The Private Therapy Clinic Blog

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13 Oct 2018

Why Role Models in Fashion Matter

Every so often the media gets interested in the role of the fashion industry in damaging young people’s self-image (mostly young women’s). For a while there are outraged op-eds and then maybe a fashion house makes a big deal about hiring a “plus size” model or two, and then the fuss dies down until the next time.....

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10 Oct 2018

How much time should your children play video games?

Tamara Licht Musso discusses children who use social media and video games. How much is too much and how do you talk do your children about their excessive use of devices. It can be difficulty to know how to get your child to spend less time using electronic devices, in this video child Psychologist Tamara gives parents advice on how to tackle this common issue. ....

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08 Oct 2018

Timeout and Timein with children | How to Discipline Your Child Effectively

In this video Child Clinical Psychologist Tamara Licht Musso from Private Therapy Clinic Discusses how to discipline your child effectively. The famous "timeout" is a well know strategy used with children, but how do you use it effectively? Research how found that the "timein" is more effective than the time out.....

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05 Oct 2018

The Challenges and the Joys of Bicultural Relationships

An old Italian proverb advises men looking to get married and settle down to find both oxen and wives in their own home villages. The idea is that life is easier when spouses come from the same sort of cultural background. Today, in our multicultural world, it’s becoming increasingly common for couples to come from different cultures. So, how does the ancient wisdom hold up?....

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03 Oct 2018

How to Overcome Abortion Depression

Abortion has always been a polarising issue. Everyone has a view on the subject and are rarely shy in expressing it. But when you move beyond the argument of choice vs. ethics, not much else is generally said of the matter. The thought that women might have to overcome something such as depression barely registers as a footnote.....

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01 Oct 2018

The Most Effective way to Treat Social Anxiety Disorder

Social anxiety is a state that can affect people from all walks of life. Everyone has experienced a jangling of nerves before a big interview or date; this is normal. But when this sense of nervousness reaches such heightened levels it interferes with rational thought over a sustained period, it shifts from a being an emotional response to a disorder.....

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30 Sep 2018

How to be Successful on Social Media without it Affecting your Mental Health

In this video Dr Becky Spelman discusses how social media can affect people mental health and offers advice about how to stay successful online without social media affecting your psychological health. If you would like more advice on how to prevent burnout as an influencer whether you are already successful online or just starting out, feel free to get in touch. ....

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23 Sep 2018

How to get someone to fall in love with you

I'm Dr. Becky Spelman. I'm a registered psychologist. The question that I'm commonly asked in my clinical practice is how do I make someone fall in love with me? Well, unfortunately, the answer is you can't. There are no tricks or strategies as to how to make someone fall in love with you.....

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22 Sep 2018

How To Stop Self-Harming and Feel More at Ease

To really understand how to stop self-harming, we first need to address what the nature of the condition entails and why it takes hold. At its core, it is rooted in the inability, or unwillingness to express emotions in a constructive manner, and through that suppression, another way must be found. What you suppress, must be expressed.....

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16 Sep 2018

How Derren Brown’s placebo effect experiment changed this man’s life

In this video psychologist Dr Becky Spelman interviews a man who's life was transformed by a placebo pill. The interview discusses the power of the mind and how beliefs and behaviours can be changed by the power of placebo. While Dr Becky usually uses Cognitive Behavioural techniques (CBT) to achieve change in her clients, TV Hypnotist Derren Brown uses an alternative approach which proves just as effective. ....

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12 Sep 2018

How to Support Someone with Autism

There’s a saying within the care industry, ‘if you’ve met someone with autism, then you’ve met one person with autism.’ There is no textbook example you can point to; no exact process to provide support. But there are some general strategies that can help.....

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09 Sep 2018

How To Talk To Your Partner About Your Sexual Assault

In this video Psychologist Dr Becky Spelman discusses a topic that comes up for many clients who have been the victims of sexual assault, it's common for people to wonder "will my parent judge me if they know I was raped'.....

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05 Sep 2018

What is Exposure Therapy?

In this video Dr Becky Spelman talks about exposure therapy and why it is so good for overcoming anxiety. Exposure therapy is a CBT technique which is very useful in helping people overcome anxiety as it helps people learn to sit with their distress and overcome it. ....

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02 Sep 2018

How to be Successful

In this video Psychologist Dr Becky Spelman talks about how to be successful. What really counts as success, how to know where to draw the line and how to know if you are spending your time in the right away.....

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31 Aug 2018

The Challenges of Caring for Someone with Dementia

One of the less welcome side effects of more people living for longer is that dementia related to ageing is becoming more common, with associated dilemmas around care—who will provide it, what can be done, and can the person in question be cared for at home, or do they need to go into an institution.....

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29 Aug 2018

Tips to Help People with Dementia

Dementia related to ageing is a progressive, incurable condition, but there are still many ways in which people with this problem can be helped to maximise their quality of life—and some of those approaches are quite surprising!....

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23 Aug 2018

How To Deal With Emotional Triggers

We’ve all been there before; one minute everything is fine and the next we’re at the centre of a huge blowout after receiving what seems like a harmless comment. The red mist descends, leaving us in a spin. Emotionally triggered, and acting against our better judgment.....

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22 Aug 2018

How to challenge unhelpful thinking – a simple strategy

In this video Dr Becky Spelman discusses a simple strategy to overcome unhelpful thinking. This techniques uses certain questions to help people overcome their unhelpful thoughts.....

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20 Aug 2018

What is the best treatment for Depression

Dr Becky Spelman discusses the depression cycle and why CBT is the most effective treatment for depression. In this video our leading Psychologist also points out why some client might want to hold off on trying medication in order to overcome depression. ....

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18 Aug 2018

Why do so many people love Sad Music?

Much of the world’s best-loved music is sad, even tragic, in nature. Themes of heartbreak, loss, anxiety, and angst are recurrent in music across all genres, from the frothiest pop to the most serious classical music or opera.....

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13 Aug 2018

Does the Long Summer Holiday Make Things Tougher for Less Affluent Children?

