Is It Anxiety or Am I Just Overthinking? Understanding the Worry Cycle
Most of us overthink sometimes, replaying a conversation on the drive home, wondering whether you said the wrong thing. Thinking ahead to something happening next week and running through all the ways it could go wrong. Usually though the thought passes and we move on, but what happens when your mind doesn’t seem to switch […]
Exam Results Day: Managing Anxiety, Expectations and the ‘What Ifs’
For many young people across Sunderland and the North East, August brings a mixture of relief, excitement and anxiety. The exams are finally over, but then comes the wait for A-level and GCSE results day. If you’re waiting for results, you might notice your mind becoming increasingly busy as the day approaches: What if I […]
Compare and Despair: What the World Cup Can Teach Us About Self-Comparison
As a CBT therapist, one of the most common thinking patterns I encounter isn’t necessarily anxiety, low mood, or stress itself. It’s the habit that often sits underneath them: comparison. Many people arrive in therapy feeling as though everyone else has somehow figured life out. They see colleagues progressing faster, friends appearing happier, or family […]
Mental Health Awareness Week: A Simple Check-In
During Mental Health Awareness Week, there is often a lot of conversation about wellbeing, self-care, and looking after your mental health. That can be useful, but it can also sometimes feel vague. When life is busy, being told to “take care of yourself” doesn’t always tell you what that actually means. A more helpful starting […]
April is Stress Awareness Month
April is Stress Awareness Month and if you’re anything like many of the people I work with, that phrase alone might bring a slightly ironic smile. A month to be aware of stress… in a life that already feels full. This time of year, often has unspoken pressure, the days are getting longer, spring is […]
Coping with Mother’s Day When Relationships Feel Difficult
Mother’s Day can be a joyful occasion for many people. It is often associated with celebration, gratitude and family time. Yet for others, the day can bring a more complicated mix of emotions. If your relationship with your mother feels strained, distant or unresolved, or if the day brings feelings of grief, pressure or anxiety, […]
Valentine’s Day – CBT reflections
Valentine’s Reflections from a CBT Therapist Valentine’s Day can be a lovely day, but It can also be a surprisingly heavy one. Sometimes it brings flowers, cards, meals, and a sense of being cherished. But it can also highlight loneliness, loss, relationship strain, or the quiet question of “Why not me?” What I often notice […]
What is CBT?
Many people arrive at therapy feeling worn down by their own thoughts, overthinking, self-criticism, anxiety, or a sense of being stuck in patterns that no longer feel helpful. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) offers a way of gently understanding these patterns and finding a different way forward. CBT is based on the idea that our thoughts, […]
What Happens in the First Therapy Session?
Starting therapy can feel daunting. Many people feel anxious about what to expect in their first therapy session, worry about saying the ‘right’ thing, or if they’ll feel judged. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. These feelings are normal, more so if you’ve never had counselling or psychotherapy before. In this post I wanted […]