Recently, a client asked me a question that really stayed with me: “Have you heard of the Glass Child” I’ll be honest, while I immediately recognised the experience they were describing, I hadn’t actually come across the term itself before. It’s one of those moments where you realise that something you’ve seen play out many times in people’s lives has, in fact, been quietly named and shared by others too. So I wanted to write a little about it here, both for that client, and

Every now and then, a book comes into your life that doesn’t just sit on a shelf, it stays with you. It quietly weaves its way into your thinking, your conversations, and even the way you support others. For me, that book is The Gift  by Dr Edith Eger. I have to admit; this wasn’t a book I found on my own. It was recommended to me, and I’m so grateful it was. Because, honestly, it’s changed my life in ways I didn’t expect at the time. Not in one big dramatic moment, but in lo

When anxiety is more in the background (not at peak intensity), these can help build nervous system resilience over time. Gentle Nervous System Care Regular meals and hydration Consistent sleep routine (even if imperfect) Reducing caffeine if anxiety is very high Predictable daily rhythms where possible Boring? Maybe, Powerful for the nervous system? Very. Build a “Calm Kit” Having items ready can help when you’re thinking brain goes offline. Ideas: Something cold (cool pack)

There’s a moment that happens more often in therapy than you might expect. Someone is describing something objectively quite painful, heartbreak, anxiety, childhood wounds, existential dread, and then, right at the end, they add a little laugh. A shrug. A “but yeah, it’s fine,” delivered with a half-smile.   And there it is: humour , slipping quietly into the room like it pays rent.   Humour in therapy is fascinating because it does so many jobs at once. It softens the edge

Why It’s Difficult, and Why It Can Be an Important Part of Healing Most of us spend a lot of time trying to avoid discomfort. That’s a very natural human response. If something feels unpleasant, painful, or overwhelming, our instinct is often to move away from it as quickly as possible. We might distract ourselves, stay busy, scroll through our phones, push feelings aside, or try to “think our way out” of what we’re feeling. In the short term, these strategies can make sense.

When people hear the word abuse , many imagine visible physical violence. That image is powerful, but the reality is that abuse often looks very different from what people expect. Abuse can be subtle. It can be confusing. It can develop slowly over time. Sometimes it becomes part of everyday life before someone realises something isn’t right. I want to begin by saying something very clearly: if you are questioning whether what you have experienced was abuse, that question its

Have you ever felt completely drained from trying to manage other people, what they think, how they behave, how they respond to you? I definitely have. And if I’m honest, I didn’t realise just how much energy I was giving away until I came across the “Let Them / Let Me”  mindset, popularised by Mel Robbins. Reading her work genuinely shifted something for me, not in a dramatic, overnight way, but in a quieter, more lasting sense. It gave me language for something I think many

Understanding How It Works, Anxiety Responses, and Trauma Have you ever had your heart start racing for no obvious reason? Or felt suddenly frozen in a conversation, unable to find the words you normally would? Maybe you’ve tried to relax but your body didn’t seem to get the memo. If so, you’re not alone  and there’s a good chance your nervous system  is involved. The nervous system is responsible for how we react to stress, danger, connection, and safety. When it’s working s

If you’ve ever lain awake replaying something you said in 2016… welcome. You’re in very human company. Many of the people I work with, especially those navigating trauma , PTSD , anxiety , self-harm , or painful relationship patterns,  arrive with an inner critic that is exceptionally well trained. Not just mildly grumpy. We’re talking full time, Olympic level harsh. And here’s the gentle truth: If being hard on yourself actually worked, most of us would be thriving by now.