It’s no secret that educational outcomes are very unequal for young people in our society. The reasons why are complex. Some people are naturally more academically gifted than others. Some find it easier to sit still and pay attention in class.....

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10 Aug 2018

Why are People Attracted to Visiting Caves?

This month, the world gave a collective sigh of relief when a group of young boys and their football coach were saved, amid great danger, from the deep cave in which they had been stranded for days. Saving the boys was an expensive and dangerous operation, and one diver lost his life in the process.....

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06 Aug 2018

Can Adults be ‘Fussy Eaters’ and What Should be Done About it?

We’ve all heard hassled parents of young children bemoaning fussy eating and wondering what to do about a child who doesn’t seem to want to eat more than one or two things. The reality is that most kids who are fussy eaters will grow out of it. But what is to be done about adults who display the same sort of finicky attitude towards food?....

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04 Aug 2018

Is there such a thing as a ‘man’s brain’ or a ‘woman’s brain’?

For generations, people have been discussing the cognitive differences, or lack thereof, between women and men. For many years, under patriarchal social systems, the received wisdom was that men and women thought in quantitatively different ways and, quite simply, that men had naturally greater intellectual prowess. ....

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30 Jul 2018

Dealing with a Fear of Flying

Fear of flying can be a big setback in our modern world. It can prevent people from going on holidays that they would love to have, and cause problems at work when work trips are out of the question. People who are desperately afraid of flying can feel deeply ashamed at their inability to cope with an activity that comes to easily to most.....

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27 Jul 2018

Dr Alexandra Chrysagi – Counselling Psychologist at Private Therapy Clinic

Dr Alexandra Chrysagi is a highly skilled Psychologist at Private Therapy Clinic, she specialised in trauma, borderline personality disorder, anxiety and depression.....

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27 Jul 2018

Dr Nick Earley Clinical Psychologist

In this video Dr Nick Earley Clinical Psychologist introduces himself and discusses the type of therapy he offered and what difficulties he can treat. Dr Nick is located at the Bank branch of Private Therapy Clinic London.....

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27 Jul 2018

How can survivors of terrible tragedies like the Greek fire ever get better?

In the wake of terrible disasters, like the Greek fire that claimed a large number of lives and hurt many more just recently—or like the Grenfell disaster—we can’t help asking ourselves how the survivors cope. How does anyone ever completely recover from going through such a dreadful experience?....

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27 Jul 2018

Dr. Shirin Shams – Counselling Psychologist at Private Therapy Clinic

Dr. Shirin Shams is a Counselling Psychologist at Private Therapy Clinic. In this video she gives an introduction to what she works with and how she works. Dr. Shirin works with anxiety, depression and relationship difficulties as well as many other common mental health problems.....

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27 Jul 2018

Dr. Matthew Sawa – Consultant Psychiatrist at Private Therapy Clinic

Dr Matthew Sawa is Consultant Psychiatrist at Private Therapy Clinic. He works with a anxiety, stress, relationship, depression, psychosis, sexual abuse and carries our medico legal work to name just a few of the things he works with.....

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22 Jul 2018

How to Know When you are Ready for Starting a Family

Thanks to modern contraception methods, nowadays we get to choose if, or when, we have a baby. While this is very liberating, it also raises a whole new set of conundrums. Is it ever OK to have a baby if you feel that you aren’t completely ready? Should you wait until you have achieved perfect financial stability and your dream home or does that risk leaving it too long.....

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17 Jul 2018

Domestic Violence and Sporting Fixtures

Great sporting fixtures, such as the World Cup, can provide us with fantastic opportunities to spend time with friends and family and bond over the excitements and disappointments that we share. However, there is a dark side to these otherwise happy times in our collective lives. Research shows that domestic violence tends to soar by significant levels every time there is a major sporting fixture. They soar the most when the aggressors are disappointed because their team has lost—but they a....

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16 Jul 2018

Why Does the World Cup Matter so much, Anyway?

So, what’s the attraction of the World Cup? Evolutionary psychologists might point to the fact that, throughout most of our past as a species, we lived in small tribal societies. In this context, small-scale tribal warfare was a frequent occurrence. It was not just a battle for resources, but also a way for young men to come of age, and for young women to choose their potential mates on the basis of their physical prowess. In recent generations, women’s sports have gone from strength to stre....

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08 Jul 2018

Commemorations – celebrating important anniversaries and why it matters

Societies, families, and individuals seem to be programmed to do something to commemorate important events. From birthdays to the anniversaries and centenaries of important world events, there is a multitude of ways for celebrating important anniversaries.....

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02 Jul 2018

The psychological challenges for Niall on Love Island with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Being in a house like love Island with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) would be extremely challenging for someone. Firstly people often label the behaviours of someone with ASD as weird and people can misunderstand them and react negatively toward them as a result of this.....

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01 Jul 2018

Why is it Good to Offer Therapy in Prison?

A lot of people feel that those who have been sentenced to serve time in jail—especially for serious crimes—should not be given any “special treatment”. In other words, that their time in jail should be seen solely as a punishment. According to this view, anything beyond the basics of decent food and healthcare for physical ailments is more than most prisoners deserve.....

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30 Jun 2018

Is it Vain to Want to Look Nice?

Wanting to look attractive is a normal, healthy instinct in both women and men of all ages. As a species, we have evolved to be attracted to people who look healthy, with clear skin, shiny hair, and white teeth. As a result, our standards for beauty tend to overlap considerably with the appearance of a healthy individual. Of course, we are not all equally blessed when it comes to good looks, but by taking care of our physical and emotional health, we can all be the most attractive version of our....

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24 Jun 2018

The Psychological Benefits of Baby Massage

Baby massage, which is continuing to grow in popularity, is a great way for parents and babies to spend time together, bond, and grow in mutual confidence and understanding. Children are born with the urge to communicate, but when they are very small, they have no understanding of language. Instead, they communicate through touch. An upset child will respond to a hug or gesture of affection because they know that their parent or caregiver is showing them love. ....

