As an existential phenomenologist, I am partly indebted to Heidegger’s philosophy, which has been very influential in the world of counselling. His 1927 book Being and Time addresses ontology, the study of being, arguing that we (human subjects) are inseparable from the objective world. We are beings-in-the-world or (his word) Dasein. If I were born […]
Counselling and Neutrality: Sitting on the Fence Read More »
Maps Experiencing a walk through Brighton is so much richer than looking at Brighton on a map, even via Google street view. The diversity of sounds, tastes, temperatures and connections with others can’t be replicated on a map. And, this doesn’t negate the usefulness of maps. Maps are not experience, but they do help us
Enneagram: Nine Ways of Falling Asleep – and Waking Up Read More »
I’ve been aware of my anger recently. Much of the global news over the last few months has been one factor. I notice myself reasoning with my anger. Reason comes from an intellectual ‘head’ space, whereas anger occupies more of an instinctual ‘body’ space. I’m very familiar with living more in my head than my
Anger, Counselling and Men Read More »
I love the films of David Lynch, so was really saddened to hear of his death recently. His films offered me a way out of the ‘real’ into the wonders and darkness of the ‘unreal’. Life is often mysterious and unexplainable, and Lynch managed to capture that on film. The way he spoke about making
Expanding your life with dreams through Gestalt Psychotherapy Read More »
The most searched-for term on the Counselling Directory website at the moment is ‘anxiety’. This is understandable, as it feels like more and more people are suffering with intense levels of worry. Anxiety is the feeling of unease in the face of nothingness. The feeling often comes about because of things outside of my control:
Changing Our Relationship with Anxiety Read More »
Are we ever truly alone? Loneliness More people are spending Christmas alone in the UK, whether by choice or not. According to the Campaign to End Loneliness approximately 7.1% of people in Great Britain experienced chronic loneliness in 2022. This is up from 6% in 2020. Loneliness is not a ‘mental health’ problem in itself
Loneliness and Counselling Read More »
Why worry? Because we’re human On Anxiety and Counselling I have been thinking about themes for these blog posts and realised that highlighting some emotions or experiences in relation to therapy might be helpful. Anxiety, anger, grief and loneliness for example. As a therapist I have particular knowledge of anxiety, and as a human I
Why Worry? On Anxiety and Counselling Read More »
I turned 40 in September, which feels like a significant milestone. How do I make sense of this? What does this mean? I think about starting University in 2004, 20 years ago, which is exactly half my life ago. 2004 doesn’t feel that long ago. I think about my favourite albums or films that came
Finding Meaning and Balance Read More »
I’m currently enjoying reading ‘The Discovery of Being’ by the late existential psychologist Rollo May. The focus of the book is what existentialism can teach us about ‘being’ human, drawing on the philosophers Kierkegaard and Nietzsche. What emerges for me is the concept of people as ‘beings’, and a reminder that ‘being’ is a verb.
Transforming Anxiety Read More »
David Bowie, one of my favourite musicians, who went through many ch-ch-ch-changes I’ve been thinking a lot about change recently, partly because of the recent change in government in the UK. The Labour party even made “change” their campaign slogan. How much real change we’ll see from them remains to be seen of course. I’m
Changes (turning to face the strange) Read More »