Flotsam & Jetsam

It usually starts small. A cheeky accumulator on a Saturday. A spin of the roulette wheel on your phone while you’re waiting for the kettle to boil. Maybe a flutter on the horses - nothing serious, just a bit of fun. But for some men, it doesn’t stay fun for long. The thrill becomes the fix. The win becomes the need. The next bet becomes the only thing that matters. And somewhere between the wins and the losses, a quiet kind of shame takes hold. The Hidden Epidemic We talk a

People sometimes ask, “Why would someone go to therapy?”                                              It’s usually said with a hint of suspicion, or maybe fear - as if therapy is only for those who’ve reached breaking point. But the truth is, therapy isn’t just about crisis. It’s about curiosity. It’s about wanting to understand yourself better, to live more freely, and to stop running from the parts of you that keep tugging for attention. Sometimes people go to therapy becau

One of the hardest lessons in becoming a counsellor has been recognising that self-compassion is not optional; it is essential. I...

There was a time when the thought of being alone filled me with dread. Not just the absence of others, but the silence - the kind that...

Struggling with depression and World Mental Health Day. I share my experience and my hope for better awareness and support.

When I heard or saw the word intimacy, I would always immediately think of sex. Although that probably tells you a lot about how my male...

Shame is so painful and debilitating. But, if we understand it and bring it into the light, we can be free from it.

Change can be painful, but it can also be exciting and liberating. Mental illness adds complexity when it comes to change too.

Be very mindful of extreme pendulum swings away from one unhealthy behaviour towards others.

How can we deal with those who seem incapable of hearing others? Perhaps acceptance, compassion and empathy can help, along with courage.

In a fast paced world where instant gratification reigns supreme, we've forgotten the importance of patience.

In the process of discovering why it took so long to publish my first post on here, you'll learn a little more about me.