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23 Jun 2018

When an elderly parent or grandparent dies

It’s always sad when someone dies, but in some ways it’s different when that person was old and had reached the end of their natural life span. They may have been in pain or discomfort, confused and upset, or all of those things, for months or even years. In these situations, the initial response may be one of relief that they have been spared further suffering.....

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18 Jun 2018

Dealing with Racism

When they are asked, most people agree that racism is a problem and maintain that they are not racists—and yet, racism persists throughout society in a wide range of obvious and less obvious ways. To tackle racism, we first need to understand it.....

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16 Jun 2018

Is it ever a good idea to get your DNA tested?

In recent years it has become progressively easier and cheaper to get one’s DNA tested, and more and more people are doing so. In the process, they are finding out a lot about themselves—and they are not always prepared for it! One major issue is that a lot of people are finding half-siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles that they didn’t know about. It’s simply not true that infidelity is a modern phenomenon. ....

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11 Jun 2018

Votes for Women!

Full voting rights were extended to women in 1928. A generation later, in the 1960s, the modern women’s liberation movement emerged, with women demanding greater control over their reproductive freedoms, equal treatment at work, and so forth. Arguably, other social movements such as the gay rights movement and (in the US) the civil rights movement, would never have happened without the women’s liberation movement, which was a trailblazer in terms of achieving broad-ranging changes across soc....

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04 Jun 2018

Why is it Important to Forgive?

When someone treats us badly, we can be left with feelings of anger and bitterness that last long after the immediate effects of the mistreatment. Sometimes these feelings can even cause us more harm than the behaviour. For this reason, it is essential to learn how to forgive. The idea of forgiving someone who has done something awful can be very difficult to accept. What about murderers, rapists, domestic abusers, and other violent criminals? What makes them deserving of forgiveness at all?....

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02 Jun 2018

Living with Chronic Illness

More people than ever are living with chronic illness, for a variety of reasons. More of us are living to advanced ages, and we all tend to accumulate health problems as we get older. Medical care has improved, which means that more people survive serious accidents, and find themselves living with a chronic condition afterwards, and medication is better, which means that many conditions, such as HIV/AIDS, which used to be a death sentence, can now be managed with medication. At the same time, ou....

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28 May 2018

Why do People believe in Ghosts?

Beliefs in ghosts, and stories about ghosts, are found in cultures all over the world, and even in modern societies, a lot of people believe in them—or at least, they don’t quite disbelieve in them! Given that ghost stories are a constant, found in all cultures and all time periods, it’s safe to say that a predisposition to believe in ghosts is part of the human condition. But why?....

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26 May 2018

Worried you’ll be forced to leave the UK?

If you are looking to immigrate to the UK, or for leave to remain, you may be asked to provide medical and psychological reports to support your claim. If you're worried you’ll be forced to leave the UK, there are many ways in which Psychologists can help with your immigration matters.....

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24 May 2018

Challenges Facing Millennial Parents

Every generation of parents faces new challenges when it comes to raising their kids, and millennials are no different. Millennials are defined as the generation born from the 1980s to the 2000s. That puts many of them squarely in their child-bearing and raising years and they have a lot of important decisions to make! ....

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18 May 2018

The Royal Wedding – Why Do We Care So Much?

From the tabloid press to the most respectable newspapers in the market, the upcoming marriage of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry is getting loads of coverage, and the public is lapping it all up. But why is a royal wedding such big news anyway, and why we do care so much?....

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17 May 2018

The Psychology of Compensation

It has been well documented in the area of psychology that when someone has a weakness, or a perceived weakness, it can drive them to compensate in other areas, either consciously or unconsciously. They can go to great lengths to compensate in positive ways, potentially leading to tremendous success—but also potentially leading to negative consequences.....

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14 May 2018

What is Unconscious Bias and What are We Supposed to do About it?

Most people do their best to avoid being biased. We are aware of the existence in society of issues like racism and sexism, and we generally make an effort not to be discriminatory. We do this by being aware of our conscious biases, and then taking affirmative action against them.....

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11 May 2018

Is Crying Good for us?

First of all, crying is part of what makes us human. While all mammals have tear ducts that produce moisture to lubricate the eye and keep it clean, only humans produce tears that leave their eyes and roll down their faces when they are feeling sad. Tears are part of who we are.....

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06 May 2018

Anxiety and How to Deal with the Current Political Climate

Growing numbers of people around the world are experiencing stress and anxiety related to the current political climate. If they already have an underlying mental health issue, their worries about politics are making it worse—and even people who have never been diagnosed with a disorder are experiencing anxiety around this matter. So, what’s going on? Why are so many people upset about this area?....

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03 May 2018

Watch your Language! – Why it Matters What Words we Choose

Language is not a constant, but a changing, living tool for communication that shifts and adapts as society does. Go back a thousand years in Britain, and you’ll have a lot of trouble understanding what people are saying. But you don’t have to go back that far to start noticing how much language has changed, even in a relatively short time.....

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29 Apr 2018

What we Choose to Remember, and why it Matters

This week, thanks to the work of Caroline Criado Perez, London’s Parliament Square has seen the erection of its first statue depicting a woman, Millicent Fawcett, who campaigned for women’s right to vote for sixty years, and finally saw the Equal Franchise Act passed in 1928, a year before she died.....

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26 Apr 2018

Pull yourself up after being put down!

What can you do when your partner keeps putting you down? When they make fun of your ideas or appearance, and belittle you at home or in public? After all, they are the one who is supposed to love and support you, no matter what. If you are constantly at the brunt of their negative feedback, what does that say about your relationship, and how they really feel about you?....

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22 Apr 2018

Ever asked yourself “How can therapy help me?”

Therapy is not just for people with serious mental illness—although it is essential for anyone in that situation—but for everyone who is going through a difficult period, or who is struggling to manage their relationship with the important people in their lives, or to juggle the many commitments that they are dealing with.....

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21 Apr 2018

Is somebody gaslighting you?

The term “gaslighting” originally comes from a theatre play, later developed as a movie, in which a husband gradually convinces his wife that her own memory and perceptions are faulty, even causing her to doubt her own sanity, so as to cover up a crime that he has committed.....

