Feelings want to be understood and be in connection, when we stuff them down, that’s when problems arise, and we get surprised. We can get really creative about HOW we stuff them down. I might be overeating, overworking, or causing …
What To Say To Someone With Anxiety
It is easy to think that when speaking to someone with anxiety, the best thing to do is to empathise. That might sound like, ‘I know how you are feeling, I get anxious before interviews.’ For someone with an anxiety …
How Is An ‘Anxiety Disorder’ Different To ‘Normal Anxiety’?
Anxiety is a normal feeling when there is something to be anxious about, like a job interview or a deadline at work. It can help you focus and get the job done. Once the interview or deadline is over, the …
The Art Of Re-Parenting Part 10 – Creativity & Your Inner Child
Creativity and the inner child are inextricably linked. Children HAVE to be creative to learn about the world. They have to be creative in their problem solving, learning to get a spoon in their mouth, learning how to get mum’s …
The Art Of Re-Parenting Part 9 – Self-Reparenting
When we have been raised in an unhealthy environment, when we have experienced neglect, abuse, invalidation, narcissism, conflict or violence, as adults there is still part of us that is expecting the same behaviour from those we love. We learn …
The Art Of Re-Parenting Part 8
“Wholeness is not achieved by cutting off a portion of one’s being, but by integration of the contraries.” CARL JUNG As children we are complete, whole and unique. As we become socialised by our parents, we learn that parts of …
The Art Of Re-Parenting Part 7 Fun
Having fun might sound simple, but for so many of us the ability to relax and have fun was drilled out of us in childhood. If you grew up in an environment where you were in constant fight or flight, …
The Art Of Re-Parenting Part 6 Self-Care
When I talk about self-care with my clients I like to start with the basics. Are you getting enough sleep? How much is enough sleep? Everyone is different, but I do believe there is a minimum requirement for most people. …
The Art of Re-Parenting Part 5 Self-Discipline
Self-discipline is learnt. We learn it as children as we are guided to do our homework before watching the TV, we learn acceptable ways to speak to our family even when we are angry, we learn how much of the …
The Art Of Re-Parenting – Part 4
The inner child needs to be validated. They need to have THEIR version of reality validated by you.If your inner child has been told for years that she is ‘too sensitive’ to all the fighting that went on in the …