Back in the 70s & 80s children and teenagers seemed to be more resilient than the current generation of future adults. Is it my imagination because I’m now older, a product of being a teenager in the 70s? Or are
In this book, author and paediatrician Kenneth Ginsburg, offers parents, teachers and primary caregivers a guide to help children and teens deal with stress and build seven key principles to develop resilience and cope with life’s challenges – competence, confidence, connection, character, contribution,
Are you struggling to remember what it felt like to be in love with the person that you now find yourself in conflict with? Do you yearn to experience that dream like, fuzzy feeling you had when you first fell
Are you self-absorbed, temperamental, prone to drama and at times feel helpless and hopeless? Do your moods change quickly when you are not appreciated, or your needs are not met by your partner, resulting in you feeling angry, ashamed, depressed,
As we mark World Bipolar Day on March 30, we wanted to raise awareness of this troubling mental illness and explain more about what it is, what causes it and what help is available. What is it? Bipolar disorder is
Does your partner undermine your confidence, put you down, crush your spirit, make you feel small, use sly jokes, criticise, blame or intimidate you? Are you often treading on emotional eggshells, doubting your own integrity, feel like you are kept
Q. I’m 36, divorced with two sons. I was single for 4 years after I separated from my husband. Every week when my mother called she asked if I’d found a man. She’d give me a lecture about why I
Do you believe you need to work hard, be successful and achieve to feel accepted and appreciated? Are you afraid of failure and worry about how you’re perceived? Like the proverbial social chameleon, do you adapt your life, beliefs and
Are you friendly, generous, self-sacrificing, well-meaning and driven to maintain harmony whatever the cost? In a relationship, do you find yourself taking on the role of peacemaker, often resulting in a parent-child dynamic, where you sacrifice your own needs it
Do you have a strong sense of right and wrong? Are you picky, judgemental, opinionated and impatient? And whilst you may be highly critical of other people, are you in fact much harder on yourself? Do you believe you are
In this clear and easy to read book, authors Wendy and Larry Maltz explain how easy it is to become addicted to porn. They shed new light on the compelling nature and destructive power of today’s instantly available pornography. It
Twenty years ago, saying the word porn in public may well have resulted in raised eyebrows and silent murmurings. The once British stiff upper lip attitude towards sex has now evolved and our cultural attitude towards it has changed. Pornography
When you experience something unfamiliar, frustrating or uncomfortable, do you find yourself overwhelmed by negative thoughts and a feeling that you are losing control? You could be battling a large workload or university deadlines, feeling anxious about a visit to
Are you struggling to communicate your feelings or differences of opinion to your partner? But instead of feeling valued and understood, do you find yourself frustrated angry and resort to shouting as you know your thoughts, concerns or ideas have
Want to explore a change of career, start a new relationship, expand your business or make life more exciting? But, instead of pushing forward with big changes, you find yourself stuck in a rut, unsure which direction to take? Unclear
We have a tendency to hold on to the past, dwell on mistakes or negative experiences, and worry about the future. We can get so wrapped up in our negative thoughts that we end up becoming stressed and anxious and
Are feelings of unworthiness and self-hatred limiting your life? Do you hide your real self, or sabotage situations and opportunities because you don’t feel you deserve to be happy? If this sounds familiar, then read on… ‘To be yourself in
As last year comes to an end and the new year begins, we often look back with some level of criticism at what we’ve accomplished and set New Year’s resolutions – exercise more, eat well, dry January, change jobs, ditch
Most people have at some point bought a raffle or lottery ticket, placed a bet on a horse at the Grand National or had a go at a slot machine. You might be one of the regular weekly lottery buyers
Q. I’m divorced from the father of my two sons, now age 7 & 11. I’ve had a few failed relationships but in the last eighteen months met someone with whom I could be really happy. His wife died of
Many unresolved relationship issues contribute to high stress levels, and if left unresolved can lead to much bigger problems, including separation or divorce. What once started as small frustrations often become big irritations when ignored. Sometimes we go into denial
This book, originally published in 1992, has become an international bestseller. It explores the differences between men and women, and how we can have better relationships through building better communication, understanding and acceptance. We live in a world where women
Back in March we entered the unknown territory of Covid-19 restrictions. Going into isolation and the first lockdown changed our world overnight. Those who could, worked from home, schools, colleges and universities closed with children being home schooled. Stepping out
Q. My husband works from home since the first lockdown back in March, and I’ve continued going into work. I leave early in the morning and get back around 5pm. When I get in he’s usually in front of the TV
I’m a woman on a mission when I’m out shopping, especially in supermarkets. I like to get in, pick, pay and get out as quickly as possible. The whole concept of superstores with bright lights, shopping trolleys, screaming kids and