Cancer is one of those words that can change the atmosphere in a room instantly. Sometimes it arrives suddenly through a diagnosis. Sometimes it begins with tests, waiting lists, or that strange in between time where you know something is being investigated but no one quite has the full picture yet. For many people, life can start to revolve around appointments, treatment plans, and conversations with medical teams. There can be scans, blood tests, consultations, and long str

Have you ever found yourself thinking, “Part of me wants to go out… but another part of me wants to stay home in pyjamas and ignore everyone forever” ? Or perhaps: “I know I should handle this calmly… so why do I suddenly feel like I’m 12 again?” If so, you’re not alone, and more importantly, you’re not confusing or “all over the place.” You’re human. In counselling, we often talk about “parts” of ourselves. Not in a dramatic, movie style way, but in a very normal, everyday s

If you’re currently taking medication for anxiety, depression, or another mental health difficulty while also considering counselling, you’re not unusual at all. In fact, many people who come to therapy are already navigating prescriptions alongside everything else life throws at them. And with that often comes a whole bundle of questions, worries, and sometimes a bit of quiet frustration. You might be wondering: “If I’m on medication, why do I still feel like this?” “Is ther

Let’s talk about boundaries. Not the kind your neighbour builds three inches too far into your garden (although… relatable). I’m talking about personal boundaries, those invisible lines that help us feel safe, respected, and emotionally okay in everyday life. If you’re thinking, “Boundaries sound a bit harsh,” you’re not alone. Many people imagine boundaries as walls, rejection, or saying “no” all the time. But actually, healthy boundaries are less about shutting people out

If you’ve ever been told you’re “too sensitive,” “too emotional,” or that you “take things too personally,” you are in very good company. Many of the clients I meet in the therapy room arrive carrying a quiet shame about how deeply they feel and notice the world. They’ve often spent years trying to toughen up, tone it down, or become less affected by things that seem to roll off other people with ease. But what if your sensitivity isn’t the problem? What if, in many ways, it’

Anger can be one of the most uncomfortable emotions to bring into therapy. Many people arrive in therapy carrying anger that has never had a safe place to go. Others feel worried the moment they notice anger toward their therapist, themselves, or someone in their life. Sometimes clients quietly ask themselves: “Am I allowed to feel this here?” “What if my therapist thinks I’m too much?” “What if I say something wrong?” If anger feels difficult to talk about in therapy, you ar

Therapy is a relationship. And like any real relationship, there may be moments when something doesn’t quite feel right. Perhaps I said something that didn’t land in the way I intended. Maybe you left a session feeling unsettled or misunderstood. Or perhaps something stayed with you afterwards that felt uncomfortable or confusing. These moments can happen in therapy, and they are often referred to as ruptures . A rupture simply means that something in the connection between t

If you’ve ever found yourself apologising for things that aren’t your fault, saying "thank you" when someone does the bare minimum, or constantly scanning the room without knowing why, you are not strange, broken, or "too sensitive." You are human. And more importantly, your nervous system may be doing exactly what it learned to do to keep you safe. As a counsellor specialising in PTSD, trauma, anxiety, self‑esteem, and self‑harm recovery, I see these patterns every single we

Let me say something that might surprise you: Therapy isn’t just about techniques.It ’s not just worksheets.It ’s not clever insights or perfectly timed questions. The real work? The relationship. Without it, therapy is just two people sitting in a room talking about feelings and hoping for the best. With it? That’s where change actually happen. Why the Relationship Matters So Much Research has shown again and again that the quality of the therapeutic relationship is one of t

Let’s talk about something that many people experience in therapy… and almost nobody talks about out loud. Getting attached to your therapist. If you’ve ever found yourself: thinking about them between sessions really looking forward to seeing them feeling oddly emotional when sessions end worrying you’re “too dependent” or quietly Googling “is it normal to feel attached to my therapist???” at 2am …you are very, very not alone. And more importantly: You are not doing therapy

If you’ve found yourself standing in the kitchen thinking, Why am I here? , while also being mysteriously furious about the existence of Tupperware… welcome. You may be meeting menopause. And before we go any further, let me say this clearly, because many of the women I work with need to hear it: You are not losing your mind. You are not becoming “too sensitive.” And no, you are not just being dramatic. Menopause can have a profound emotional and psychological impact, especia