fEELINGS

Our feeling can often dominate our reality and sometimes this reality can feel overwhelming. There can also often be shame around how we process the thoughts about how we feel.

Working with a counsellor can help develop an understanding of these feelings and a sense of empowerment can lead to a much healthier and fulfilling life. This enables us take control and begin enjoying our connections and environment as we navigate our way through life.​

trauma

Trauma is an experience of severe psychological distress that follows a horrible or life threatening event and can happen both in childhood and adulthood. These events can lead to emotional disturbances such as extreme anxiety, anger, sadness, survivors guilt and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. 
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​3 TYPES OF TRAUMA:
Acute trauma: A single stressful or dangerous life event.
Chronic trauma: Repeated prolonged exposure to highly stressful events. Some examples are child abuse, bullying, or domestic violence. 
Complex trauma: Prolonged and repeated exposure to stressful events.​

eMOtIONS

Emotions can be very confusing to understand and even within the academic world there is discussion about what this word means.

​In therapeutic terms they are often seen as an important way of understanding why we respond to the world around us and the impacts this has on how our thinking is developed.  ​

SEXUAL IDENTITY

Sexual orientation can refer to the sexual, romantic, physical and emotional attraction and how someone identifies with these attractions. It is multi-layered and differs from gender identity. Sexual attraction has many different layers and there are many different descriptors for how a person refers to their sexual orientation. These are: Heterosexuality – attraction to the opposite sex.
Homosexuality – attraction to the same sex. Bisexuality – attraction to both sexes. Pansexuality – attraction to all genders. Asexuality – attraction to none.
Gender identity differs to SO and is how we identify as male, female or non-binary. 

SELF HARM

Self harm is the act of intentionally hurting oneself by inflicting pain and damage to the body and can include cutting, scratching, biting, burning and sometimes unsafe sex. It is typically sign of psychological distress and can also be associated with substance misuse. Those who self harm often feel a sense of relief from the feelings they are experiencing but this doesn’t help to resolve the pain long term and these repressed feelings often become worse over time. 

suicidal Ideation

Suicidal ideation can be extremely overwhelming when it happens and people often feel really isolated and scared in the experience. SI is recognised as cognitive obstruction, a cognitive rigidity, dichotomous thinking and difficulty problem solving. These three things work together to stop someone having a full perspective on their life and taking one’s life can seem to be the only option.

*If you are someone you know is experiencing suicidal ideation please contact the suicide prevention line on the number shown in contact details.