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17 Apr 2018

Recovering from a parent’s addiction

Having a parent who is addicted to drugs or alcohol has been identified as a major challenge to children in terms of developing the skills of resilience that they will need in life. Children of addicts are significantly more likely to grow up to have a range of mental health issues of their own, including addiction. Children who live with emotional and/or material neglect because of a parent’s addiction often grow up into adults with issues of their own.....

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15 Apr 2018

How to be a “good enough” parent

No sooner does a woman announce her pregnancy than she is bombarded with well-meaning advice on how to take care of the future child. It seems as though everyone is suddenly an expert. And with fathers increasingly playing a very active role in childcare, they’re not immune from all the unwanted advice, either.....

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14 Apr 2018

Is the Internet good for our mental health?

People suffering from mental or emotional health issues often turn first to the Internet in an effort to find answers to their questions. Depending on how they use the Internet, and interact with the people they meet there, they may find it an invaluable resource, or their Internet use could risk making their mental or emotional health issues even worse.....

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12 Apr 2018

Can mental ill-health lead to physical illness?

People sometimes struggle to accept that mental health issues are worthy of treatment in their own right. Unfortunately, while a lot of work has been done to destigmatise mental health issues, some people still feel ashamed or embarrassed if they need support in this area.....

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09 Apr 2018

Why does we get so psychologically attached to our pets – Is cloning your dog or cat going to far?

Veteran performer Barbra Streisand has been in the news lately for cloning her pet dog—not just once but twice! So, why clone a pet? The motivation isn’t very hard to understand. Our pets become part of the fabric of our lives, and we love them dearly.....

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03 Apr 2018

Faking Psychological Issues to Get Ahead?

It’s to society’s credit that we increasingly make provision for people with special needs in a wide range of circumstances, and that we increasingly understand that these special needs can be psychological, emotional, or neurological rather than, or as well as, simply physical.....

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01 Apr 2018

The Modern Tribe – Finding Our Place

In order to understand human behaviour—including our own—it’s important to know a little about how human societies evolved. Modern humans are reckoned to have been in existence for about 100,000 years. For almost all of that time, our societies (like those of chimpanzees, gorillas and other primates) were arranged along tribal lines.....

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29 Mar 2018

What is Emotional Eating, and What Can we Do About it?

At a time when it seems that every week brings a new spate of media coverage about the obesity epidemic, it’s more important than ever to understand the role of emotional eating. So, what is emotional eating? What does the term mean? Where does it come from? Many of us turn to food when we are feeling down—and also when we are feeling good. Why?....

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27 Mar 2018

What Everyone Needs to Know about Neurotransmitters!

Neurotransmitters are responsible for a chemical in our brain implicated in feeling good, because our bodies secrete it when they have an experience that we interpret as pleasant. Neurotransmitters can have a very profound effect on how we live. When we give ourselves a “little treat” or see a friend, or even have a nice cup of tea after a busy day at work, neurotransmitters makes us feel that much better about our life and leaves us wanting more.....

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24 Mar 2018

Why Do We Enjoy Violence?

Back in the days of Freud, psychologists and psychotherapists tried to rationalise the human drive to see or experience violence and death, and the fact that those who have suffered trauma tended to return to it again and again in terms of natural instinct. They failed, however, to reach consensus about our attraction to death.....

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23 Mar 2018

Can Stress Make Me Sick?

Stress is a normal function and, at times, stress can be very useful. For example, when we are facing an imminent threat (for instance, if we are crossing the road and there’s a car barrelling towards us, or if someone is trying to attack us) we go into fight-or-flight mode. Our body secretes an extra burst of adrenaline, and we are better able to remove ourselves from danger. In emergency situations, stress can help us to stay safe.....

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19 Mar 2018

Establishing Boundaries With Borderline Personality Disorder

It can be very difficult to be in a romantic relationship with someone with a borderline personality disorder. For anyone with this condition, it can be hard to understand how others experience their often erratic and risky behaviour, and they can lash out when anyone tries to rein them in, not realising on any level how much they are hurting the people they care about most. However, there are many coping mechanisms that can make life with someone with borderline personality disorder a lot easie....

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16 Mar 2018

Could Anxious Attachment be Causing Your Relationship Problems?

We use the term “attachment” to describe the warm feelings that one person develops for another individual who is important to them. The first attachment we form in life is typically for our mother, or primary caregiver, and the way in which this attachment forms has profound repercussions for the rest of our lives. Secure attachment means that the person in question does not doubt the love or care of those who matter to them.....

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12 Mar 2018

When will Life Get Back to Normal Now that the Baby is Here?

Having a new baby—especially a first baby—is something that no book can really prepare anyone for. Life can seem to be turned upside down as Mum and Dad adjust to the new arrival, and they may wonder how long things are going to seem so topsy-turvy. Some women suffer from post-partum depression.....

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11 Mar 2018

No need to panic!

Panic attacks are quite common, and most people will experience at least one in the course of their lives. They are formally defined as consisting of the sudden onset of extremely intense feelings of fear or discomfort that grow quickly, and reach a peak within just a few minutes. The symptoms they involve include palpitations, an intensely accelerated heart rate, sweating, trembling, and a feeling of being short of breath or being smothered.....

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09 Mar 2018

What’s gender non-conformity, and how do I know if I am gender non-conforming?

There’s a lot of talk about gender in the media these days, and a lot of people are thinking about what it means to be a man or woman, a girl or a boy. But what does it mean to “conform” or to be “non-conforming” when we talk about gender? Different societies come up with different norms for males and females.....

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06 Mar 2018

Why do we Tell Lies?

Why do people sometimes tell lies? Sometimes the reasons are obvious: to avoid getting into trouble when we have done something wrong; to make things easier for ourselves; to make ourselves look more impressive in certain situations.....

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04 Mar 2018

Goals for Winning at Life

Setting goals in our personal lives is something that a lot of us struggle with. Whether we want to lose weight, or work on our pension plan, there are always many reasons to put our goals on the long finger. However, most of us are much better at reaching the goals we are set, or set ourselves, at work. ....

