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.
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.
