Why Curiosity, Humility and a Dash of Humour Matter in Therapy One of the most liberating things I’ve learnt as a therapist is this: the more I know, the more I realise how much I don’t. And rather than finding that terrifying (as I might have in my younger, ‘I’ve-read-one-book-so-I-know-everything’ days), I actually quite enjoy it. Because in therapy – as in life – certainty is often overrated. Let’s be honest: people are gloriously complex. There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to the human mind. I work with real people, not flatpack furniture. Which means flexibility isn’t just helpful – it’s essential. If one technique doesn’t fit, I don’t force it. I adapt. Therapy Isn’t a Manual – It’s a Conversation Over the years, I’ve trained in all sorts – clinical hypnotherapy, CBT-based approaches, NLP, solution-focused techniques – and every time I think, “Yes! This is the golden ticket!” … I’m promptly reminded that what works beautifully for one client might do absolutely nothing fo

How the Words We Use Can Make It Better — or Worse “My anxiety.” Two little words. So simple. So… sticky. I hear this a lot in my therapy room. My anxiety. It sounds harmless enough, but think about what you’re really telling your subconscious mind every time you use this phrase. You’re claiming ownership. You’re making it part of your identity. Like a favourite jumper or your pet dog. “This is mine. I have it. I keep it.” Now, would you do that with a headache? A cold? Probably not. You’d say, “I’ve got a headache today” not “my headache” in a tone that suggests it’s a beloved family heirloom. The Power of Language Our subconscious mind listens carefully to the language we use, even when we’re not consciously paying attention. It soaks up the words we repeat and builds beliefs around them. If you say “my anxiety” often enough, your subconscious starts filing that away as fact: 👉 Anxiety is part of who I am. 👉 It belongs to me. 👉 I will always have it. That’s not exactly helpful if

Bad days happen. Maybe you spilled coffee on your shirt, missed a deadline, or just woke up in a mood. Whatever the cause, the day doesn’t have to stay bad. Psychology offers real, practical tools to help flip the script. Here are five strategies that don’t involve pretending everything’s fine—but actually make it better. 1. Name It to Tame It You’re not “just off.” You’re frustrated. Or overwhelmed. Or sad. Whatever it is, label it. Psychologist Dr. Dan Siegel coined the phrase “name it to tame it,” and he was on to something. Studies show that identifying what you’re feeling activates the prefrontal cortex and calms the amygdala—the brain’s emotional alarm system. Try this: Say out loud, “I feel angry because…” or “I’m anxious about…” It sounds simple, but it works. Think of it like turning the lights on in a messy room—now you know where to step. 2. Interrupt the Spiral Bad days often come with mental reruns of everything going wrong. This is called rumination, and it’s the fast tra

Let’s get one thing straight: nobody chooses anxiety. It’s not like anyone wakes up and thinks, “You know what would really spice up my Tuesday? A nice bout of chest-tightening dread and some overthinking until 3am.” Yet, despite our best efforts, anxiety can cling on tighter than a toddler to your leg on nursery drop-off day. So, if you’ve been doing all the things and still feel like your brain is hosting its own internal episode of Doomwatch, it might be down to a few common habits that keep anxiety ticking over like a badly behaved boiler. Here are five mistakes that are surprisingly common—and what to do instead. 1. Trying to “think your way out of it” If anxiety were logical, we’d all be cured by lunchtime. But it’s not. You can’t reason with a part of your brain that’s gone full gremlin. Anxiety comes from the emotional, reactive part of your mind—not the calm, rational, bit. The fix: Instead of fighting thoughts with more thoughts, learn to feel your way out of it. This is wher

Here are the most common reasons 1. Can’t switch off the mind-chatter You know the drill – you’re exhausted, but your brain has other ideas. An endless loop of worries, to-do lists, and worst-case scenarios. 2. Physical symptoms are taking over Chest tightness, nausea, shakiness, headaches, or that feeling like you’ve just had six espressos on an empty stomach – but all you’ve done is check your emails. 3. Social events feel like a performance review Whether it’s work meetings, parties, or even small talk at the school gates, anxiety can make socialising feel like you’re walking a tightrope in clown shoes. 4. Panic attacks Shortness of breath, racing heart, dizzy spells, and that terrifying “something bad is going to happen” feeling. Panic attacks can be so intense that people think they’re having a heart attack. 5. Life just feels too much Big changes (job loss, breakups, grief), long-term stress, or just the relentless juggle of modern life – any of these can push anxiety into overdr