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02 Mar 2018

Heart not Parts—the Rise of Pansexuality

To put it simply, whereas a bixsexual person typically identifies as being romantically and sexually attracted to people of both sexes, pansexual people recognise that gender identity is often more complex than a straightforward male/female division, and that they are potentially sexually attracted to anyone. Pansexual people (“pan” comes from the ancient Greek word for “all”) are not sexually attracted to people of any particular gender, so anyone is potentially a mate for them, includi....

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25 Feb 2018

Is polyamory ever a good idea?

Polyamory refers to having more than one romantic relationship at the same time—with everyone involved aware of, and in agreement with, the situation. There are endless permutations. Polyamory could be a woman living with two men and enjoying a sexual relationship with both of them, or a man with two women, or a married couple who have opened their relationship to hetero-, homo-, or bisexual relationships that do not challenge the marriage bond—or more.....

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24 Feb 2018

What’s the difference between psychopathy and schizophrenia?

Psychopathy and schizophrenia are both frequently represented in popular culture—in thrillers and on TV shows—and they are both significantly more common among men than women, with the result that they are often confused and conflated. However, they are two very different conditions.....

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21 Feb 2018

What’s Gender Dysphoria?

Gender dysphoria refers to a mental condition whereby the individual has the strong sense, sustained over a long period of time, that they are “in the wrong body”. This gives rise to intense feelings of distress that, in some cases, are alleviated by medical and/or surgical intervention to make the body look more like that of the sex the person identifie....

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19 Feb 2018

Can I be happy on my own?

Our society puts people under huge pressure to meet someone and settle down, to the extent that those of us who are single are often left wondering if there’s something wrong with us. Why don’t we want the same thing as everyone else?....

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04 Feb 2018

Irrational fear of dying when falling asleep

Poppy had an irrational fear of dying when trying to fall asleep, this anxiety issue involves all sorts of catastrophic thoughts for Poppy. Poppy attended 7 sessions of CBT with Psychologist Dr. Daniela Rossi in order to tackle and overcome her fear. In this video Poppy explains her issues behind her irrational fear of dying when falling asleep, before coming in for the initial assessments.....

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01 Feb 2018

Why you should consider a digital detox

As a regular user of social media and a person who has to use my laptop and phone constantly for work including Skyping many of my clients I have become really aware of the impact that being glued to my digital devices can have on me. Communicating with friends on social media can be a lot of fun, and a good way to stay in touch with people in far-flung places, but it’s important to remember that nothing beats face-to-face interaction with the people we care about. No matter how busy you are, ....

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30 Jan 2018

What can you do when your partner keeps putting you down?

What can you do when your partner keeps putting you down? After all, they are the one who is supposed to love and support you, no matter what. First of all, you need to take a step back and assess what’s going on. Are the put-downs a pattern of behaviour that has been established for some time? Do they seem to be designed to damage your self-esteem? ....

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29 Jan 2018

When a parent is addicted to drugs or alcohol

A parent who is addicted to drugs or alcohol has been identified as a major challenge to children in terms of developing the skills of resilience that they will need in life. In practical terms, an addicted parent is often functionally absent from their child’s life, as they can be so chaotic and troubled themselves that they are not always able to parent effectively.....

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28 Jan 2018

How To Effectively Set Life Goals

Setting life goals in our personal lives is something that a lot of us struggle with. Whether we want to lose weight, or work on our pension plan, there are always many reasons to put our goals on the long finger. However, most of us are much better at reaching the goals we are set, or set ourselves, at work.....

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30 Dec 2017

Why do New Year’s resolutions often fail?

It’s rolling around to the time of the year when it seems like everyone makes a commitment to be better next year. But by mid-February almost all New Year’s resolutions have been broken. Understanding why can help you make real, long-lasting changes as you head into 2018 and beyond.....

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28 Dec 2017

7 tips for getting over the January blues

The initial winter period is always an exciting time, with Christmas to plan and New Year’s Eve celebrations to look forward to. Yet when January finally rolls around it can seem a bit anti-climactic. The weather is still chilly, it’s dark in the evenings, and it can seem like events you’re looking forward to are way off in the future.....

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26 Dec 2017

Every human has mental health difficulties

When you’re struggling with mental health, it’s easy to think that you’re alone. But at some point in their life every human has mental health difficulties and with the right support and treatment, it is possible to overcome the challenges to live a fulfilling and satisfying life. Research shows that one in four people suffer with mental health difficulties in a more chronic way, significantly affecting their lives.....

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24 Dec 2017

Being in a relationship with an older woman – Can it work when the man is much younger?

Age differences in a relationship can be challenging and leave many couples questioning if their partnership can survive the years between them. While an older man going out with a younger woman is common and generally accepted, society can be a little less open minded when it comes to an older woman choosing to date a man that’s much younger than her. But that certainly doesn’t mean it can’t work out.....

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18 Dec 2017

Is it bad if you desire fame?

In today’s society, it’s hard to deny the fact that most, if not all people, are in some way interested in the lives of the rich and famous. Whether it be following the Instagram account of your favorite celebrity or finding out the latest news in glossy magazines, we all keep up to date with what is going on in celebrity’s lives in one way or another. Because famous people often have a lot of money, live in nice houses and drive fancy cars, it’s easy for others to draw a link between be....

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15 Dec 2017

How to survive Christmas physically and mentally

In popular culture, it’s cited as the most wonderful time of the year, but we all know that Christmas can be stressful for everyone involved. Whether it’s having to deal with difficult relatives, shopping for children that have everything or making time for your 101 social commitments, it can feel more like an extra job than an enjoyable holiday to spend with family and friends. If the Christmas panic is already setting in and you want to ensure that you don’t let it get the better of you,....

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13 Dec 2017

How to choose the perfect Christmas present

It’s that time of the year where high streets are filled with shoppers wandering up and down looking for the perfect Christmas present for their loved ones. If you’re one of those people that’s filled with dread at the thought of having to choose a gift this season or you’re worried about how to choose the perfect Christmas present, we’ve got the tips that you’ve been looking for. If you’re not sure what to get this Christmas it can be a stress inducing experience.....

