I have often wondered why there are so many approaches and new theories that emerge so regularly in the world of counselling and psychotherapy. By the latest estimates, there are over 500 different types of psychotherapy approaches, all seemingly offering the silver bullet that can prove the difference when in pursuit of uniqueness and excellence. One […]
My latest article on addressing relationship problems has been published on the Counselling Directory website. Setting healthy boundaries can potentially help to keep us safe when dealing with others, whether this in the romantic sphere, social setting, family environment or work space. But setting boundaries and enforcing them are often two very different challenges. To
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What’s this, a post about being a skilled ‘problem gambler’, surely a dichotomy of terms? However, there can be many misconceptions held by counsellors and therapists seeking to treat problem gamblers. One such misconception is to treat them all as mere ‘mug punters’, since in seeking to beat the house, they are seen to be
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I was quoted in an article that appeared in the Independent (attached, by clicking on the image) about grief, and specifically the death of a work colleague. This story followed the news that Stephen Colbert, the Late Show host on CBS in the USA, was mourning the loss during a show of his long-time colleague
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Have you been watching Netflix’s new game show adaptation of the hit Korean dystopian drama? Apparently it has been breaking all records in every Netflix region. I am usually someone who avoids such annoying publicity seeking self obsessed contestants on television screens but this one caught my attention. Yes, the irritating repeated exclaims of “oh
Is Squid Games: The Challenge immoral? Read More »
Now that we have passed Black Friday, we are increasingly being bombarded by shopping adverts about even more special shopping windows, including for Christmas. This period is when retailers make a sizable proportion of their yearly profits and there are numerous subconscious consumer decision-making processes that companies seek to exploit when we are shopping. In
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In this post you will learn more about how gambling addiction is defined, how and why it manifests and the most effective treatment models. Gambling addiction can also be called problem gambling, compulsive gambling or gambling disorder. What is problem gambling? Problem gamblers often refer to their zone of emotional comfort, where nothing else seems
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When we operate in autopilot mode we may be prone to responding to instinctive desires in order to gain pleasure and thus avoid any kind of emotional pain. This may be okay in the present moment if we need to stay safe and to avoid danger. However, when we opt for the psychologically comfortable and
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I am quoted in the attached article in Woman and Home about codependency: How to stop being codependent: 7 tips from psychotherapists to help you find independence again. “What do you want to do in life, with your plans, aims, and dreams?” asks Bell. “Codependent people often become overly attentive to the needs of others, and
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Recent changes to accreditation standards in some parts of the world now include the need for trainee therapists to understand the neurobiological basis of behaviour. This will be challenging for some who might have leaned towards a learning bias centred on right mode processing in their teaching environment. For example, the institution where I initially trained in London
Can neuroscience fit into integrative therapy practice? Read More »