Although all counsellors and psychotherapists are ethically required to act in a non-discriminatory way, this isn’t enough to fully meet the hugely diverse needs of the LGBT+ community. There is much more that needs to be done to not only welcome and support, but affirm, each LGBT+ person we meet. Here are some ways I […]
Making Changes In Psychotherapy
My working experience has taught me that people want two things from seeing a Psychotherapist. These are a private space to speak freely and be heard, and a sense of moving forward rather than being stuck. These point to the underlying elements of the process which is the working relationship, and the co-created space, between […]
Regulating Embodied Stress Using Breath & Movement
Although humans have evolved over time it’s worth looking to the fundamental survival mechanisms in our bodies and minds to understand how to manage stress, including traumatic stress. This is because our bodies automatically react to any kind of threats in our environment, including at unconscious levels. For people who have experienced significant and/or repeated […]
Introducing Myself Online
Whilst we’re all behind screens more than ever during lockdown, I thought it might be helpful to introduce myself. My name is Erene, and I’m an Integrative Psychotherapist. I have worked with adult clients for ten years so far, including setting up two community-based services between 2014 and 2018. I am also a writer, and speaker, […]
Mental Health Awareness Week: Busting Myths About Asking for Support
For MHAW I’d like to bust some myths about psychotherapy, so that people feel more able to access support for their mental health in this way. Here are five myths I hear a lot about psychotherapy: ‘You have to go to therapy for years to make any progress’ Not true at all. Some types of […]
Online & Phone Psychotherapy
I don’t believe that authentic, therapeutic connection online or by phone is impossible. In practice it can actually highlight nuances that are full of important information such as tone of voice, specific words, and enhanced facial expressions. These can ensure that people are fully heard, and responded to in psychotherapy. It is also hugely important […]
Understanding & Managing Emotions
We’re socialised to consider certain emotions as negative. We’re also then more likely to feel bad about them when we feel them. That doubles the problem, so where to start? Every emotion is valid, including ones you’re experiencing for the first time during lockdown. It’s normal to feel things you haven’t felt before when something […]
Accessing Mental Health Services: Why This Matters More Than Ever During the Covid-19 Crisis
Accessibility to mental health services is an important topic right now. I have thought, spoken, and written about accessibility to mental health services throughout my career. This takes on a particular meaning during this Covid-19 crisis, especially as accessibility isn’t just about being able to afford or access a funded service. It’s also about it […]
Enhancing Empowerment with Survivors of Sexual Violence
A note on language: the terms ‘sexual violence’, and ‘sexual abuse’ are used interchangeably in this blog. They are intended to reflect the wide range of ways that a person can be affected by non-consensual sexual contact. By its very nature, sexual abuse forces individuals to inhabit smaller spaces within themselves, their relationships, and the […]
A Response to Weinstein’s Lawyer
Trigger warning: several versions of sexual violence discussed in some detail. A note on language: the range of words used to refer to different types of sexual violence are used interchangeably to denote the many ways someone can experience it. ‘Asked whether she had herself ever been sexually assaulted, she replied, to the astonishment of […]