The Therapist Diaries

Hello there, and welcome back to The Therapist Diaries . It’s been a hot minute since I last wrote something. Partly because it’s summer, and even I like to enjoy the sunshine when I can. But it’s also because there’s been a lot happening behind the scenes at my private practice. I've been busy finding a new office space, organising some exciting new events, and starting to get the wheels turning for our 2027 services. There’s plenty more to share about all of that, but for today, I thought I’d introduce you to an intervention that, quite by chance, I’ve found myself using quite a lot with clients over the past couple of weeks: The Empty Chair Intervention. If you’ve ever watched a therapy scene on TV where someone sits opposite an empty chair and starts talking to someone who isn’t actually there, you may already have a vague idea of what I’m talking about. But there’s much more to the Empty Chair than simply “talking to an empty chair”. The Empty Chair Intervention is a therapeut...

Disclaimer:  This article reflects my professional experience as a therapist working with children, young people and families. It is intended as general guidance and isn't a substitute for individual advice. Every child is different, and parents should make decisions based on their own child's needs, development and family circumstances. Hello and welcome back to The Therapist Diaries , My partner is the father of two boys, aged six and seven, and this week we've found ourselves talking a lot about the headlines surrounding children and technology. From the ongoing debate about restricting social media for young people, to concerns about screen time, to recent investigations into platforms such as Roblox, it's a conversation that seems impossible to avoid. ( Roblox Investigation ) I'm not a parent myself, but I have spent almost a decade working alongside children, young people and families. One thing that still surprises me is how many children have unrestricted ac...

Hello and Welcome Back to The Therapist Diaries,  When I was around ten years old, my aunt bought me my very first Matryoshka doll after we went to see Beauty and the Beast at the theatre in Blackpool. I remember sitting on the floor when I got home, carefully opening each wooden doll to reveal another hidden inside. One by one they appeared, each a little smaller than the last, until I reached the tiniest doll nestled safely in the middle. At the time, I simply thought it was beautiful. Years later, I found myself returning to that same little doll in my work as a therapist. During my training, I spent much of my time working with children and adolescents. One of the biggest challenges in therapy with young people is finding ways to explain complicated emotions and experiences in a way that makes sense. Children don't learn through lectures. They learn through stories, play, curiosity, and objects they can touch and remember. If they leave the therapy room with an image or a meta...

Hello and welcome back to The Therapist Diaries, “Could you watch the kids for an hour so I can have a break?" "Would you mind reaching that for me?" "I need someone to listen." These are such simple sentences, yet for so many of us they feel incredibly difficult to say.  As a therapist, I often sit with clients who struggle to ask for help. Some worry they'll be seen as needy. Some don't want to inconvenience anyone else. Others have learned over the years that their needs come second, so they keep going, carrying everything themselves until they reach breaking point. And sometimes, people have asked for help before and felt completely unheard. I recently had a client who was trying to make a decision, and it was weighing heavily on her emotionally. One option felt selfish to her, but deep down she knew it was the choice that would be best for her wellbeing. The other option suited her partner and his family better.  Summoning all her courage, she trie...