Dr. Becky Spelman

The average British woman endures 7 years seeking an autism diagnosis. Seven years of unexplained meltdowns. Seven years of bewildering...

For most people, routine can often be a take it or leave it kind of thing. Most neurotypical individuals can...

The hidden code makes it feel like there is one size fits all solution to being in a relationship both...

Executive dysfunction in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is more than just a clinical symptom. It actually relates to a much...

Masking in autism is a complex coping mechanism which many people on the higher functioning end of the spectrum engage...

Given the ongoing normalisation of neurodivergent conditions, it might be hard to believe, but before 2013, doctors were not allowed...

One of the biggest misconceptions surrounding Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is people who live with the condition are in some...

In many ways, dating someone with mild autism is no different from dating anyone else. We all have our likes...

Because autism is so rooted in a fundamental difficulty with transitions for so many people, and because the sexual experience...

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are distinct conditions that can present similarly, leading to significant diagnostic...

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are distinct conditions with fundamental differences in their nature and manifestation. Autism...

Have you ever felt like you’re watching the world through a different lens than everyone else? If you‘re an adult...

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) in men is a condition which is rarely talked about. BPD is characterised by emotional instability...

The term “Favourite Person” (FP) is often used in the context of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) to refer to someone...

Living with Petulant BPD presents a unique set of challenges that sets it apart from the other other subtypes of...

For adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), particularly those on the higher functioning end, scripting is often one of those...

Autistic shutdowns are complex neurological response to overwhelming stimuli or stress, which can present in varying ways depending on an...

As a woman with high functioning autism (HFA), navigating life may feel like a constant performance, leading to an intense...

You may have heard the term “Asperger’s Syndrome” used before in relation to autism. This used to be the name...

The fawn trauma response is a survival strategy that stems from experiences of neglect, trauma or insecure attachment styles. It...

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a relatively common mental disorder that develops in response to a traumatic experience, such as...

Have you ever felt like your anger is invalid? Have you been trying to suppress your anger only to find...

Labels like Autism (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can help us identify areas of behaviour that require support,...

Was the word ‘autism’ never on your radar until recently? If you suspect your lifelong social struggles, intense interests, or...

Do you ever wonder why you struggle with certain tasks that others seem to find second nature? Do you feel...

To really understand how to stop self-harming, we first need to address what the nature of the condition entails and...

Often, our own thought processes hold us back from achieving all that we can. In order to make sure that...

Dr Becky Spelman from Private Therapy Clinic talks about whether it's appropriate to allow your partner to be friends with...

Erectile dysfunction can be the source of much embarrassment for men. Sexual performance is so closely associated with masculinity that...

We all like to think we’ll never become our parents. But the inescapable fact is that we model our behaviour...

Have you ever felt like your brain was on overdrive? Or found it impossible to concentrate even when you feel super-motivated? If...

We live in a far more progressive world than we did 20 years ago. And in another 20 years we’ll...

Fraser from the Private Therapy Clinic is back again and today he'll be discussing a very interesting and trendy topic...

The question of how to overcome narcissistic abuse isn’t quite as straightforward as it is with otherwise amicable break-ups. The...

So Raheem Sterling (England, Manchester City) has admitted to seeing a psychiatrist. This is news because? After I read the...

Obsession is the constant focus of our attention on anything or anyone that causes us to lose our grip on...

Over the past few years, we’ve seen the rise of cancel culture on social media, in particular. on Twitter, given...

We’re all emotional and somewhat sensitive beings. And to be completely devoid of all emotion would render us a nation of sociopaths....

Abortion has always been a polarising issue. Everyone has a view on the subject and are rarely shy in expressing...

The aim of this case study is to show through the use of a client study, how cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)...

Borderline Line Personality (BPD) is a serious mental health condition that affects around 1.6-3% of the general population. BPD is...

Easy access to the internet means that people are watching porn younger and more frequently than ever before. While for...

Everyone nowadays is familiar with the term narcissist, but not so much its roots. The word originates from Greek mythology...

