Anxiety is a pervasive issue in modern life, often characterised by feelings of restlessness, fear, and tension. In Gestalt therapy, anxiety is not merely a symptom to be alleviated but an energetic phenomenon that reveals profound insights into an individual’s...
The Archive
Understanding Anxiety Through Zinker’s Lens: A Gestalt Approach to Energy Interruption
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...
An Introduction to Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a transformative psychotherapeutic approach that views the mind as a system of “parts” working together—much like a family. These parts represent different emotions, behaviours, and roles that form as a result of life experiences. By...
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....
The Invisible Consumer: Ageing and the Impact of Advertising on the Self
Somewhere around the age of 50, you might notice a peculiar shift in how the world communicates with you. Advertising, once an intimate dialogue speaking directly to your desires, needs, and aspirations, seems to turn its gaze away. Youthful models grace the...
Exploring Erskine’s 8 Relational Needs: Building Connection in Psychotherapy
In psychotherapy, the focus often lies on fostering connection and understanding. Richard G. Erskine’s eight relational needs offer a practical framework for understanding human relationships and guiding therapeutic work. These needs help therapists and clients alike...
What Is the Overlap Between Curiosity and Attraction?
Curiosity and attraction are often seen as distinct emotional or psychological experiences. Curiosity is the drive to seek new information or experiences, while attraction refers to a pull towards someone or something. Yet, there is a fascinating overlap between the...
The Interplay of Compassionate Curiosity and Erotic Transference in Psychotherapy
In psychotherapy, the therapeutic relationship is a space of profound emotional exploration. One of the more complex dynamics in this relationship is erotic transference—the projection of romantic or sexual feelings onto the therapist. Addressing this phenomenon with...