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09 Dec 2017

“Worrying thoughts”: What if we’re doing it wrong?

Let me ask you a question: Is anxiety and fear a major problem in your life? I’m sure you won’t be surprised to know that whether your answer is “Yes ” you are in good company. If you answered “yes” the chance is that: you have developed a problem with anxiety and you struggle. You may be suffering from: panic, worries, painful memories or physical pain. You may feel broken, damaged and think that something is wrong with you, you might have tried many different things to cope. Does a....

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08 Dec 2017

How to be successful

Whether it be in our careers or relationships, one thing that we are all constantly striving for is success. Being successful means different things to different people, but there are a few common characteristics that we all associate with the word - including money and happiness. So, how can we go about getting the elusive and often difficult to achieve success that we dream of?....

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06 Dec 2017

Tips on dealing with SAD

We all have to cope with our low mood when the seasons change and as the colder weather sets in, many of us will feel pangs of depression taking over as the carefree feelings that the summer induces slowly ebbs away. Believe it or not, this feeling actually has a diagnosed name and condition. Known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), this depression is related to the changes of season.....

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30 Nov 2017

Why balanced diets are the only ones that work long term

Open any magazine or check any of your social media accounts and you’re likely to be bombarded with news of a new diet. It seems that every week celebrities are adopting a different plan when it comes to food and completely changing their diet in pursuit of weight loss and the perfect body. While most of us are aware that they don’t work, we have all been led astray by crash and fad diets when we are trying to lose weight. ....

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27 Nov 2017

The psychology behind cults

Cults can come in many different forms. Members of a cult may be obsessed by a cult figure, or leader, who they believe speaks unrivalled wisdom and consequently hang on to every word of. Similarly, members of a cult may be fascinated by achieving an outcome or goal espoused in a text and, after becoming so transfixed by what they believe, blindly follow the teachings or orders of the text so they can better themselves or reap the supposed rewards. ....

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24 Nov 2017

Dr Kannika Sukantara Psychologist in Bangkok

Dr Kannika is a highly experienced Chartered Psychologist specialising in the relationship between physical health and mental and emotional well-being. Dr Kannika works for Private Therapy Clinic in Bangkok.....

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15 Nov 2017

The psychology behind Pyramid schemes

Pyramid schemes are a curious yet deceitful phenomenon. The scheme works through an initial recruiter, who forms the apex of the pyramid, offering a lucrative deal of goods or services in return for investment. In order to make back the money they’ve spent investing, the initial recruit has to recruit more members, with those members then having to recruit even more to get their money back and so on.....

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11 Nov 2017

Can I fly with my therapy dog?

Do you use a therapy dog and want to travel? If you’re not sure what the rules and regulations are of travelling with your therapy pup (or other therapy animals) we’ve got all the information that you need.....

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03 Nov 2017

Stock Market Millionaire Turned Ecstasy Dealer Interview

This is the first episode in our online series that interviews interesting people who have lead extraordinary lives delving deep in to their psychological worlds. It features stock market millionaire turned ecstasy dealer, Shaun Attwood, who is interviewed by Psychologist Dr Becky Spelman.....

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25 Oct 2017

The Psychology of Why Adults Enjoy Halloween

Halloween is a holiday characterised by ghosts, monsters and the consumption of excessive amounts of sweets. It’s also something that is mostly marketed at children, with many confectionary brands and toy retailers offering spookily themed Halloween products.....

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24 Oct 2017

The symptoms and challenges of Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder, formally known as manic depression, is a condition that can severely affect your mood and wellbeing, meaning you swing from one extreme to the other. It can be a difficult condition to live with, interfering with everyday tasks but with the right treatment and support in place, it is possible to manage the symptoms and mood swings, allowing you to live a fulfilled and happy life. ....

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21 Oct 2017

Clinical Psychologist Dr Jodie Waterhouse Video

Dr. Jodie Waterhouse is an excellent Clinical Psychologist with vast amount of experiences. Dr. Jodie is a very active participant in treating her clients, she works both in and outside the therapy room. She works with all common mental health difficulties helping both adults and adolescents.....

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12 Oct 2017

Why changing your thought processes can have a big impact on your life

How we think about situations has a huge impact on how we react and move past things. It can be easy to fall into a negative thought cycle, stopping us from living fulfilling and satisfying lives. But there are ways that you can break these adverse thoughts that we have fallen into.....

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10 Oct 2017

Dr Becky Spelman discusses ADHD on Sky One

Transcription: “What do you think of when you hear the term ADHD? Erm… I believe it’s people who have a lot of energy. I have it myself, so a lot of teachers they wouldn’t they would say it’s hard to teach someone with ADHD because they can’t concentrate. Basically is an attention seeking disorder where you can’t focus long at times or you can have a child way about you.......

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13 Oct 2017

5 steps for dealing with the last effects of trauma

When you’re faced with a traumatic event in your life, coming to terms and dealing with the long-lasting effects of trauma are often challenging. It’s an area that many people struggle with and the impact of a traumatic event varies widely from person to person. Even when you’ve dealt with the initial shock and emotions of a traumatic event, issues associated with the event can continue to plague you for long after.....

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04 Oct 2017

Child psychologist Tamara Musso Introduction Video

My name is Tamara Licht, I am a child and adult psychologist. I work for Private Therapy Clinic. My biggest area of expertise is working with children, teenagers and their parents. [er] usually treatment with children and teenagers involves working not only with the parents but sometimes it might be necessary, if the parents consent to it, to contact [er] other professionals....

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25 Sep 2017

Questions To Ask When Choosing A New Therapist

As a psychologist, it’ll come as no surprise that I thoroughly believe that therapy can go a long way towards helping you with your problems. Whether it’s coming to terms with a loss, working through relationship issues or accepting a big change in your life, a therapist can help you to handle situations emotionally and mentally.....

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22 Sep 2017

Everyday Lifestyle Changes To Help With Depression

Millions of people around the world suffer with depression and though we’ve all blurted out “I am SO depressed!” when something isn’t going our way, the impact of struggling with diagnosed depression is a hard one to bare. It isn’t a slight feeling of sadness that will go when the problem is resolved, depression can rear its ugly head when it's least expected and it can stick around. ....

