Counselling - Psychotherapy - Coaching

What It Really Costs to Run a Private Therapy Practice in the UK

June arrives again, and every year someone asks whether we still need Pride. In 2026, in a political climate where trans rights are being rolled back across multiple jurisdictions, where the language of "protection" is being mobilised against the very people it claims to serve, and where LGBTQ+ young people continue to present in therapy with disproportionately high levels of distress - the answer is yes. Unambiguously.

Deciding to seek therapy is a significant step - it certainly was for me all those years ago. For many people, it can take months, sometimes years, of quiet consideration before they finally reach out. When that moment arrives, the question of where to go and who to see can feel just as daunting as the decision itself.

The compass of shame is a useful piece of self-knowledge, but it can leave you with a question. Once you've noticed your default move, what do you do instead?

The American psychiatrist Donald Nathanson noticed that, although shame triggers countless behaviours, almost all of them fall into one of four categories. He called this map of reactions the Compass of Shame.

We’re all familiar with the idea of a balanced diet — a plate filled with the right mix of nutrients to keep our bodies running well. But what about our minds? Psychiatrist and author Dr. Dan Siegel, along with health expert David Rock, developed a concept called the Healthy Mind Platter: seven essential daily mental activities that together support a healthy, well-functioning brain.

A summary of Karpman's drama triangle and the remedies for stepping off it

When I was introduced to the concept of "Rackets" in my Transactional Analysis psychotherapy training, I didn't get it and switched off....

This is a question I get asked a lot and I thought a blog post may help. I should add a health warning - this is my opinion, and I am...

The more I practice as a psychotherapist, the more I have come to the belief that good sleep is the absolute foundation of wellbeing. The...

As a Registered Member of the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP), I am deeply disturbed by their withdrawal from the...

Self care has become something of a buzzword in the modern world. We see all sorts of suggestions out there - very often they are...

Practising gratitude is a small act which can have significant impacts on mental health and overall well-being. Gratitude involves...

It's been 8 long months since I last wrote a blog article. That sounds like a confession right? It also sounds like some massive...

“It’s OK to not be OK” - it’s got to be one of the most over used cliches of our time. I’ve almost certainly used it myself with clients,...

We all talk about mental health, and this undoubtedly covers a spectrum of states of wellness. Some people talk about mental disorder -...

For the first time in a while, I have noticed that I am suffering from a little bit more Anxiety than normal. I’ve been wondering what...

It really has been far too long since my last blog article. So it's time to get my act together and do something about it! This is the...

As children, our parents load us all up with commands about what to do or what not to do.... "Work hard" "Don't be naughty" "It's...

Many of us know something about the disciplines of counselling, psychotherapy and coaching, but perhaps not all of us understand which...