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...
Psychotherapy
Addicted to Anxiety by Owen O’Kane – A Balanced Review
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...
Panic in the Therapy Room: Grounding vs. Internal Family Systems
When someone experiences a panic attack during therapy, the typical response is to help them “ground” — reconnecting with the present moment through the five senses, breathwork, or body awareness. This somatic approach often offers vital immediate relief. However, the...
Book Review: Mindsight by Daniel J. Siegel
Daniel J. Siegel’s Mindsight: The New Science of Personal Transformation (2010) presents a compelling integration of neuroscience and psychotherapy, grounded in what he terms interpersonal neurobiology. Aimed at both clinicians and lay readers, the book combines...
What Is Pesso Boyden Therapy? A Look at Its Role in Psychotherapy
What Is Pesso Boyden Therapy? A Look at Its Role in Psychotherapy Pesso Boyden System Psychomotor (PBSP) is a body-based therapeutic approach developed by dancer and therapist Albert Pesso and his wife Diane Boyden-Pesso in the 1960s. While rooted in psychotherapeutic...
The Pros and Cons of Using Touch in Psychotherapy
Touch is one of the most primal forms of communication, and its potential role in psychotherapy is both powerful and controversial. While some clinicians find therapeutic touch helpful for building rapport and promoting healing (e.g. Yalom), others warn against its...
An Introduction to Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a transformative psychotherapeutic approach developed by Dr Richard C. Schwartz in the 1980s. Rooted in systems theory, IFS views the mind as being composed of “parts,” each with its own unique perspectives, emotions, and...
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