The Therapist Diaries

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...

 Hello and Welcome to The Therapist Diaries,  Spoilers for House of the Dragon!! Are you watching House of the Dragon? Have you seen previous episodes? There was one moment in this season that has stayed with me long after the credits rolled. It wasn't Rhaenyra finally sitting on the Iron Throne. It was everything that happened before she got there. By this point, Rhaenyra has already endured more grief than most people could imagine. She's lost her father, the one person who truly believed she should inherit the throne. She's watched her birthright stolen from her. She's buried her heir. She's carried the weight of war, betrayal, and impossible decisions, all while trying to hold herself together.  And then she's faced with Otto Hightower. To everyone else in that throne room, Otto is the man responsible for usurping the crown. The mastermind behind years of political manipulation. The enemy. But to Rhaenyra... He was also her father's closest friend. The H...

  Hello and Welcome back to The Therapist Diaries,   Can you believe it’s been a whole year since I wrote my very first blog post? Honestly, I can’t. Over the last twelve months, I’ve gone from working as a Crisis Intervention Specialist, to becoming a clinician in a youth residential centre, and finally taking the leap into independent private practice. Along the way, I wrestled with the LCSW exam, figured out the endless learning curve of running my own business, moved countries, moved in with my boyfriend, and continued navigating my own mental and physical health journey. And somehow, amidst all of that, I’ve kept a long list of side projects alive too. Through every challenge, change, and unexpected turn, one thing has remained constant: gratitude. I’ve never lost sight of how blessed I am, nor how much of this journey would have been impossible without the love, encouragement, and support of the people around me. Looking back, here are five lessons this year has taught m...

Hello and Welcome Back to The Therapist Diaries,  It's all over the new recently, AI is taking over! As many are concerned over its usage and the future impacts on the job market, those of us in healthcare roles are also concerned about the society's growing dependence on it, and if it does more harm than good when it comes to mental and physical wellbeing.  If you've found yourself asking ChatGPT about anxiety, relationship problems, stress at work, or whether your childhood experiences may still be affecting you today, you're certainly not alone. Over the past few years, artificial intelligence has become an increasingly common source of information, guidance, and emotional support for millions of people. As a therapist, I've noticed a growing number of clients arriving in sessions after having lengthy conversations with AI about their mental health. Some use it to process emotions, others use it to journal, and many turn to it during moments when they feel overwh...

Hello and Welcome Back to The Therapist Diaries,  When people think about bravery, they often imagine grand gestures—running into a burning building, standing on a stage in front of thousands, or making a life-changing decision without hesitation. But in reality, bravery is often much quieter than that. Sometimes bravery looks like sending the email you've been avoiding. Sometimes it's setting a boundary. Sometimes it's asking for help. And sometimes it's trying something new.  Since opening my business in February, I've had to make countless brave decisions. I've introduced myself to strangers, spoken about my work publicly, networked with professionals, put my ideas out into the world, and taken risks that felt far outside of my comfort zone. Many of these things may seem small to others, but for me they required a level of courage I hadn't needed before. I'm a great trauma specialist... I'm still working on my business woman skills.  What I've...

Hello and Welcome Back to The Therapist Diaries,  Today we're hitting a taboo topic... and I know I'm probably going to get some stick for writing it, but it's something that's been coming up a lot recently, and I think it's relatable for a lot of us. So, taboo or not, today we're talking about how much it genuinely sucks when everyone else is having their moment, and you're the one still on the path towards yours. Generally speaking, we’re taught to celebrate the people we love, to clap for their milestones, to smile at engagement photos, baby announcements, house purchases, promotions and all the beautiful moments life brings them. And often, we genuinely are happy for them. Deeply happy. But sometimes, underneath that happiness, there’s another feeling quietly sitting there too. Grief. Jealousy. Loneliness. Frustration. Even resentment. And honestly, that combination can feel incredibly shameful. There’s a strange emotional conflict that happens when your...