When a narcissistic or emotionally abusive relationship ends, many people expect to feel relief. Often, what comes first is confusion, exhaustion and a quiet sense of being “less than” you used to be. After months or years of criticism, gaslighting and shifting goalposts, it is common to doubt your judgement, your attractiveness, your intelligence and […]
Finding out that a partner has been using pornography in secret, or more than you realised, can bring up a surprising mix of feelings: hurt, anger, embarrassment, self-doubt and confusion about whether you are “allowed” to be upset. Some people feel it as a betrayal close to an affair. Others feel unsure what they even […]
“I know they’re bad for me, so why can’t I let go?” It is one of the most painful questions people bring to counselling. You may be able to list every hurtful thing that happened, and still feel a pull towards the person who hurt you that seems stronger than reason. Friends may not understand. […]
Discovering that a partner has been unfaithful is one of the most painful experiences a relationship can go through. People often describe it as the ground disappearing beneath their feet. Suddenly the past feels uncertain, the present feels unbearable and the future is a question mark. In my work with individuals and couples, the question […]
Many of the people I work with arrive saying the same thing: “Nothing that bad happened. He never hit me. Maybe I’m overreacting.” Emotional abuse rarely announces itself. It tends to build slowly, through small moments that are easy to explain away, until one day you realise you no longer recognise yourself. If you have […]
Resentment in marriage rarely shows up all at once. It collects. A forgotten pickup here, a dismissive comment there, years of being the one who remembers every appointment and birthday. None of it seems worth a fight on its own, until one evening a simple question gets a sharp answer that surprises you both. Resentment […]
Originally published at True Health Counselling. I know how hard you’ve been trying. You’ve rewritten your website. You’ve posted more. You’ve written the articles, taken the marketing course, maybe paid someone to “fix” your business. And some months it works. Other months, nothing you do seems to move anything, and you can’t figure out why. […]
Da bambina, quando avevo mal di pancia, erano mio padre e mio nonno ad andare insieme a cercare le radici di gramigna. Non le trovavano nei campi coltivati, ma ai margini, dove la terra restava sempre incolta. A quelle aggiungevano canne selvatiche, una mela tagliata a pezzi, fichi secchi, camomilla, foglie di alloro, achillea. Il […]
Perfectionism often wears a socially acceptable mask. It can look like ambition, high standards, or a strong work ethic. From the outside, perfectionists are often praised—reliable, driven, detail-oriented. But beneath that surface is often a constant pressure: Do more. Be better. Don’t mess this up. And no matter how much is accomplished, it rarely feels […]
Starting therapy can feel like a big step. Maybe you’ve been thinking about reaching out for a while. Maybe you know something in your life needs to change, but you’re not quite sure where to begin. Or maybe you’ve already scheduled your first appointment and are wondering, What am I supposed to talk about? What […]
