Empty Nest Syndrome: Who Am I?
I’ve always felt uncomfortable with the term ‘Empty Nest Syndrome’ or maybe I’m out of touch. Maybe it’s called something else now? Whatever the terminology it’s supposed to be a natural outcome that benefits everyone. I was recently interviewed on BBC Radio by Kaye Adams (presenter of Loose Women ITV) on the topic of ‘Mother […]
Stress and Alcohol Tendencies: Resolving Issues Within Ourselves
A lot of people enjoy the sway of a Friday night gathering or weekend few glasses of wine to decompress that allows them to relax and not think about the vagaries of the past working week schedule. That is contained and measured within reason. For some individuals societal pressures could be viewed as being frenetic […]
I Just Want to Make You Happy… But I’m Stressed Too”: People-Pleasing vs. Anxiety
It’s a feeling many couples identify with. You wish to do all for your partner, maintain peace, and make them feel loved. And yet, there’s also this tension lurking beneath. You’re exhausted, anxious, or stressed, and it’s becoming difficult to sustain. You find yourself wondering, “Why can’t I let go? Why does this weigh on […]
Parenting With Anxiety: Supporting Children While Managing Your Own Fears
Have you ever found yourself worrying about your child’s future, their friendships, or their safety, only to realise that your own fears are clouding the way you parent? It’s a common and challenging experience. You want to be a source of calm and security for your children, but you’re constantly battling an internal storm of […]
Repairing Trust After Betrayal: How Can Couples Heal & Move Forward Together?
Repairing Trust After Betrayal: How Can Couples Heal & Move Forward Together? Betrayal may be an earthquake-like experience, shattering the core of your relationship. It could be infidelity, money deceit, or an intimate emotional violation. The feeling of a broken promise can make you feel lost, wounded, and questioning everything about yourself, your relationship, and […]
Co-dependency vs Emotional Freedom
Not unlike most human beings, we seem to have to hit ‘rock bottom’ for us to finally realise that unhealthy, pervasive patterns in our lives have to stop. If it weren’t for the fact that we feel that we are flailing in the wind and the subsequent despairing that follows. We would have taken stock […]
Caught in Repeating Arguments? What That Pattern Might Be Trying to Tell You
Have you ever been stuck in the same argument with your partner, yet again? The subject may change: chores, children, finances, time spent together. But for some reason, the discussion takes a predictable turn, deadlocks in the same place, and leaves both of you fatigued, unheard, or disconnected. These endless arguments may feel maddening, yet […]
When Values Clash: Navigating Incompatible Beliefs and Goals in a Partnership
Have you ever experienced a profound disconnection from your partner, not because of a minor disagreement, but something deeper? It’s easy to argue about everyday decisions, but what happens when the differences are more fundamental – reaching down to core values, life ambitions, or parenting styles? These are not merely communication problems; they’re frequently deep […]
Struggling in Love? Couples Counselling in St. Albans Helps
All relationships face challenges over time. Miscommunication happens. Trust can waver. Life stressors pile up. Couples counselling can make a difference. I offer personalised sessions to help couples thrive.
Disappointment and the Psychology of Wellbeing in Relationships
The emotional foundation of disappointment is sadness and the depth to which we experience disappointment is the difference between our expectations and reality. My 23 years of counselling and psychotherapy practice has taught me that one of the over-arching themes of couple relationship breakdown is caused by disappointment. We have all heard the phrase “disappointment […]
