear oversized clothes to hide a loss of weight.
Eating disorders can be categorized into three main types.
Anorexia Nervosa involves extreme anxiety about weight gain, leading to restrictive eating and over-exercising. Despite being underweight, individuals with anorexia may perceive themselves as overweight.
Bulimia Nervosa is characterized by cycles of binge-eating followed by efforts to prevent weight gain, such as vomiting or using laxatives, often accompanied by feelings of shame or guilt.
Binge Eating Disorder characterized by consuming excessive amounts of food, often in secret, leading to distress or embarrassment, and a sense of loss of control.
Eating disorders can stem from a variety of areas. Environmental factors include: a pressure to conform to society's beauty ideals, which is often emphasised by social media or peer pressure; stress related to school, work, or relationships. Psychological factors can include emotional distress or past trauma. For some individuals, disordered eating becomes a way to cope with painful emotions or a way to assert control over their lives. Biological factors can involve a genetic predisposition or a family history of eating disorders.
Counselling's pivotal role in Eating Disorders.
Counselling provides a safe space to discuss feelings and behaviours, identify emotional triggers, and work on changing unhealthy thought patterns. This support helps individuals regain control over their eating habits, and rebuild a healthier relationship with food. Therapy can empower individuals to take charge of their eating disorder, rather than allowing it to control them. Taking that initial step to ask for support and seeking therapy can be difficult, but it's vital in the journey toward recovery.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - OCD
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a condition that is both anxiety driven and anxiety inducing, often trapping individuals in a cycle of obsessions and compulsions. It can be a very debilitating condition that has a profound impact on daily life. OCD commonly affects young adults but may develop as early as puberty, or following significant life events such as pregnancy or bereavement. Counselling can help individuals find relief from OCD's often life consuming thoughts and emotions, exploring what fuels these behaviours.
Obsessions typically involve intrusive and unwanted thoughts or images that cause distress, while Compulsions are repetitive actions undertaken to alleviate these thoughts. For many people, occasional intrusive thoughts, such as worrying about whether a door has been left unlocked, are normal. However, when these obsessions and compulsions become pervasive and dominate daily life, they may evolve into a mental health issue. OCD particularly affects people who are perfectionists, overly anxious, or have a heightened sense of responsibility.
Common obsessive thoughts may involve: fears of harming others or oneself; intrusive images related to violence, sex, relationships, or religion; fears of contamination from dirt or germs; or anxieties about disorderliness or lack of symmetry. The corresponding compulsions serve as attempts to counter these thoughts and can include: frequent handwashing; repeated checking of locks; arranging items methodically; or verbal repetition. In some cases, these actions must be performed a certain number of times to bring temporary relief, which can lead to significant disruptions in one’s personal, professional, & family life. People can often recognise the impact OCD has on their lives, but struggle to understand why they engage in compulsive behaviour. Counselling can help uncover the underlying reasons for the compulsions.
Counselling for OCD often involves Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). CBT examines the connection between OCD’s thoughts & behaviours, helping to provide appropriate coping mechanisms, to help alleviate the symptoms. Sufferers of OCD learn alternative ways to manage their anxiety without resorting to compulsive behaviours. CBT works by exploring the underlying thought process, deconstructing these thoughts, evaluating their validity, and rationalising them. Therapy can peel away the layers of obsessions and compulsions, allowing people with OCD to take control of their routines, rather than being controlled by them.
Sexuality & Sexual Identity
Sexual identity is a significant aspect of self-discovery and personal understanding. For some, it may involve determining whether they feel more aligned with same-sex or opposite-sex relationships; while for others it might include embracing the fluidity and evolving nature of their experiences. These feelings can be deeply personal, and there is no singular path to understanding one's sexual identity. Coming to terms with our sexuality can result in anxiety & emotional turmoil. You may have known from a young age that you're lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender, or you might feel confused, taking longer to understand your sexuality. You may feel sure about your sexual identity or it may be more fluid and changeable.
Therapy can provide a supportive and non-judgmental space to explore these aspects of your identity. It enables you to make a decision on your sexuality or help you to cope with one you've already made. You can gain clarity, process emotions, and navigate any questions or uncertainties you may have about your preferences and relationships. Counselling can foster greater self-awareness and help you feel more at ease with your authentic self.
Self Esteem & Personal Development
Self esteem is how we value ourselves. You may feel positive and confident in your own abilities and lives, or negative and critical. It can influence many aspects of life, including work and relationships with family and friends. Therapy can help people develop knowledge, skills and experience to improve their self esteem and explore how to build their confidence. However, sometimes people also go to see a therapist to seek support for one problem, and it emerges during therapy that the underlying issue is their low self esteem, which can then be worked upon.
Low Self Esteem
Low self esteem is when we place little value on ourselves. You may have developed a negative view of life, which can make it seem hopeless or pointless; or you may spend a lot of time comparing yourselves to others. These comparisons can make you feel worthless & that others are much better than yourself. It can make you feel that you're constantly under-achieving, which affects your confidence, and suggests that you need to push harder, to be better, to make up for feeling inadequate. It can also leave us feeling that people are taking advantage of ourselves.