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

Here is the full video summarising all of Poppy’s sessions with Dr. Daniela Rossi. Poppy discusses how she overcame her...

Do you ever find yourself stuck in a loop replaying every conversation with your partner and analysing every text message...

Projecting your insecurities is a coping mechanism that co-opts someone else’s psyche to use as an emotional dumping ground. And...

It’s well understood within attachment theory that everyone conforms to a certain attachment style depending on their upbringing and environmental...

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is used to help a person change how they think about themselves, their world and others...

We all have a pretty good idea of what mental illnesses like depression and anxiety look like. Approximately 13% of...

Fraser from the Private Therapy Clinic is back and this time he'll be talking about ASD or Autism Spectrum Disorder....

Do you ever wonder why certain situations trigger intense emotions within you, while at times you might feel more subdued?...

Anxiety is one of the most common mental health disorders worldwide, affecting a significant number of people every year. Yet,...

Dr Becky Spelman discusses unhealthy relationships, why people are attracted to unhealthy relationships and how to start to change your...

Have you ever thought to yourself “why am I so emotional?” We can all get a little overwhelmed sometimes. It...

The term gaslighting is an unusual one in psychology and doesn't seem to fit any logical analogy or etymology. It...

The concept of breadcrumbing is often misunderstood as a quirk of dating. However, it’s actually more complex, involving both intentional...

Depression, as is well-known is one of the common mental health disorders. And as much as seeking help when necessary...

Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is a personality disorder in which an individual loves themselves excessively without thinking about others. It...

Quiet BPD is one of those grey areas in psychology. Although it isn’t recognised officially by the DSM-5 as a...

Covert narcissism, a subtle and often undetected form of narcissism, can be a complex and confusing phenomenon to understand. Unlike...

Have you ever found yourself suddenly, almost inexplicably, head-over-heels for someone? It’s like one moment you’re fine, and the next,...

What do we think of the term “break up,” the mind can often think of romantic relationships first. But friendship...

Empathy and compassion… They’re sometimes used interchangeably, but in reality, they represent two related and overlapping concepts. They form the...

ADHD paralysis is one of the most debilitating aspects of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It can affect one’s capacity...

Have you ever felt a pull, a sting, a pang of emotion when someone mentions their bond with their mother?...

Feeling like a failure is not a new concept. However, as we’re moved increasingly into a culture that values attainment...

Becoming emotionally available is a journey that requires the willingness to look at yourself through a lens of honesty and...

Dating someone with BPD presents a unique set of challenges. But the piece that can often make a BPD relationship...

How you break a trauma bond depends entirely on your personal circumstances as there are so many relational contexts in...

Reactive abuse is a concept that is often misunderstood and misappropriated in certain sections of society. It can be a...

If you’ve dealt with any form of narcissist abuse, it can be extremely challenging and cause you to question yourself,...

Dating someone with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can be a roller-coaster of emotions, with highs, lows, and unexpected turns. It can...

As much as the use of attachment styles may inadvertently place us within a very closed definition that can limit...

Have you felt like you’re riding a rollercoaster in your relationship? Are your emotions soaring one moment and plummeting the...

Almost all of us carry scars from childhood, usually stemming from negative experiences with parents, caregivers, or other significant authority...

Nervous system dysregulation is one of the key markers of psychological dysfunction in many mental health conditions. It can interfere...

Emotional dysregulation has long been associated with ADHD and is considered a core symptom. It leads to those who suffer...

Limerence is a state of romantic infatuation, and a condition that can be hard to discern as it presents in...

We've all likely had a friend who leans on us a bit too hard for support. And ordinarily, you don’t...

When people talk about leading a happy life, the usual clichés are rolled out of living in the moment, letting...

Despite the focus borderline personality disorder (BPD) receives within the context of romantic relationships, there is far more to explore...

Psychosis is an extremely broad term that spans multiple mental health conditions. It can be both a symptom and its...

The nature of our uniqueness within society and culture at large means we aren’t going to see eye to eye...

Emotion is the language we use to relate to one another. We might communicate directly through both verbal and body...