The current global pandemic has forced us into a life we’ve not experienced before. For those working from home and in co-habiting relationships means working and living with your partner or spouse 24/7, with or without children. Any relationship cracks
This book is about how people process information, what motivates them and how they make decisions. Shelle Rose Charvet explores how language and behaviour patterns manifest unconsciously, how we can identify it in ourselves and others, and how we can
Q. I’ve been with my partner 7 years; we have two daughters age 4 and nearly 6. Life has become a series of routines we perform every day, as if on autopilot – I take care of the children, house, cleaning,
BOTTLES? NOBODY SAID ANYTHING ABOUT BOTTLES JUST THAT THE SMOOTH TASTE OF ALCOHOL WAS HARMLESS FUN! My stomach is a Benetton advert of various shades of alcoholic grape juice and spirts – It is even beginning to look a little
Q. My boyfriend and I have been living together for 5 years. The first two years were good, we went out, had fun. Three years ago he lost his job and since then he has struggled to stay in another
Q. My daughter was given her GCSE grades without exams like other students in this time of Covid. She was reasonably happy with the results. She was already stressed and anxious before the lockdown – she worked until late every
Have you ever stopped to think about how resilient you really are? You’re most likely too busy juggling home, children, career and attempting to establish some form of work-life balance to notice. “Resilience is a precious skill. People who have
In today’s busy lives with increasing pressures and demands on time, as well as coping with the changes the current global pandemic brings, it’s easy to let your relationship slip down the list of priorities, take it for granted and
My wife and I have been together 18 years. Life was great; we got on really well, had fun, amazing holidays, a lot of laughter and were equally matched with our views on life. It all changed after our first son was born.
We have all at some point experienced situations we believe we are unable to deal with because we feel they are beyond our realm of coping mechanism. They can leave us feeling vulnerable or afraid and when our self-confidence is
Q. My daughter and I have lived on our own since her father left when she was 18 months old. I’m the only parent and only family member she’s ever known. We’ve always been close; we tell each other everything
As September heads to a close, many youngsters are embarking on a new phase of their life – university. Although fresher’s week will be very different this year due to the current pandemic, parents are still having to wave good-bye
Every year parents have to deal with the challenges of seeing their offspring fly the nest. It’s one of the most heart wrenching phases of parenting, often creating feelings of loss, lack of purpose and crisis of identity that can
Q. My 14-year-old son Jason had been suffering with bouts of depression on and off since his dad and I separated two years ago. Before that he was a happy boy, playing football and being just like any other child
The decline of sex has burst onto the news this past week. The Times and BBC published articles about a recent survey that suggests that less than half of men and women in the UK have had sex at least
This book unravels unhealthy love relationships. It addresses why there are some people who always fall in love and seem to attract those who do not love them back. In this book Mellody explores needy and co-dependent personalities, commitment phobic
Q. I’m happily married with three children; I have a good job, live in a nice house, have an amazing wife and love my kids dearly. Life at home with my family is good, we are happy. At work I’m
This book is an essential guide for parents, teachers, health professionals, therapists and anyone working or caring for children. Levine and Kline provide valuable information and tools to help recognise, prevent and heal childhood trauma from infancy to adolescence. Trauma
I was traveling on the London underground and sat opposite me was a mother with her son of about 7 or 8 years old. I witnessed the following conversation: Son – I was upset at school today mummy Mother –
In this book, New York Times bestseller author, speaker and psychotherapist Esther Perel delves into some of the complexities of infidelity. Perel offers insights into why people cheat and why it hurts so much when you find out about your partner has
Q. My partner accuses me of cheating and looking at other women when we are out. She won’t say anything whilst we’re in a bar, restaurant or at a friend’s house, but as soon as we leave, she launches into a
What happens when you discover your partner is having an affair? Infidelity is centuries old. I will spare you the history lesson and focus on why it happens, the impact it has on all parties concerned and how you can
Discovering that your partner or spouse has been unfaithful can hit you like an earthquake. The emotional aftershock can make it difficult for you to be there for your family, manage your daily life, and think clearly about your options.
We are born with a set of basic relational needs – acceptance, affection, security, attention, appreciation, approval, encouragement, respect and support. When one or more of these needs are missing in childhood, the child learns to adapt their behaviour in an
In my previous article I referred to how any relationship cracks you’ve avoided addressing before the lockdown can become great big chasms after being cooped up for nearly three months. Those fragments of frustration, quirky behaviours, lack of communication, misunderstandings
Dickens Heath Clinic
Three Acres Lane
Dickens Heath
Solihull
B90 1NZ
Monday – Thursday 8:00-18:00
Lifeways Therapy Centre
30 Albany Road
Stratford-upon-Avon
Warwickshire
CV37 6PG
Friday 8:00-18:00 – Saturday 8:00-13:00
Ask Carla