The roots of low self esteem are diverse, including: life experiences; your childhood; family relationships; and your interactions with others. Negative influences from specific people, whether it be friends, relatives, or partners can significantly impact low self esteem. Additionally, social media pressure through other people's profiles, lives, and interactions (such as 'likes') often reinforce negative beliefs about our self-worth. These influences can shape how we view ourselves and our place in the world. This is particularly prevalent with young people and teenagers.
Raising Self Esteem through Counselling begins with recognising and challenging the negative messages we internalise. Identifying these harmful thoughts is key to addressing their impact on how they make us feel. Small changes, such as acknowledging the falseness of these messages and focusing on the positive things about our lives can create meaningful shifts. It is important to recognise if these messages stem from particular relationships or environments. Sometimes there are particular people who make us feel inadequate for instance a friend, relative or partner. We can take on their negative beliefs and they affect how we feel about ourselves and our self-worth.
Many people are unaware of the negative impact of these internalised thoughts, or are unable to recognise the necessary adjustments on their own. The changes don’t have to be massive steps, but they can make a big difference to self-esteem. Therapy provides guidance, support, and strategies to help individuals recognise the value of these steps, and helps to implement them in a meaningful way, ultimately fostering Personal Development and Self Empowerment.
Anger Management
Struggling with anger can deeply affect many aspects of life. Relationships may become strained, communication may break down, and your professional life could feel overwhelming. Counselling provides a safe space to look at the roots of anger, and develop techniques to manage emotions constructively. It’s not about suppressing anger but rather understanding it, being able to express it in a healthy manner, and transforming it into a force for positive change in your life.
Anger, at its core, is a natural and healthy emotion which we all experience. Anger can signal unfair treatment, violation of your boundaries, or your unaddressed needs. However, when anger becomes a default emotion and is excessive, constant, or in contrast completely suppressed, it begins to harm. It clouds judgment and may lead to impulsive or destructive behaviour, making you aggressive and or violent towards others or yourself. Anger can also result in you distancing yourself from others. Therapy looks at why anger arises and helps to dismantle the patterns that lead to anger.
Counselling helps us to identify our anger triggers and recognize the impact our anger has upon ourselves and others; whether it stems from feeling unheard, stress overload, or unresolved personal trauma. You may become angry if you feel threatened or attacked, if you feel powerless, or if someone is disrespectful towards you. Your reactions may depend upon what is currently happening in your life. If you feel under a lot of stress you may find it harder to control your anger. In therapy you can reflect on past and present experiences that fuel these intense feelings.
People may internalise their anger, which can result in a lot of stress to both your mental health and your body. Internalising anger can lead to physical health issues or even self-harm. It may also increase the likelihood of destructive behaviour such as taking drugs, drinking to excess or taking other dangerous risks. In therapy techniques can be explored to help you manage moments of emotional intensity. Channelling anger’s energy either creatively or physically, such as through art, writing, or sports, becomes a productive outlet rather than a destructive force. It’s much better to redirect anger, rather than let it fester or get out of control.
Counselling for anger management centres around safety, understanding, and growth. It is non-judgmental, and helps you uncover not just the nature of your anger but also its deeper emotional roots. Roots which may be linked to a number of emotions such as sadness, guilt, or fear. Anger management therapy empowers you to reframe and redirect emotions, fostering healthy relationships with yourself and others. With time, the skills and awareness gained in counselling can lead to sustainable changes, giving you greater clarity, inner peace, and the tools to navigate life's challenges with resilience.
Women's Related Issues
Counselling can offer significant benefits for women as they navigate the different stages of life, particularly when facing the challenges associated with their reproductive health. Psychotherapy can provide a safe space to process the frustration, pain, and emotional toll concerns such as: painful periods; hormonal shifts; endometriosis; and pregnancy can take. Fertility issues, such as difficulties conceiving, undergoing fertility treatment, or dealing with conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can be emotionally taxing. The experience of pregnancy, whether planned or unplanned, can be confusing and stressful, and may cause mixed feelings. For example, you may have concerns about how it could change your relationships with your partner or family. Counselling in these situations equips women with strategies to manage anxiety, cope with the uncertainty, and navigate feelings of inadequacy or self-blame.
For women facing pregnancy, therapy can help them adapt to their life changes, hormonal shifts, and look at their anxieties related to childbirth and parenthood. Therapy can help them understand their feelings towards their pregnancy, or explore difficult emotions following a miscarriage, stillbirth or termination. It offers a non-judgmental environment to grieve, heal, and rebuild emotional resilience, which can be particularly important when experiencing the guilt that can accompany these events. Counselling can help women explore their feelings and challenge unhelpful beliefs, while feeling seen and being heard.
Approaching menopause women can experience many physical and emotional symptoms, like mood swings, anxiety, and changes in identity, which can feel overwhelming. Therapy can be instrumental in helping process these changes, redefining a sense of self and enables women to embrace this new phase of their life. Counselling can also be beneficial in addressing relationship & social changes that might emerge during this time, such as new family dynamics as children leave home or intimacy shifts. By exploring coping mechanisms and enhancing self-compassion, counselling empowers women to navigate menopause with confidence and self-awareness.
Overall, counselling provides a tailored approach to emotional care that considers the unique hormonal, physical, and social factors women face throughout their lives. Therapy can be transformative, creating a foundation of mental well-being that enables women to thrive at every stage of their lives.