Self-care has become a familiar concept. People are told to rest, exercise, eat well, set boundaries, take breaks, and be kinder to themselves. For some people, this advice is useful and actionable. For many others, it lands as another item on an already long list of...
Shame
Why Self-Care Can Feel Like Another Thing to Fail At?
Why Am I So Hard on Myself?
There is a particular kind of pain in being criticised by your own mind before anyone else has spoken. You make a small mistake at work, and the thought arrives almost instantly: “Idiot. You keep getting it wrong.” You forget to reply to a message and think, “You’re...
Toilets, Changing Rooms, and the Policing of Queer Bodies Since 1800
As June is Pride month, I have decided to have a look at something that has become a focus in recent weeks. Toilets and changing rooms are more than just practical spaces — they are social battlegrounds. Since the 1800s, these facilities have been used to enforce...
How to Support Trans People During Pride Month
🏳️⚧️ How to Support Trans People During Pride Month Introduction Pride Month is a time of celebration, remembrance, and resistance. While the entire LGBTQ+ community deserves recognition and support, trans people—especially trans women of colour—have often been at...
The Spectrum of Narcissism: Shame, Rage, and the Value of Healthy Self-Love
Narcissism is sometimes viewed solely through a negative lens—a trait that conjures images of arrogance, self-absorption, and grandiose behaviour. Yet, psychoanalyst Heinz Kohut reminds us that narcissism exists on a spectrum and plays an important role in healthy...
Healing Shame Through Relationship: A Relational Psychotherapy Perspective
Shame is a deeply painful emotion that arises when we feel we are fundamentally flawed or unworthy of acceptance, love, or belonging. It differs from guilt in that guilt often pertains to regret over a specific action—“I did something wrong”—while shame is a pervasive...
The Correspondence Between Shame, Guilt, and Trauma in Integrative Psychotherapy
In my work as an integrative psychotherapist, I frequently encounter the powerful interplay between shame, guilt, and trauma. These experiences are not just emotional states but profound forces that shape a person’s sense of self and their relationships with others....
To view the full article, just click on the article title (in dark blue.)