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Stress is a normal part of life and something that we all experience from time to time. However, when stress become so severe or ongoing that it impacts our psychological wellbeing and quality life, it is time to do something about it.

Sleep is an essential part of daily life and without good quality rest, we all struggle. Extreme sleep deprivation has even been used as a torture and interrogation technique! Poor sleep has been shown to lead to poorer concentration, memory, and reaction times. Fatigue also impacts our ability to make sound and reasoned decisions.

Mindfulness is a real buzz word in psychology at the moment. While it might be relatively new to Western psychology, mindfulness actually has ancient roots in a wide range of Eastern philosophies, including Buddhism, Taoism and Yoga.

Deep down, what is important to you in the way you live your life? Do you have a sense of the qualities you want to bring to your work or study? Do you have ideas about the personal attributes that you want to bring to your most important relationships?

Many people struggle with emotions, especially if they are experiencing intense anxiety, stress, depression, anger, or other difficult feelings. It can be particularly hard to deal with strong emotions given that we live in a culture that values being calm and logical. We constantly receive the message that being ‘too emotional’ is bad or wrong. Think about it- when someone on the street asks how you are going today, what is the most you could away with? Perhaps you could say something like: “not too bad, thanks” or “getting there”. Yet could you imagine actually being honest on a rough day and telling that person how terrible you are feeling? It’s easy to end up thinking that it’s better not to feel certain emotions and that we ought to push down our feelings. However, emotions fulfil a number of important functions and ignoring them can end up making us feel worse!

Seeing a psychologist for the first time can be an anxiety-provoking experience. Many clients arrive for their first session feeling a mixture of nerves, anticipation and uncertainty. Not only will they be sharing information about their concerns and difficulties, but they might also be sharing a basic history about their family and their background- with a total stranger! Many clients also worry that their reasons for seeking treatment or even they themselves may be negatively judged by their psychologist. These concerns are reasonable and understandable.