When life feels unmanageable, even the thought of starting therapy can seem overwhelming. It can feel like justonemorething on top of a heap of things that are not getting done. So is not unusual for people to delay seeking help because they feel stuck in a cycle of...
John Dray
Therapy for the Overwhelmed – How to Begin When Everything Feels Too Much
Is the Flow State a Form of Dissociation?
The flow state, described by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi as “being completely involved in an activity for its own sake,” is often hailed as the pinnacle of human productivity and creativity. But from a psychotherapeutic perspective, it prompts a deeper question: is flow a...
Developments in Social GRRRAAACCEEESSS – Visible–Invisible and Voiced–Unvoiced A Balanced Review
John Burnham’s chapter Developments in Social GRRRAAACCEEESSS: visible–invisible and voiced–unvoiced extends the familiar Social GRACES mnemonic (originally with Alison Roper-Hall) and explores how aspects of identity/difference can be visible or invisible and voiced...
Addicted to Anxiety by Owen O’Kane – A Balanced Review
Owen O’Kane’s Addicted to Anxiety: How to Break the Habit (2025) proposes that anxiety functions like an addiction. Behaviours and thought patterns that initially feel protective become cyclical habits that reinforce fear and avoidance. His framework is structured...
Is Computer Programming a Form of Dissociation or Avoidance?
Computer programming is often celebrated for its creativity, logic, and problem-solving elegance. But what happens when our immersion in code becomes so complete that it detaches us from our emotional or relational lives? Could it be that programming is, at times,...
Choosing the Right Psychotherapy Modality
Psychotherapy isn’t one-size-fits-all. With a range of modalities available—from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to psychodynamic, humanistic, integrative and relational approaches—selecting the right one can feel overwhelming. This guide will help you understand...
Understanding the Window of Tolerance in Trauma Therapy
The concept of the Window of Tolerance, developed by Dr. Dan Siegel, has become an essential framework in trauma-informed psychotherapy. It describes the optimal zone of arousal in which a person can function effectively, think clearly, and engage socially. For those...
Questions to Ask a Firefighter Part in IFS Therapy
In Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, Firefighter parts are protective subpersonalities that react quickly and often dramatically when a person is overwhelmed by emotional pain. Their goal is not to cause harm, but to prevent further suffering—usually by...
Questions to Ask a Manager Part in IFS Therapy
In Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, Manager parts are proactive protectors that work to prevent emotional pain from surfacing. They strive to keep the system in control by managing behaviour, emotions, relationships, and external impressions. Unlike...
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