Signs, Feelings, and Coping Strategies What Is Gender Dysphoria? Gender dysphoria is the psychological distress experienced when a person’s gender identity does not align with the sex they were assigned at birth. This dissonance can affect individuals of all ages,...
Psychotherapist Resources
Early Stages of Gender Dysphoria: Understanding and Coping Strategies
Adapting the Duluth Model: Addressing Intimate Partner Violence in LGBTQ+ Relationships
The Duluth Model is one of the most widely used frameworks for understanding and addressing intimate partner violence (IPV). Developed in the 1980s by the Domestic Abuse Intervention Project in Duluth, Minnesota, it is centred on the concept of power and control as a...
Johnson’s Typology of Domestic Violence: Evolution and Implications
In 1995, Michael P. Johnson introduced a framework that significantly altered our understanding of domestic violence: the Typology of Domestic Violence. His work aimed to clarify the diverse forms and dynamics of intimate partner violence (IPV), highlighting that not...
Understanding Intersectionality in the Therapy Room: A Comprehensive Guide
Intersectionality is a term that has gained significant traction in social and therapeutic contexts in recent years. Coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989, it refers to the complex and cumulative way in which different forms of discrimination (such as racism, sexism,...
I’m Dead. Now What?
This isn’t about what happens to us after we die. That great mystery is, as yet, unknown. This is about what we leave behind for our loved ones. Are they left to deal with a mountain of paperwork and questions, along with their grief? Or can they take a deep breath,...
Understanding the Window of Tolerance in Trauma-Informed Care
The “window of tolerance” is a concept introduced by Dr. Dan Siegel that refers to the optimal zone of arousal in which a person can function effectively and respond to stress in a regulated way. When individuals are within their window of tolerance, they...
What Is Stimming and How Can It Help Neurodivergent People?
Often neurodivergent clients engage in behaviours known as “stimming.” Stimming, short for self-stimulatory behaviour, can include a wide range of actions like hand-flapping, rocking, spinning, or repeating words and sounds. While these behaviours are most commonly...
Understanding The Narcissist’s Prayer: A Tool for Insight and Healing
In the field of psychotherapy, one of the most challenging and complex dynamics we often encounter is the impact of narcissistic abuse. Such experiences can profoundly affect the lives of those involved, often leaving behind a trail of confusion, self-doubt, and...
Understanding Domestic Abuse: The Three-Planet Model
I have encountered numerous cases where domestic abuse is misunderstood, not only by those directly involved but also by the systems designed to help. To bridge this gap in understanding, I often refer to what is known as the “Three-Planet Model of Domestic Abuse.”...
To view the full article, just click on the article title (in dark blue.)