Relationship dynamics where one partner has borderline personality disorder (BPD) can be extremely challenging for both individuals involved. But it...

Anxiety is a normal human emotion, designed to keep us safe from danger. However, it can cause problems when it’s particularly...

If you're feeling lost, it can be hard to think about doing anything at all. You don't know what direction...

Anxiety can be very difficult for adults to cope with. For children, who generally lack the vocabulary and maturity to...

Dissociation is an often misunderstood subject within mental health, which, in part, is due to it not being as accessible...

Trauma is one of the primary reasons people seek out a therapist, but not all trauma is created equal and...

We rely on our parents to provide more than just the basic necessities of food and shelter. That’s only one...

In this video psychologist Dr Becky Spelman interviews a man who's life was transformed by a placebo pill. The interview...

Self-talk is the interval story we create for ourselves. It’s the mental narrative we grant permission to be the overarching...

In the age of Tinder and social media, dating has turned into a bit of a minefield. There have always...

How many times have you been doing something you know you shouldn’t be doing, but you go and do it...

The chances are you’ll encounter a manipulative person at once in your life. It might not be apparent at first...

Communication is the foundation of all good relationships. And so, when there are communication problems where communication is compromised in...

Truly emotional intelligent people are a rare breed. They act differently from the rest of us. They don’t fall into...

When it comes to the application of psychology in a therapeutic setting, there are more schools of thought than you...

Discrimination is essentially a form of tribalism. That doesn’t make it right - far from it. But it does go some way to...

Sex is an unavoidable fact of life. It's what it took for you to get here right now, and it’s...

Are you constantly stressed and have no idea why? Stress is a natural response from the body which releases hormones...

We all want to think that our parents are infallible. In our youth, we believe they can do no wrong...

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a type of psychotherapeutic treatment that helps people overcome and resolve dysfunctional parts of their...

Active listening is an invaluable and often overlooked skill not just within romantic relations, but within all of our interpersonal...

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a condition that is often hard to provide an accurate diagnosis for due to several...

The relationship between therapists and their patient should be a professional one, but ultimately every relationship is about what happens...

There are times when we’re up against it, and more often than not, we rise to and rise above situations...

Personality profiling is nothing new, and we each have our own brand of uniqueness. Understanding who you are at the...

Gender Dysphoria isn’t a new phenomenon. It’s been present in cultures all over the world for decades. But as the...

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a relatively common mental health issue in the UK, with around 1.2% of the population experiencing...

Caffeine occupies a strange place within western culture. By all accounts, it exhibits all the traits of a narcotic –...

This second in our series looking at celebrities who’ve opened up about their struggles with mental health. The aim of...

Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) is an incredibly difficult condition due to its very nature, those who suffer from it are...

Narcissists often initially come across as extremely confident, attractive people. Because they see themselves as special and fantastic, they want...

Discovering you’ve been cheated on is never pleasant. It can be emotionally fraught and leave you wondering, ‘Why? What have...

Psychosis is one of those mental health conditions which has gained an unwanted reputation in recent years due to its...

A Psychology Conversion Course is designed to provide a pre-professional qualification equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Graduates from...

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is – as the name implies – a personality disorder that is generally diagnosed in early adulthood. Unlike...

There’s often an assumption that by having reached the upper echelons of society and success celebrities are somehow immune to...

Bullies come in all shapes and sizes, in all walks of life and throughout many points in our life. But…...

Our personalities include the way we think, feel and behave and so personality disorders include a range of conditions that...

Multi-level marketing is promoted as a great way to make money, and is often marketed at demographics such as stay-at-home-mothers...

Despite their grandiose and attention seeking nature, it can be quite hard to determine if someone is a narcissist, especially...

Many of us are so busy with the day-to-day of our activities that we rarely pay any mind to the...

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a condition that is defined by its trigger points. It’s unlike many other mental health...

Erotomania is a rare form of delusion disorder, also known as De Clérambault syndrome. It’s categorised other subtypes of delusional...

Introverts are often the misunderstood members of social groups. There's an air of suspicion that surrounds them on account of...

We've never been able to shelter ourselves from the effects of mortality. It's an inevitability that we must all face...

