When I was 10 years old, we lived in a house with interesting neighbours. I remember on the day we moved in, the mother walked into our new home and announced, “we mostly keep ourselves to ourselves”. In my experience, people who describe themselves as an open book...
How have your stress levels been lately? Stress is the reaction that happens when we feel that the demands of a situation outstrip our resources to cope. So I think most of us can say that our stress levels have been higher than usual at least some of the time over...
The global pandemic is putting huge pressure on everyone, especially couples with kids at home. As well as coping with the uncertainty and anxiety, many of us have lost work, childcare, and the comfort of our usual routines. Being in lockdown together presents a...
I've been thinking a lot about all of you - whether you are a past, present, or prospective client - and how you might be coping with our current very difficult situation. I wanted to let you know about how I have adapted my service in line with the government...
Happy New Year! How was your Christmas break? I hope it was restorative, with a chance for reflection and some thought about your intentions for the new year - and perhaps even the next decade. I also know that it was likely tiring, largely fuelled by sugar and...
Speaking Events: The Mother Fair This Weekend I have a number of speaking events coming up this autumn in Brighton and Hove. Firstly, this Saturday 14th September I'm going to be at The Mother Fair, an event for new and expectant mothers, speaking about relationships...
The next Relationship Goals 2.0 on CURIOSITY is coming up this Thursday 1st August! Relationship Goals 2.0 is a relaxed event in a room above a pub, where parents have fun together while learning about the skills and habits that couples need to be really happy...
Just a quick reminder that the first ever Relationship Goals 2.0 is happening this Thursday evening 4th July! Relationship Goals 2.0 is a new event for parents in Brighton and Hove who want to make their relationships the best they can be so that they can have the...
Have you heard about Relationship Goals 2.0? It's a new event for parents, expectant parents, and those considering parenthood, in Brighton and Hove. We're going to get together in a private room above a pub and talk about what love looks like on the other side of...
As a relationship issues specialist counsellor, I help individuals and couples to deal with all kinds of relationship problems. This article is about perpetual problems: those pesky relationship issues that just won't go away. All Relationships Have Problems...
I am pleased to announce the launch of Staying Close After Baby, the relationship workshop for expectant couples. Did you know that 67% of couples report feeling very unhappy with each other within 3 years of becoming parents? But it doesn't have to be that way! So...
It's Christmas...!!! Ugh. How do you feel about Christmas? December can be really tough. It's a frenzied crescendo that some people adore. Others find it really difficult. And most fit somewhere in between. There's a lot of fuss, which for some people is frustratingly...
Walk and Talk Therapy I am pleased to announce that I am now offering Walk and Talk Therapy! Are you are interested in trying counselling? But don't fancy spending another hour of your week sitting down? Walk and Talk Therapy could be for you. At my office in Hove...
Welcome to my new website! When you're looking for a counsellor, you'll often get asked what's bringing you for counselling, and why now. You might be suffering with stress, anxiety, or depression, for example. Counselling really helps with difficulties like these....
Relationship Problems Every couple experiences relationship problems. And sometimes when you're going through a rough patch it can be difficult to work out exactly what the problem is. Here are six statements that you will have heard or said about relationship...
Beyond Conflict Resolution When I ask couples what they want to get from counselling, their top two wishes are usually to improve communication, and to stop arguing so much. They just want to get on better. And couples counselling can really help with that. But to...
Separation Counselling What is separation counselling? Isn't couples counselling all about making it work? If your relationship has broken down, you might be considering your options. Perhaps you have been thinking about trying couples counselling. On the other hand,...
Thinking About Depression When I think about depression and low moods, and how to find a way out of them, I look at at three things: feelings, thoughts and actions. As an integrative counsellor I consider both the causes of depression and the approach to getting...
Talking therapy like counselling is still a bit of a mystery to many people. You might have questions like: Does talking therapy work? How? I feel terrible! How will talking about how bad I feel possibly make me feel better? I recently read a fantastic book by Susan...
Sometimes despite our best intentions to raise difficult issues gently, things can escalate. Arguments can quickly become stressful and unproductive, especially when we are stuck in painfully familiar patterns. Most of us don't get taught how to deal with horrible...
Is there something going on in your relationship that's bothering you? Are you unsure how to address it? Firstly, by looking for a way to talk about it, you're doing the right thing. John Gottman has been doing research with couples for 40 years, and he has found that...
