Human beings would not function without relationships. Our world is made up of different types of relationships and these stem from family, friends, spouses, and strangers. Maintaining a strong relationship requires constant care and communication and compromise. To read more about relationships, their importance and what can help improve relationships in your life, please read the blogs below…
Emotional abuse is a pattern of behaviour that aims to control, manipulate, or belittle another person’s emotions, thoughts, or actions. It can occur in various forms and can occur in a romantic relationship, within a family, friendship or even the workplace. In this article we will explore some key factors of emotional abuse. Many…
We all do it, it’s human nature to try be considerate of others or to make others like us and so we act in ways to please others. But at what point is it no longer healthy? When does “people pleasing” come at a cost to your own happiness? To act in a way…
The ending of any relationship can be difficult, even if it ends amicably there is a process of healing and often grieving necessary. In this article we will look at ways to help make this transition a bit easier and surviving separation. Why is a breakup of a relationship so challenging? Well for many…
Many of us find ourselves overwhelmed by circumstances in life and yet taking the step to reach out for help will be seen by many as a last resort. Whether it’s getting help from family, friends or professionals – why is it that asking for help is such a daunting task? In this article we…
While listening to a recent podcast by Sinead Hegarty on the Sinead Says Podcast – Episode 67: Dealing with a Narcissist (see below), it got me thinking about the amount of people who a) either find themselves in narcissistic relationships or b) become a narcissist themselves, without even realising what that means, for them, or…
Trust is of course a very important factor in peoples’ relationships. If we do not trust a person, then there is no relationship. Without trust, no relationship can last, as people have to be comfortable with each other for a relationship to have stability, clarity, mutual empathy and responsiveness. So, we see that trust is…
The Power of Silence in Therapy Clients who have not experienced therapy before, in particular, may find it difficult to know what to do with the therapeutic space initially. They may begin with an awkward silence or express their embarrassment at not knowing how to say what they need to say. They may wonder…
The Importance of Being Heard The need to be heard is one of the most basic, yet potent needs we have as social beings. Conversation is how we let others know how we feel, what we need, what we mean and is a fundamental tool for us to make connection so that we feel…
Attachment Styles in Relationships Perhaps you have never really examined how you behave in relationships. However, you may have become aware of repeating patters or cycles in your love life, even with different partners. Perhaps you are inclined to be more involved than your partner or maybe you gravitate towards a tendency to…
You are not just your adult self, you are much more than that. You are the one that liked or needed to be hugged and told everything would be okay when you were upset or had a “boo boo.” You are the one that played silly games alone or with others, made fun and toys…
Domestic violence is considerably more complicated than it may seem when we bring our awareness to the fact that not all abuse is physical. In relationships where a partner mistreats the other emotionally or psychologically but never engages in physical abuse, the abuse can be more challenging to notice, and could easily leave a…
One thing I have repeatedly noticed over this past year is just how many people are not fully or sometimes at all aware of the concept of healthy boundaries. Some believe they already have healthy boundaries by having super rigid brick walls in place, or they hold the belief that establishing boundaries would be a…
Family is often thought of as the ultimate support system for a person – to be there for you, no matter what. But what if that is simply not the case for you? What if a member of your family or even your whole family, is a constant source of feuding and frustration for you?…
Do you ever find yourself looking at your friendship circle in disbelief? Wondering how on earth its changed so much over the years? Perhaps its shrunk in size, maybe its non-existent or you feel like the quality of the friendships that remain are simply nowhere near what they used to be. If so, welcome to…
More and more in the media today we hear the term; “Gaslighting” but what exactly is gaslighting? And how do you know if it’s happening to you? Psychologists use the term “gaslighting” to refer to a specific type of manipulation where the manipulator is trying to get someone else (or a group of people)…
While studying child and adolescent counselling and psychotherapy I found myself becoming engrossed in all thing’s attachment related and I feel this is something we all need to understand, especially our own personal attachment styles. Recently, I have found myself on my own path of discovery, unearthing and trying to comprehend my own personal…
I have spoken about the Sound Relationship House in previous blogs (and have attached it below). It starts off with the foundation layer known as building your love map. Love maps are simply knowing the little things about your partner’s life which creates a strong foundation for your friendship and intimacy. When I meet…
“He needs to grow up!” “She is nagging me!” “She is acting like my mother!” “He is treating me like a child!” Are some of these phases familiar in your relationship? If so, Transactional Analysis in relationships could shed a light on why they appear in adult relationships. Transactional analysis is a concept created…
To follow on from my previous blog “Communication vs Confrontation”, I wanted to write about the “Pinch Crunch Test”. This comes into play at the start of a relationship, and it can lay the foundations for communication throughout your relationship. When two people meet for the first time, it’s wonderful! A physical attraction builds…
Communication vs Confrontation Communication is the basis of human extinct and as a relationship counsellor the main thing I hear from couples in the counselling room is that we do not know how to communicate. From my experience couples think that communication is or leads to confrontation. However, this does not need to be…
“She entered the hotel lobby and tuck a deep breath, as she approached the hotel reception, he had said that she was to check in under Mrs Smith. The receptionist was very polite handed her the key and told her to enjoy her day. As she approached the lift, she reflected on how she had…
Human beings would not function without relationships. Our world is made up of different types of relationships and these stem from family, friends, spouses, and strangers. As a Relationship Counsellor I have seen how relationships are formed and eroded. I would like to give you an insight into this throughout this blog. Firstly, I…