Common approaches to anxiety and depression Many approaches to anxiety and depression tend to treat anxiety and depression as if they were problems in themselves. Traditional psychoanalysis, Jungian analytical psychology and the contemporary therapeutic approaches that flow from them see anxiety and depression as symptoms of a deeper imbalance within the whole person. The medical … Continue reading Anxiety and depression: not always what they seem
Introducing the Unconscious
The concept of the unconscious has become central to several forms of psychotherapy. People often ascribe the ‘discovery’ of the unconscious to Freud, but the concept of a mind, spirit or will beyond everyday conscious awareness has existed across all cultures throughout the history of humanity. This ‘mind’ may have been conceived to reside in … Continue reading Introducing the Unconscious
Is it time to consider therapy?
Giving yourself time to talk about what has happened to you, your thoughts and your feelings, is an effective way to deal with many of life's difficulties. However, many people still hesitate to take that first step and reach out for help to a counsellor or therapist. Maybe there is a fear that we might … Continue reading Is it time to consider therapy?
What should I be reading?
When beginning therapy, it is not uncommon for people to ask me if I could recommend a book for them to read. My initial suggestion is simply to 'read something that you enjoy'. After all, coming into therapy already involves a thoughtful investment of emotion, time and money. The wisdom we are seeking lies within … Continue reading What should I be reading?
Dreams and Dreaming
‘…I’ve dreamt in my life dreams that have stayed with me ever after, and changed my ideas: they’ve gone through and through me, like wine through water, and altered the colour of my mind.’ Charlotte Bronte For centuries, dreams have been considered an important source of wisdom and knowledge, whether as messages from God, prophetic … Continue reading Dreams and Dreaming