What Jamie Laing achieved last week was nothing short of remarkable. The physical endurance and psychological strength it took to complete 5 ultramarathons in 5 days was awe-inspiring. More important, though was the message he sent to the nation about vulnerability and the power that lies within it.

Each person has many and varied reasons why they seek out psychological support and what they hope to gain from it. Below are some examples of what may be different for you following a course of psychotherapy, psychological support or coaching, including developing a more balanced sense of self, improved emotional recognition and expression, increased awareness of strengths and resources and, finally, newfound meaning and perspective.

I've written this post to try and demystify the counselling and therapeutic process and give you an idea of the types of things we might discuss.

What you'll take from psychotherapy depends on what you're coming for and what you hope to achieve. Much like starting a health and fitness journey, you may come with one goal in mind, which may morph and change over time as you grow, develop strength and reframe what's important.

Here I provide a more detailed understanding of the types of clients I work with and some of the difficulties they might be experiencing.

Mindfulness has become a 21st-century buzzword in Western civilisations, synonymous with the wellness industry. However, it can sometimes feel overused and overemphasised. Here, I want to focus on some of the misconceptions that I often hear from clients in the therapy room, which can be significant blockers to their openness to engaging in mindfulness.

Mindfulness is a key component of several psychological therapies, and there is good and evolving evidence for its usefulness in the therapy room. Below are several ways in which mindfulness helps, as well as considerations for who might benefit most from mindfulness practices.

When a relationship ends, the impact can be devastating. We don’t just lose a partner. Instead, we experience a fundamental shift in identity and assumptions about our reality and future.

A review of ITV's "Anne" and its accurate and harrowing portrayal of grief, and one woman’s search for meaning, following the Hillsborough disaster.

When you have experienced a bereavement or significant loss, the grief can feel overwhelming. It can consume your thoughts, challenge you emotionally and impact you physically. But how, I hear you ask, do I move forward and start to make meaning from my grief? Here are five practical suggestions to help make such a change.

For the purposes of my practice, online counselling is a form of therapy that takes place exclusively online, via video calling services. Online therapy can help clients with the same types of issues that you might bring to face-to-face counselling. However, finding the right space to share your experiences is about finding an environment that feels comfortable for you

The idea of seeking out a therapist and entrusting a professional with your thoughts, feelings, and experiences can feel daunting. It’s essential you feel comfortable sharing things with me, and I don’t want you to have to pay for my time until you know we’re the right fit.

Counselling is not a magic bullet. It's important to remember that therapy does not always work. But, you stand a better chance with the right therapist.

A shift to an online way of working has been one of the very few positives to come out of the pandemic. Covid-19 has been the catalyst that has propelled video-counselling into the mainstream.

Moving on from a loss is, perhaps, the most common goal my clients have in our first session together.  Clients will often come to me in a state of distress, sometimes days after a loss but more often months, and sometimes many years later. 

It's really important that you consider online counselling from a personal, practical and logistical perspective.  It is not just about whether you believe online therapy will be the right fit for you but also, whether you have the setup to accommodate video counselling. 

Although there is nothing explicit to prepare in advance of our first session, it can sometimes feel daunting.