In this video Dr Becky Spelman offers advice on how to become a HCPC registered Psychologist in the UK. Dr...

Balancing a career with aspirations to have a family has never been easy for women, who have to deal with...

Compulsive buying or oniomania (shopping addiction) may seem like an exaggerated or apologetic term for excusing something many of us...

We all have our own idea about what the perfect partner would look like. Everyone has their own preferences in...

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) occupies a strange space within mental health. While many people are quick to try and hide...

Living with a facial or body disfigurement can be very difficult, and can pose a significant challenge to self-esteem, with...

Erotic transference is something that happens relatively frequently in therapy, and while it is nothing to be ashamed of per...

We've all been on the end of insincere apologies from time to time. Sometimes, we have to make peace through...

Factitious Disorder is a somatic symptom disorder – also known as Munchausen Syndrome - in which the individual feigns either...

Although schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder both share the same prefix, they're actually separate conditions from one another. They both fall...

Until recently, there has been some hesitation to provide a diagnosis for ADHD and ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). The need...

The terms psychopath and sociopath aren't definitions that you can readily find in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders....

The term 'Daddy Issues' is a peculiar one within psychology. It's something that isn't exactly a clinical definition – at...

There’s a saying within the care industry, ‘if you’ve met someone with autism, then you’ve met one person with autism.’...

Depression isn't a universal condition. It comes in many different variants, and there are actually ten types of depression which...

It’s sometimes common to think people with Borderline Personality Disorder (BDD), or Narcissistic Personality Disorder are suffering from the same...

Passive-aggressive behaviour involves being indirectly aggressive towards someone. In contrast to verbal and physical abuse, which is overtly violent, passive-aggressive...

Consensual non-monogamy – or polyamory as it's more commonly referred to in the mainstream - is gaining more traction as...

Although you might not associate attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) as being related to one another, they...

Control mechanisms can come in all types within relationships. We often have the image of a man holding a raised...

Traditionally, trauma is the response to any event that causes us distress. Complex trauma, on the other hand, occurs when...

People don't go into psychology for the money. If those are your primary intentions, you're looking at the wrong profession....

We all experience situations we'd rather not deal with from time to time. But there is a difference between hesitation...

One of the issues we face in psychology is that it is an ever-evolving landscape. The subject is still relatively...

Cults can come in many different forms. Members of a cult may be obsessed by a cult figure, or leader,...

Boundaries aren't an aggressive measure. They're a completely normal and measured way of limiting our interaction when we feel being...

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that occurs in people who’ve witnessed a traumatic event. However, only...

As so much of our life is now conducted on the internet, it is not at all surprising that nowadays...

Uncertainty is the mother of all anxiety. Dealing with the anxiety of not knowing anything is the unavoidable side-effect of...

Perhaps one of the most overlooked of these are people who suffer from Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). The psychosocial factor...

Coercive control is a form of domestic abuse, or rather a combination of many different forms of abuse that are...

There is a big difference between being an empath and showing empathy. For the empath, social interactions aren’t so easy....

The effects of childhood trauma are difficult but certainly not impossible to overcome. In fact, it's entirely possible to unlearn...

Personality disorders are characterised by deeply entrenched behaviours. The typical sufferer will often be inflexible in how they interact with...

According to the Swiss Psychologist Jean Piaget, there are four stages of cognitive development during a child's early life. His...

s said that our verbal communication makes up only 7% of our communication, 38% is made up by our tone...

Sex addiction is often written off as an indulgent behaviour and not as a real addiction. Because it's something that we all...

Imposter syndrome is something we've probably all experienced at some point in our lives. A 2011 study indicated it has...

Relationships are the easiest thing in the world to get right – until they’re not. And things can quickly do a 180-degree...

Here is Nicole describing how Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) helped her to cope with grief and overcome feelings of anxiety...

Tourette's Syndrome is a rare and complex neuropsychiatric condition that is most well-known for the involuntary tics it causes an...

Pornographic material has been with us for a very long time. It’s certainly not a modern concept. What has changed...

