Difficult feelings

When we are unhappy or when we are going through difficult times we often feel weighed down by our feelings. Being in emotional pain can make us unable to think, can drain our energy and can prevent us from doing the things we would like to do with our lives. Being able to share our thoughts and feelings in a safe environment can make us feel supported and less alone. By identifying the deeper root of those feelings and working through them can help us to heal them and let go of them, which can bring a great sense of relief.

Difficult experiences

When we have had difficult or traumatic experiences, we are often influenced by them in the here and now, making it difficult for us to lead happy and fulfilled lives. By sharing these often painful and frightening experiences we can begin to make sense of them, to work through them and the feelings associated with them and to find a way of integrating them into our lives. In this way, therapy can help us to move out of the past and into the present, allowing joy and happiness to return to our lives.

Difficult situations

When we experience difficulties at work or in social situations we can often feel stuck, helpless and alone. We may feel that we don't know how to approach the situation or how to bring about the changes we are seeking. By working with the feelings that are present in these situations and by gaining an understanding of the dynamics we are caught up in we can begin to heal them and leave those old patterns behind. We are then in a position to find a positive way forward.

Difficult behaviours

Using substances as well as unhealthy eating patterns and self-harming can often be the only way we know how to deal with difficult feelings and painful life experiences. By exploring what may be at the core of our behaviour, working through those deeper feelings and the patterns that have been set up as a result can enable us experience freedom of the past and embrace healthy and positive ways of living our lives in the here and now.

Relationship problems and family conflict

When we experience difficulties in our relationships with people who are close to us; our partner, our children, members of our family or our friends, it can be hard to find people to talk to about our problems. By thinking about any difficulties together with someone who is outside our family or circle of friends we can gain some distance to the problem and begin to unpick the often complex dynamics of a difficult relationship. By addressing, releasing and healing the feelings and dynamics present in those relationships and in the interactions we have with the people close to us we can move out of any painful patterns and step towards happier and healthier relationships in our lives.

Bereavement and other losses

When we have lost a loved one or experienced other significant losses such as divorce, bankruptcy or redundancy, we can find it hard to know how to deal with the grief and the finality of the loss. By talking and sharing our grief in therapy we can begin to mourn our loss. By working through our pain we can begin to lift the burden of our unhappiness. We can then begin to move past these difficult times in our lives, towards a happier future.

Difficulties associated with multicultural upbringing and frequently moving home

When we have experience of different cultures and/or have lived in many different places, it can make us feel lost, can make us wonder who we are and can give us a sense of not knowing where we belong in the world. It can make us restless and unable to settle in one place, one job or one relationship and it can be hard to know how to break the pattern. Talking to someone who is familiar with the problems associated with a life dominated by high mobility and/or a multicultural upbringing can help us to better understand how these experiences shaped who we are today and the life choices we make. In this way we can release the past and allow a sense of identity and belonging to come into our lives.

Not knowing

When we are in the grip of difficult feelings, without knowing why, we may believe that there is no point in seeking help because we cannot give any reasons for our pain. It is not uncommon not to know what is making us unhappy. Sharing our feelings in therapy and engaging with the “not knowing” can help us to uncover the cause of our unhappiness. We are then in a position to address the source of our difficult emotions.