responsibility Archives - Andrea Harrn Counselling Services

passive aggressive behaviour and emotional abuse – 3 things to know

By Andrea Harrn December 14, 2016 abuse, communication, passive aggressive, relationships, Uncategorized No Comments

Being in a PA relationship will feel SO emotionally abusive at times that you may consider leaving your partner. Below are three specific behaviours used as PA responses which affect the way you view yourself and your sense of reality. These destructive behaviours eat away at who you are and what you know to be true. You can end up in a haze of disbelief, mistrust and confusion. Your head is a tangle of mixed up emotions and it is hard to think straight. Blame Passive aggressive people have deep rooted insecurity which affects their ability to take responsibility for their actions. We all…

Being a parent: 360 degree feedback

By Andrea Harrn September 27, 2013 communication, family demands, family tensions, relationships, responsibility, role models, self-acceptance No Comments

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 university course. Do parents know best?

By Andrea Harrn August 1, 2013 18-25, achievement, assertiveness, business success, career help, communication, indecision, learning, responsibility 1 Comment

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…

Why successful people have therapy

By Andrea Harrn June 20, 2013 aggression, anger, confused, family tensions, guilt, guilty conscience, Powerful men, responsibility, successful people, vulnerability, work life balance, working towards goals, Worrier 5 Comments

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…