As growing numbers of countries are passing legislation to make the physical punishment of children illegal, many parents are thinking...

A lot of negative emotions result from people asking themselves the wrong questions and then answering them in a way...

If you suffer from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is a technique you can use, both...

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a mental condition that is characterised by an obsession with one or more perceived flaws...

When you consider the idea of weight loss, the first that springs to mind will undoubtedly be the food you...

It is important for everyone to be physically active, and sports are a great way to stay fit. But what...

The symptoms that contribute to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), only received their official definition within standard psychiatry in the 1980s....

Within all areas of the health care industry, there is conjecture about the validity and cause of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome...

Many problems with emotional or mental health result when someone falls into a pattern of negative thinking. They interpret everything...

Narcissistic parents can be deeply abusive, but they are often abusive in a subtle manner that is difficult for social...

When kids reach puberty, their bodies and their brains both go through a period of rapid development. As part of...

Given that cannabis use is relatively common among adults, and that the stigma attached to low rates of recreational use...

Parenting teenagers is notoriously difficult, and yet most parents are unprepared for the maelstrom that is about to enter their...

Finding the success we want in life is hard. There can be all manner of obstacles placed in our path,...

Accountability, what does it mean to you? It’s a term that has several connotations. The first is of negative consequence;...

Many of us have memories of our very early childhoods, but how reliable are those memories? In fact, research shows...

The three nags of shame, blame, and guilt, despite their negative connotations, do have a somewhat constructive purpose. The problem...

We all suffer from worry at times, and for those who are inclined to suffer from anxiety, worry can become...

Safety-seeking behaviours are behaviours that you develop in response to feeling threatened. They help you, in the short term, to...

Behavioural experiments are one of the tools commonly used by therapists who work in the area of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy....

All relationships are dysfunctional in some form or another, but that isn’t to be cynical; not at all. It’s more...

An old Italian proverb advises men looking to get married and settle down to find both oxen and wives in...

In this video Dr Becky Spelman talks about exposure therapy and why it is so good for overcoming anxiety. Exposure...

This month, the world gave a collective sigh of relief when a group of young boys and their football coach...

We’ve all heard hassled parents of young children bemoaning fussy eating and wondering what to do about a child who...

Dr. Shirin Shams is a Counselling Psychologist at Private Therapy Clinic. In this video she gives an introduction to what...

Wanting to look attractive is a normal, healthy instinct in both women and men of all ages. As a species,...

Baby massage, which is continuing to grow in popularity, is a great way for parents and babies to spend time...

More people than ever are living with chronic illness, for a variety of reasons. More of us are living to...

Every generation of parents faces new challenges when it comes to raising their kids, and millennials are no different. Millennials...

It has been well documented in the area of psychology that when someone has a weakness, or a perceived weakness,...

Most people do their best to avoid being biased. We are aware of the existence in society of issues like...

It can be very difficult to be in a romantic relationship with someone with a borderline personality disorder. For anyone...

Psychopathy and schizophrenia are both frequently represented in popular culture—in thrillers and on TV shows—and they are both significantly more...

What can you do when your partner keeps putting you down? After all, they are the one who is supposed...

Age differences in a relationship can be challenging and leave many couples questioning if their partnership can survive the years...

Pyramid schemes are a curious yet deceitful phenomenon. The scheme works through an initial recruiter, who forms the apex of...

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

Dr. Becky Spelman discusses what to do if there are problems in the relationship with your therapist. When to stick...

The world got to know Zayn Malik as the cute young man who sang and danced in boyband One Direction,...

While it’s perfectly normal for any woman to experience some nervousness or anxiety around childbirth, for some the fear of...

From a psychodynamic perspective, the genesis of a person’s self-esteem is usually rooted in childhood experience. Several factors may contribute,...

Dog phobia episode from the Extreme Phobias, Extreme Cures series. A series which sees people with the same crippling fear...

Psychologist Anna Sagredou discusses how she works with clients and the techniques which she uses to help clients achieve change....

The arrival of autumn also means the start of a new school year; a time that can bring both excitement...