Authentic Conversations

Terms like trauma, triggered, gaslighting, and toxic have made their way from the therapy room to everyday conversations, TikTok captions, and meme culture. And on one level, that’s a good thing. Language helps us make sense of our experiences. Being able to name patterns like people-pleasing or emotional neglect can bring enormous relief - especially if those patterns were invisible or dismissed in the past. But something else is happening too. These words are starting t

Often, this comes from: Growing up where your needs weren’t voiced or met, so you learned to suppress them Believing love means instinctively knowing what the other person wants Fearing rejection if you’re too direct Feeling unworthy of asking for what you need It’s not that you’re “too needy.” It’s that your nervous system has paired love with silence.

This kind of guilt often shows up when: You set a boundary and someone reacts with disappointment You say no, and the other person tries to convince you you’re selfish Someone uses past sacrifices as leverage for your present choices You feel responsible for someone else’s emotions -when deep down, you know you shouldn’t This isn’t guilt you generated. It’s guilt that’s been projected onto you.

"Why can’t I just say no?” If you’ve asked yourself this, you’re not alone. Saying no can feel heavy, sticky—even impossible. It doesn’t mean you’re weak. It means at some point, your nervous system learned that saying yes was safer.

You were never meant to carry the emotional temperature of every room you walk into. You know how to keep the peace. How to say the right thing. How to soothe someone else’s discomfort—even at the cost of your own. You’re tuned in. Responsive. Empathic. And exhausted. If this feels familiar, you’re not alone. And you’re not doing anything wrong. You may have just learned, somewhere along the way, that other people’s feelings were your responsibility. But that comes at a c

Awareness is powerful—but it’s not magic. You’ve done the work. You’ve read the books. You’ve gained insight. You know what your patterns are. So why do they still show up? Why are you still people-pleasing? Still avoiding rest? Still getting pulled into the same spirals? If you’ve ever felt the sting of “I should know better by now”—you’re not alone. And you’re not failing. You’re being human.

Sometimes the hardest part of therapy isn’t opening up—it’s the fear that if you do, you’ll be judged. You might wonder: What if it’s too much? What if I don’t make sense? What if they think I’m failing? If that’s you, I want you to know this: I’m not here to judge what you’re carrying. I’m here to hold space for it.

Why everyday awareness matters May is Mental Health Awareness Month—a time when social media, organisations, and workplaces shine a spotlight on emotional wellbeing. And while awareness campaigns can be helpful, there’s also something quietly uncomfortable about the idea that mental health only gets the microphone once a year.

ADHD—Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. This acronym often brings to mind chaotic classrooms and restless children. But could we shift the dialogue surrounding ADHD? Rather than just focusing on the challenges, let’s explore the unique strengths individuals with this neurodiversity bring to the table. As a therapist, I believe it's crucial to reconsider how we view ADHD in therapy. In this blog post, I will discuss the significance of embracing neurodiversity in couns

In the fast-paced world we live in, personal boundaries can easily slip away. People often find themselves saying “yes” to too many commitments, overwhelming demands, and expectations from others. Recognizing how to establish and maintain boundaries is vital for ensuring our mental well-being and fostering nurturing relationships. In this blog post, we'll explore the importance of boundaries, practical strategies for setting them, and the profound positive impact they can ha

In today’s busy world, when we ask others how they are doing, we often hear the same old reply: "I’m fine." This routine can make our conver