Tag archive: counselling Belfast

I was having coffee with an old friend when we got talking about how our minds tend to sometimes wander off in directions, sometimes at the expense of the here and now. So just a thought for today I’d like to share with you following our conversation.  She said to me, “Sometimes we feel sad…

At the core of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is the belief that there are somethings in our lives we can change, control or manage and there are some things that we can’t. It is accepting the things that we cannot change, that are not in our control and committing to a course of action…

So why counselling? Why Now? Once in a while life gets on top of us. We get disappointed, frustrated and angry. But if we feel stuck, hurt, or depressed and alone over a long period of time then something could be wrong and we may need help.  Many issues, experiences and difficulties we have cause us to fear we…

With so many organisations, agencies and health centres offering various types of counselling, what exactly is it and why choose private counselling? Not understanding what counselling is or what it’s about can put many people off asking for the support they need. Instead they may internalize their difficulties and experiences. This in turn can lead to further anxiety,…

Sometimes during the counselling process it can seem as if clients are working in opposition to their therapists. The clients may not want to explore particular issues, change a particular behaviour or challenge some long held belief. In counselling this is known as client resistance. This behaviour may seem like a blockage to progress but it isn’t…

The fear of confrontation can be stifling. Sometimes we fear confronting others because we dwell on the consequences, such as an angry response or a damaged relationship. This is usually due to our beliefs around confrontation. One belief is that confrontation has to be ugly. Sometimes we believe that when you challenge someone, the relationship will always…

Cognitive Reframing is a useful way to help challenge our negative thoughts and self defeating behaviours. The first thing to remember is that events and situations do not have inherent meaning. We assign them a meaning based on how we interpret them. This can be difficult to accept, but when something bad happens to us, it’s only…

Thinking about setting SMART goals? SMART goals are Specific, Measured, Achievable, Realistic and Time orientated. Specific – What exactly do you want to be?  Be positive!  “I want to get fit” rather than “I tired of being fat and lazy” Measureable – Getting thinner is not measureable.  Losing 5 pounds is.  Break down the bigger objective…

There was a time when relationship counselling was known as marriage guidance. Sometimes it is known as marriage counselling. Relationship counselling is now broader than just married couples, but for everyone involved in a relationship with another person. One of the things at the core of a relationship is us wanting to feel significant to someone. Quite…