Understanding Emotions
This section explores the fascinating world of human emotion. Together we'll examine why emotions exist, what purpose they serve, how they are shaped by our biology, experiences, relationships and culture, and why some emotions can feel so much bigger than others. We'll explore common emotional experiences such as anxiety, anger, sadness, shame, guilt, joy and love, while also unpacking concepts like emotional regulation, resilience, how emotions are experienced in the body and self-awareness.
The goal is not to eliminate difficult emotions or replace them with constant happiness. Rather, it is to develop a deeper understanding of the messages emotions may be trying to communicate, and to learn how to respond to them with greater curiosity, compassion and skill. If you’re a client of mine you’ve probably heard me prattle on about how I think we are largely ‘feeling phobic’. But the better we understand our emotional world, the better equipped we become to navigate life, relationships and ourselves.
You’re Not Lazy. You’re Waiting for the Wrong Thing.
Most people believe motivation comes first and action follows. Psychology suggests the opposite may be true. Discover why waiting to feel motivated often keeps us stuck, what science tells us about self-control, and how small actions can create the momentum we've been waiting for.
What If There Was Never Anything Wrong With You?
We are all imperfect creatures carrying imperfect minds through an imperfect world, doing our best with the equipment we inherited and the experiences that shaped us. We will succeed sometimes. We will fail often. We will hurt others. We will be hurt ourselves. We will get things right and wrong in equal measure.
That is not evidence that we are defective. That is evidence that we belong. Stop asking whether we are worthy of being human and start recognising that we always were.
When High Achievement Is Just Self-Hatred Wearing A Suit
Some of the most admired people in the room are not being driven by self-belief at all. They are being chased by self-hatred.
Sometimes extraordinary success is built on a desperate attempt to escape feelings of inadequacy. The promotion, the qualification, the marathon, the business, the perfect body, the endless productivity - they are not always expressions of self-worth. Sometimes they are attempts to create it.
This article explores the psychology of high achievement, from perfectionism and anxiety to childhood attachment wounds and self-hatred, and asks a confronting question: what if the thing driving your success is also quietly diminishing your capacity to enjoy it?
Why Self-Love Isn’t Enough and What to Try Instead
Struggling with self-hatred? Discover why self-love alone may not work—and how self-acceptance offers lasting peace. Learn the step-by-step path a psychologist recommends: understanding your humanity, developing compassion, practising forgiveness, and embracing your imperfections as part of a rich, connected life.
Five Strategies to Feel Content, Calm, and Complete in Your Own Company
Have you ever noticed how uncomfortable it can feel to sit in a quiet room alone? So many of us reach for our phones, scroll social media, or fill every moment with noise to avoid feeling that emptiness. Yet learning to enjoy your own company can be one of the most life‑changing skills you ever develop.
When we discover how to feel content in our own presence, loneliness begins to soften. Instead of fearing solitude, it becomes a space for restoration, creativity, and even joy. By connecting with nature, observing the rhythms of the universe, and exploring our own inner world, we create a sense of companionship that no one else can give us.
Simple practices like mindful walks in nature, journaling, or just lying under the night sky can shift your experience of being alone from isolating to peaceful. Over time, you begin to realise that the most important relationship you’ll ever have is with yourself—and when that relationship feels strong, life feels fuller, calmer, and more meaningful.
If you’ve ever struggled with loneliness or the fear of being alone, learning how to embrace your own company could be the first step toward a life of deep contentment and emotional resilience.