Common issues
I can help explore many different issues and themes that surface in life. Below are several examples and descriptions of common issues that often get explored in counselling.
Depression
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Depression is a pervasive emotional condition marked by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest or pleasure in activities. It goes beyond normal fluctuations in mood and can lead to physical symptoms such as changes in appetite, sleep disturbances, and fatigue. Major Depressive Disorder, a common form of depression, significantly impacts the experience of daily functions.
If you are experiencing a depressive-like state and would like to take action, it is very common to hard this first step incredibly difficult. Talking through your depression, getting active, and prescription medication can all help towards bringing about a better quality of life, leading to feelings of more inner peace, contentment and self-satisfaction.
Motivation and self-discipline
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If you have lost your motivation, inspiration and self-discipline to fulfil the life that you want, then talking through those feelings to regain your energy, can help.
Rediscovering motivation and self-discipline is a transformative process marked by a renewed commitment to personal goals and the cultivation of disciplined habits. This journey involves overcoming challenges such as procrastination, self-doubt, and distractions and takes time to build. Often we fall prey to more instantly gratifying acts to keep us feeling good in lacklustre times, but these acts rarely serve us well, usually keeping us feeling demotivated and trapped in a motivation-less cycle.
Self-acceptance
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Lack of self-acceptance is an emotional state marked by a struggle to embrace one's own identity and worth. This internal conflict often results in feelings of inadequacy and a constant need for external validation. Overcoming a lack of self-acceptance involves cultivating self-compassion, acknowledging imperfections, and reframing negative self-talk.
Support from therapy to explore your personal origins of self-rejection or a lack of self-acceptance can unveil the unconscious road blocks that have prevented personal growth, trust in self and others, and have created believable negative self-perceptions that have become strongly tied to character and image.
Sexuality
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For some, discovering that our sexuality is not heterosexual can be a difficult realisation. Feelings of abnormality can surface leading to denial and projection, withdrawal from regular life, self-rejection and self-sabotage, self-harm and, on occasion, suicidal ideation. These feelings can be brought about by our own perceptions of what is 'normal' and acceptable in society and within our own family units.
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Speaking with a therapist about your thoughts and experiences will help you unpack your feelings, untangle your thoughts, beliefs and meanings, and support you in developing a different perspective towards yourself that you can manage and feel in-tune with about yourself, your life and your sexuality.
Fear and anxiety
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Anxiety is a complex emotional state marked by heightened worry, fear, and apprehension in response to perceived threats or stressors. It can lead to physical symptoms like increased heart rate, muscle tension, and difficulty concentrating. While mild anxiety is a normal response to challenges, severe and persistent anxiety, seen in disorders like generalised anxiety disorder, can significantly impact daily functioning. It's often thought of as a condition that makes our world smaller and smaller if it gets the better of us.
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Talking through your anxious feelings in therapy can help understand and gain a sense of control over the process, leaving you feeling more in charge of yourself, and your life choices.
Lack of direction
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Existential aimlessness, characterised by a lack of direction and meaning in life, is a profound emotional state where individuals may experience a sense of purposelessness and uncertainty about their life's trajectory. This condition can manifest through feelings of disconnection, apathy, and a lack of motivation. Unlike occasional periods of uncertainty, persistent lack of direction can lead to a sense of stagnation and impact overall wellbeing.
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In the grip of aimless life wandering, positive support from family and friends is useful, as well as therapy, which can support you restore meaning, purpose and fulfilment in your life.
Lack of self-confidence
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Feeling low in self-confidence often gives way to persistent, heavy periods of self-doubt, insecurity, and a diminished belief in one's own abilities. It can manifest in various aspects of life, hindering personal and professional growth. The origins of low confidence are diverse, usually stemming from experiences of criticism, failure, or negative self-perception. Rebuilding confidence also entails stepping out of the comfort zone and gradually increasing exposing to new challenges.
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In therapy, we can explore your potential origins to low self-confidence and find ways to rebuild it through exploration of thoughts patterns, meaning-making, belief structures and self-perception.
Feeling trapped in life
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Feeling trapped in life is a poignant emotional state marked by a sense of stagnation and a lack of perceived options or avenues for change. Individuals experiencing this may sense limitations in personal or professional aspects, contributing to a feeling of entrapment. The origins can vary, ranging from unfulfilling circumstances to external pressures. Embracing a mindset of adaptability will support the process of change through incremental steps.
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Exploring you own experiences of feeling trapped with therapeutic support will help deepen your understanding of self, which can serve as guide to how to manage the feelings and how to embrace choice and feel more free in your thinking and actions.