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21 Sep 2017

How Does Social Media Affect Relationships?

We can credit social media with a lot of things and most of them are positive. As a social media user myself, I am more than aware of the enjoyment and fun that we, as users, get out of it and a lot of this stems from gaining validation through likes and comments. After all, who doesn’t enjoy scrolling through Twitter and keeping up to date with friends on Facebook? However, there’s an ongoing question as to whether social media negatively affects relationship.....

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15 Sep 2017

Is Your Relationship With Your Child A Healthy One?

Every parent wants their child to grow up happy and healthy, and a lot of this comes from the way a child is parented from the very beginning. A relationship with a parent is one of the most important a child will have in their lifetime, and it’s the one that shapes them the most as they grow.......

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08 Sep 2017

7 tips for improving your sleeping patterns

If you’ve got something on your mind getting to sleep can be a challenge and it doesn’t just mean waking up in the morning feeling groggy. Poor sleeping patterns can have a big impact on both your physical and mental health. But tackling sleeping problems, whether it’s just the occasional bad night’s sleep you’re having or a potential sleep disorder, can be quite a challenge.....

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04 Sep 2017

What is cognitive behavioural therapy?

If you’re considering using therapy to help you overcome personal issues, you might have heard the term cognitive behavioural therapy. This successful form of psychotherapy, also sometimes called talking therapy, can help give you the right strategies to improve your own behavioural patterns and the way that you look at things.......

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01 Sep 2017

4 everyday steps to take to boost self-esteem

Low self-esteem is a relatively common problem but that doesn’t mean that it shouldn’t be taken seriously. Affecting many different people for a variety of reasons, low self-esteem negatively influences other aspects of your life, limiting the joy and fulfilment you should be experiencing.......

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29 Aug 2017

What impact does porn addiction have on relationships?

Easy access to the internet means that people are watching porn younger and more frequently than ever before. While for most people it doesn’t impact on their daily lives and can even be a healthy activity for a relationship, porn addiction can have hugely negative effects for individuals and couples and it’s a growing problem.......

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24 Aug 2017

The stages of surviving a relationship breakup

Any relationship breakup can be difficult to get over for both parties but sometimes dealing with it can have a long-lasting impact. Some people find that they’re left with low self-esteem and struggling to cope with the emotional pain. But the good news is that with the right health and support you can get through the common stages of a breakup.......

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23 Aug 2017

Has the Stigma behind Mental Health finally ended?

People are talking much more about depression lately. Part of the reason why is that mental health stigma is lessening, leading to more people talking about it, and partly it’s because mental health is being researched and is in the news more. Whatever the reason as to why it’s happening, it couldn’t come at a better time.......

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09 Aug 2017

Infidelity And How Therapy Can Help

Some researchers point out that sexual monogamy is not common in the animal world but is instead a construct of human beings that tends to conflict with the biological desire for multiple sexual partners. Despite this fact, many people continue to aspire to such ideals and many cultures throughout the world demand sexual fidelity by harshly punishing those who stray.......

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07 Aug 2017

Easy ways to destroy your relationship

American authors Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor wrote “Whisper a dangerous secret to someone you care about. Now they have the power to destroy you, but they won't. This is what love is.” They may have been being funny, but there’s some truth lurking behind their words.......

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28 Jul 2017

Are you stuck in a co-dependent triangle?

Let me know if this sounds familiar: you’ve been in a relationship, friendly or romantic, and someone else comes into the mix. Maybe they’re your partner’s colleague, or maybe a friend’s roommate. Whatever the reason, since you all started hanging out together, the three of you take on some very distinct roles.....

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25 Jul 2017

How fantasies can boost your sex life

Sexual fantasies often get a bad rap. You may feel guilty for daydreaming about Chris Hemsworth sweeping in to rescue you and then leading you to bed, feeling that you’re mentally cheating on your partner and that your fantasy means you’re not really a feminist. This is categorically not true.....

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24 Jul 2017

Why do some women cheat?

If you’re reading this because you’re thinking of cheating on your partner, do one thing before you close this page: think about why you’re thinking of cheating on them. Are they not sexy anymore? Do they not care? Has the spark gone, or are you worried about sharing something of yours—like a fantasy or a fetish—with them, because of how they’ll react?....

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22 Jul 2017

How do we spot a Personality Disorder?

I generally feel uneasy talking about client’s problems using diagnosis, as I don’t think this necessarily helps clients make sense of their difficulties. However, I’m also aware that sometimes clients find comfort in receiving a diagnosis, something that instantly materialises their internal struggle; seeing their difficulties becoming real and “finally out”, not just in their head.....

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20 Jul 2017

Margery Parsons Psychodynamic Therapist at Private Therapy Clinic

Margery Parson is a Psychodynamic Therapist who consults at at Private Therapy Clinic. In this video she explains how she came to be a therapist in the first place.....

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29 Jun 2017

What Is Walking Depression?

Have you ever heard about “Walking” or “Smiling” depression? Don’t be surprised if you have not. In a society where our lives appear to be increasingly defined by the mantra “I’m doing therefore I am”....

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09 Feb 2017

Dr Becky Spelman on Sky News: The Economy of Relationships

Dr. Becky Spelman discusses the gumtree research and how much you will spend on average across various stages of the relationship cycle. ....

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25 Dec 2016

Commitment Phobia discussion with Dr Becky Spelman

Dr Becky Spelman discusses fear of commitment on a UK talk show. What is commitment phobia, where does it come from and how to overcoming it.....

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25 Dec 2016

What is Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)?

Dr Becky Spelman is a Psychologist who’s main area of speciality is borderline personality disorder (BPD). In this video Dr Becky discusses borderline personality disorder (BPD) in detail covering the following areas: – Where does borderline personality disorder come from in the first place. – How to know if you might have borderline personality disorder. – What difficulties do people with borderline personality disorder experience. – What approaches are helpful for borderline per....

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25 Dec 2016

What to do if you aren’t happy with your therapist

Dr. Becky Spelman discusses what to do if there are problems in the relationship with your therapist. When to stick out the relationship, when to call it a day and what is the best way to confront your therapist.....

