I like to think of emotions as messengers. They are there to tell me that something is not right. There are LOTS of ways to work with emotions in psychotherapy. One way to do it is with the transactional analysis …
The Importance Of Joy
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, …
Integration
As children, we are complete, whole and unique. As we become socialised by our parents, we learn that parts of us are not acceptable. In response, we disown parts of us that are disliked or we think are wrong. In …
A Personal Post for Father’s Day
Seven years ago, my father died at 91 years old. I had the opportunity to be with him for about four weeks before he passed. As he lay in his bed, getting weaker and weaker and having a dose of …
The Art Of Self-Care
When discussing 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 believe there is a minimum requirement for most people. A few years …
Self- Discipline
Wherever it was, know that your parents only did what they were taught or could manage at the time. Know that it is not your fault if you struggle with self-discipline. How are you supposed to know if you weren’t …
Validation
The inner child needs to be validated. They need to have THEIR version of reality validated by you. Suppose your inner child has been told for years that she is ‘too sensitive’ to all the fighting that went on in …
Getting to Know Your Inner Child
When I first met my inner child doing an inner child meditation similar to the one in the ‘Meet your Inner Child’ short course, she was about 16, sitting on a wall, wearing knee-length leather boots, smoking a cigarette with …
Negative Thinking
Sometimes it can feel like it is impossible to stop the negative thinking. I know. I have been there. When nothing, like nothing, works. It happens mostly when we are stressed or anxious about a particular topic and our mind …
Things Our Inner Child Likes To Hear:
Part of the re-parenting process is the process of shifting our self-talk. I like to imagine that whenever I think something in my head, I am talking to myself and my inner child. I have a rule: If I wouldn’t …