Symmetry Therapy - Darlington

19/08/2025

***Multifaceted Fulfilment - Self-Determination Theory ***
by psychologists Edward Deci and Richard Ryan says that for humans to thrive, three psychological needs must be met:

+Autonomy - in control of your choices.

+Competence - feel capable, effective, and making progress.

+Relatedness - connection, belonging, and meaningful relationships.

When these needs are met in balance, we experience satisfaction and well-being. When one is neglected, we feel unfulfilled — no matter how much we’ve done in other areas.

This might explain why some people can’t just “work all day” or “relax all day.” If you only rest, your sense of competence suffers. If you only achieve, your need for rest and autonomy might be ignored. If you only socialise, you may lack the space to recharge.

***Multifaceted Day***
Think of your day as a plate. Some people are fine loading it up with one big portion — say, work. But others feel best when the plate has variety: a little social connection, a dash of productivity, a slice of organisation, and a serving of rest.

Everyone’s recipe for fulfilment is different. Some need more social time, others more solitude. The key is to notice when you feel “off” and trace it back to what’s missing. If you feel restless or incomplete after a day that “should” feel satisfying you might be wired to thrive on multifaceted fulfilment — touching different parts of your humanity each day.

Work, rest, connect, and create. When the mix is right, that’s when life feels balanced.

18/08/2025

Dr. Andrew Huberman, a neuroscientist, advocates for specific breathing techniques, particularly the "physiological sigh," to manage stress and enhance focus.

17/08/2025

Finch App - some of my clients have used this and recommend it.

11/08/2025

Childline / NSPCC is a support for children and young people but did you know that they have lots of resources for parents too…

Explore expert support and advice for every parenting challenge. Whether in calm or chaos, we guide parents and carers through the ups and downs.

11/07/2025

A reminder of the importance of conscious self care for ourselves and others.

01/07/2025

01/07/2025

30/06/2025

It's okay to feel your emotions❤️ //

18/06/2025

Here’s to all you carer parents - I see you.

Here’s to the parents who attend every birthday party, whilst everyone else drops off.

Here’s to the parents who spend hours each night lying quietly, and for whom an evening off is a distant dream.

Here’s to the parents who are constantly on call, with one ear alert for a cry.

Here’s to the parents who can’t take their eyes off the slide, because it’s only one push away from disaster.

Here’s to the parents for whom leaving the house must be planned like a military operation – and even then it’s not a sure thing.

Here’s to the parents whose heart jumps at an email from school.

Here’s to the parents who no one notices until it all goes wrong and all hell breaks loose.

Here’s to the parents who are called ‘helicopter’ or ‘over-involved’ or ‘anxious’ or ‘permissive’. Here’s to the parents who ‘can’t let go’.

Here’s to the parents who hear the tuts and the eye-rolls, and the scandalised whispers behind people’s hands. Here’s to the parents who walk the path of shame, with eyes burning into their backs.

Here’s to the parents who work the hardest, and who are given the least credit. The ones who absorb it all, keep up a calm front, and who only allow themselves to collapse behind closed doors.

Here’s to the parents putting in hour after invisible hour, keeping their children on keel.

Here’s to you all. We see you. You’re not alone.

Words: Dr Naomi Fisher
Illustration: Missing The Mark

17/06/2025

A few recent feedback comments received from a mixture of EMDR and counselling clients. Sharing with consent and as always anonymously. Thank you for all your lovely feedback and hard work;

**** EMDR provided me with the tools to cope with a significant trauma I had experienced. I saw a huge improvements in my personal wellbeing and it enabled me to get back to work ****

**** Very helpful in helping me learn to manage and cope with a lot of different problems in my life. ****

**** I feel a massive improvement in my everyday life thanks to Julie and EMDR. Julie was very patient and the work we have done has changed my life. ****

**** I think the sessions have allowed me to reflect on how I feel about my brothers passing and to know it's okay to feel my emotions. ****

**** Learned anxiety techniques. Found ways to look at past situations from other peoples point of view. Found new ways to move forward. Found that creating personal goals for myself has helped and made me more confident.****

**** Therapy has helped me massively with bombatting the loop of negative thinking that I often fall into, so I can now focus on things that I enjoy instead of worrying about small things.****

**** Julie has helped me deal and work through how I manage difficult family dynamics and I've learnt to priorities myself and my wife and learnt I cannot please everyone. Strategies and perspectives I can use going forward are a massive help.*****

**** Sessions felt very productive and have helped me to develop ways of improving and managing my feelings. I have felt both listened to and reassured. ****

**** There session have been helpful in dealing with my anxiety surrounding studies and day to day life. ****

**** Julie has been so lovely, by far the best experience I've had with any sort of therapy. Felt like she really took time to listen to me and remembered alot of details from prior sessions. Thank you so much. ****

**** I really valued all the advice and techniques provided. The relationship was great, being able to laugh and enjoy sessions is something I had never experiences before. ****

**** I felt happy and comfortable and managed to work through tough issues and anxieties.****

12/06/2025

Aren’t these gorgeous - my best blooms of Peonies so far. Worth the wait.