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15 Dec 2016

Are you walking on Eggshells in your relationship?

Intimate relationships with the ones we love are all about compromise. In a partnership, it is normal and appropriate for people to check with their significant others before making decisions that are going to affect the couple. ....

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15 Dec 2016

Breaking up under the Mistletoe

Christmas can be the happiest time of the year, but it is also a time when relationships of all sort can come to the boil. A significant number of romantic relationships and marriages break up at Christmas time. So, what is going on?....

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13 Dec 2016

December Newsletter

It's that time of year where Halloween costumes and decorations sits near the supermarket entrances and everybody has only now just got used to writing '2016' on documents.....

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09 Dec 2016

Flying with Wifi – the Pros and Cons

In today’s ever-connected world, the plane is one of the few places where we get a few hours’ respite from our mobile phones. So is that a good thing or a bad thing? Speaking as a psychologist, I have often noticed that our technological age seems to bring out ADD symptoms in many of us. Because we know that we can access instant entertainment just by picking up our phones, we often find it hard to concentrate on tasks that call for a period of sustained focus. I know that I often have that....

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18 Nov 2016

Is a Dyslexia Assessment beneficial?

Dyslexia impacts on the ability to read and write, is a common condition that can have serious implications for educational and career prospects. However, there are many approaches that can mitigate against its effects, and dyslexia sufferers have the legal right to special help in a range of circumstances via an dyslexia assessment. ....

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18 Nov 2016

What is Compassion Focussed Therapy?

Compassion Focused Therapy combines Cognitive Behavioural Therapy with knowledge from fields that include neuroscience and an understanding of our evolutionary past to help patients enhance their ability to feel compassion towards themselves and others. ....

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18 Nov 2016

What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy?

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, a form of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, maximises your chances to be fulfilled and happy by helping you to accept that there are some things in life you can’t control, and that you can engage actively in doing things that make your life better. ....

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18 Nov 2016

How to overcome a break up

When an important relationship ends, it can be the start of a very difficult time. Sometimes, things seem to get harder as the weeks and months pass, rather than easier, as we think they should. Life can be even more complicated when children are involved and we keep having to see our ex for practical reasons.....

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12 Nov 2016

Brits crave all the likes – social media addiction

Dr Becky Spelman explains instant gratification needed by Brits in the form of social media likes, tweets and shares, with the average Brit spending over 2 hours a day across 3 social media accounts.....

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10 Nov 2016

Zayn Malik and his Anxiety Disorder

The world got to know Zayn Malik as the cute young man who sang and danced in boyband One Direction, and millions of teenage girls were devastated when he left the band. With his brooding good looks and successful career, Zayn seemed to have it all before he had even left his early twenties.....

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05 Nov 2016

Too Scared to Push? Fear of Childbirth/Afraid of Giving Birth?

While it’s perfectly normal for any woman to experience some nervousness or anxiety around childbirth, for some the fear of childbirth becomes so great that it can actually have a huge impact on their lives and the decisions they take. When fear of childbirth becomes so overwhelming, it is considered a phobia known as “tokophobia”. Tokophobia is a psychological disorder whereby the woman’s fear of giving birth involves a dramatic over-estimation of the actual dangers involved. While thin....

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03 Nov 2016

Being a CBT therapist in London – Interview with Tara McCloskey

Tara McCloskey is a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist (CBT), working both in private practice for the Private Therapy Clinic and for the NHS. She provides therapy both in English and in Farsi and was born and lives in London. Today I interviewed Tara to find out more about her role as a CBT therapist, her lifestyle and what her job involves.....

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27 Oct 2016

Theory of mind, schizotypy, and persecutory ideation in young adults

Previous studies of the relation between theory of mind (ToM) and schizotypy have suggested that ToM deficits may be associated with positive signs (e.g., hallucination- and delusion-like experiences). Good theoretical reasons exist to suggest that this relation may be largely due to ToMdeficits being predominantly associated with the occurrence of persecutory delusion-like beliefs. This study set out to test this hypothesis and address limitations of previous research.....

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23 Oct 2016

October Newsletter

It's that time of year where Halloween costumes and decorations sits near the supermarket entrances and everybody has only now just got used to writing '2016' on documents.....

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22 Sep 2016

Interview with 2FM on Lights Out

Dr Becky Spelman's chat with Eoghan McDermott on 2fm, talking fear, phobias and scary movies such as the movie Lights Out.....

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02 Sep 2016

Mental Health Issues are More Common than You Think

Mental health issues are more common than you think. Our short video offers some interesting statistics. A video by The Private Therapy Clinic....

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16 Feb 2015

Is nostalgia good for us?

We all fall prey to nostalgia from time to time. When we are middle-aged or elderly, we tend to remember an idealised version of the past, when we were young and gorgeous, and everything seemed to be so much simpler. Similarly, collectively we often yearn for times gone by. Looked at from the distance of today, it often seems that things were easier in the past. This seems to be a sort of nostalgia to which the British are particularly prone, as evidenced by the massive success of TV shows like ....

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02 Sep 2016

Uncertainty & The Availability of Information

Uncertainty and fear can fundamentally create an atmosphere of anxiety and on a macro scale this can lead to cultural change that hardwires anxieties into the population. How many people would now pick up an unattended bag on the train to hand it in to lost property?....

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18 Aug 2016

Psychologist OR Psychiatrist

It can be confusing to know whether you need a Psychologist or a Psychiatrist and many people don't know the different between the two. To receive clarification on which expert you should see follow this helpful infographic. Psychologist ofter talking therapy and are usually trained in a number of different therapeutic approaches. Psychiatrists are medical doctors and can prescribe medication. Psychiatrists can recommend the best type of talking therapy for you. Both Psychologists and Psychiatri....

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17 Aug 2016

Which type of therapy approach would suit me best?

It can be confusing with so many different approaches out there, answer these questions to find out which of the main approaches would benefit you the most out of the following: CBT, Psychodynamic, EMDR or integrative therapy. ....

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