My head is a shed full of old and new It needs cleaning out – I need a better view It’s hard to get rid of the rusty and old Things that are familiar keep out the cold The shed is too full – yet not full enough A lifetime of memories, possession and stuff Things that have meaning, but limited use Just stay right with me – I can’t turn them loose The shed is shaky, it needs some repair A positive flower, a breath of fresh air It’s hot and stifling and making me choke I…
Being a parent is a wonderful gift but can also be challenging and demanding. Have you ever asked your kids how they think you are doing as a parent. A friend of mine Kay recently asked her 15 year old daughter how she was doing as a mother and was interested to hear the response. She was told she shouts and waves her arms about a lot. She wakes up every day moaning how busy she is but seems to spend a lot of time watching catch up TV. At first Kay was surprised to hear this.…
Choosing a course to study at university is a big decision these days. Especially now the fees are so high and jobs are not so easy to find. Some teenagers are very clear about what they want to study. They know what they love and they can already see themselves as a teacher, an engineer or a doctor. For others it is quite confusing. Most parents mean well in trying to help but it is important to let your teenager follow their own dreams and aspirations. Recently I have been hearing a similar story in my therapy room. “I listened…
With the sad news today of the death of the wonderful actor James Gandolfini it got me to thinking about how many times my own clients have told me they have felt like Tony Soprano in the therapy room. Tony was the mafia boss so wonderfully portrayed by James in the six series of the Sopranos. Tony and his therapist had that kind of relationship that is essential to good therapy. He would tell her all the gory details of his rise to power and his everyday problems of being a mafia boss and she would help him explore his thoughts…
Is there anyone close to you that has become quieter more recently, upset, depressed, shutting themselves off, not talking or perhaps behaving out of character. It is a sad fact that each year there are many people who take their own life (5,608 in the UK in 2010) or come near to it with suicidal thoughts. The sad news of Nurse Jacintha Saldanha, who committed suicide after falling for a prank call involving Kate Middleton, has left a sadness in so many hearts and my sincere condolences go out to her family and friends. Investigations are underway about the events leading up…
