Serenity of Mind Therapy

27/01/2026

😰 Anxiety doesn’t always look like panic.

Sometimes it looks like competence, vigilance, and being very good at coping.

Many people think anxiety is about worrying too much. Often, it’s about staying alert, scanning for danger, anticipating disappointment, keeping things under control so nothing goes wrong. On the outside, someone may seem calm and capable. Inside, their nervous system rarely switches off.

From a psychodynamic perspective, anxiety usually makes sense when we understand its history, early experiences of unpredictability, emotional responsibility, or not feeling safely held.

In my latest blog, I explore anxiety beyond the stereotypes, including high-functioning anxiety and how psychodynamic therapy helps people understand why they feel this way, not just how to manage it. Read more here:

👉 https://serenityofmindtherapy.com/2026/01/23/anxiety-a-nervous-system-refusal/

Rather than trying to get rid of anxiety, therapy begins with curiosity and compassion. If any of this resonates, you’re very welcome to reach out.

I’m a UK-based psychodynamic therapist and registered member (MBACP) of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), offering online and in-person therapy in Crowborough, East Sussex, and Haywards Heath, West Sussex.

Explore anxiety beyond symptoms: learned vigilance, high-functioning anxiety, and relationship patterns. A psychodynamic perspective on how therapy can help.

20/01/2026

🪞 Narcissism doesn’t always look like confidence. Sometimes it looks like armour.

Many people think narcissism is about ego or arrogance. In reality, it’s often about protection. A way of keeping vulnerability, shame, or emotional dependence at a safe distance.

On the surface, someone may appear self-assured or in control. Inside, there can be a fragile sense of self that feels easily criticised, unseen, or overwhelmed by closeness. From a psychodynamic perspective, narcissistic patterns aren’t random or “toxic by default.” They usually make sense when we understand the emotional history that shaped them, early relationships, unmet needs, and ways of surviving when vulnerability didn’t feel safe.

In my latest blog, I explore narcissism beyond the labels, including how it shows up in relationships, why it can feel so painful on both sides, and how psychodynamic therapy can help. Read more here:

👉 https://serenityofmindtherapy.com/2026/01/18/narcissism-what-lies-beneath/

Rather than shaming or diagnosing, therapy begins with curiosity and compassion. If any of this resonates, whether personally or relationally, you’re very welcome to reach out.

I’m a UK-based psychodynamic therapist and registered member (MBACP) of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), offering online and in-person therapy in Crowborough, East Sussex, and Haywards Heath, West Sussex.

Narcissism explored psychodynamically, looking beyond labels to understand emotional defences, relationships, and pathways to therapeutic change.

13/01/2026

🎨 Depression doesn’t always look like sadness. Sometimes it feels like the world losing its colour.

Many people don’t realise they’re depressed because they’re still functioning. Still showing up. Still saying “I’m fine.”

Inside, though, things can feel flat, heavy, or oddly disconnected, as if life is happening, but you’re slightly removed from it.

From a psychodynamic perspective, depression isn’t random or meaningless. It often has something to say about unexpressed feelings, old patterns, or losses we were never taught how to grieve.

In my latest blog, I explore depression beyond the stereotypes, including high-functioning depression and how psychodynamic therapy can help. Read more here:

👉 https://serenityofmindtherapy.com/2026/01/11/depression-a-world-losing-its-colour/

Rather than trying to “fix” it or push it away, therapy starts with curiosity and compassion, so if anything resonates don’t hesitate to reach out.

I’m a UK-based psychodynamic therapist and registered member (MBACP) of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), offering online and in-person therapy in Crowborough, East Sussex, and Haywards Heath, West Sussex.

Depression isn’t always sadness. Explore high-functioning depression, emotional numbness, and how psychodynamic therapy uncovers what lies beneath.

06/01/2026

🧠 Why do we keep repeating the same patterns, even when we know they’re not helping?

Psychodynamic counselling starts with curiosity rather than quick fixes. It’s about gently exploring what sits beneath the surface, the emotional habits, early experiences, and unconscious patterns that still shape how we think, feel, and relate.

Many of the struggles people bring to therapy didn’t appear overnight. They often made sense once, even if they now feel limiting or exhausting. Therapy isn’t about fixing what’s “wrong” with you, but about understanding yourself with more compassion and clarity.

In my recent blog, I explore what psychodynamic counselling is, how it works, and why it can be such a meaningful way of making sense of yourself. Read it here:

👉 https://serenityofmindtherapy.com/2026/01/06/psychodynamic-counselling/

I’m a UK-based psychodynamic therapist and registered member (MBACP) of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), offering online and in-person therapy in Crowborough, East Sussex, and Haywards Heath, West Sussex.

Psychodynamic counselling explained: how therapy explores unconscious patterns, emotional blocks and relationships to support lasting change.

31/12/2025

🎆 New Year, Same You? And Why That Might Be the Point 🎆

New Year has a funny way of turning up with questions we didn’t invite. One minute it’s leftover celebrations and vague intentions to “take it easy,” the next we’re quietly taking stock of our lives, who we are, who we thought we’d be by now, and why January can feel oddly heavy.

For many people, the New Year doesn’t bring motivation so much as self-judgement. The inner critic dusts off its clipboard, old patterns resurface, and suddenly there’s pressure to reinvent ourselves, quickly, neatly, and preferably by the end of the month.

In my latest blog, I explore why January stirs so much beneath the surface, and why meaningful change often begins not with resolutions or reinvention, but with curiosity and understanding. Sometimes New Year isn’t about becoming someone new, it’s about finally listening to who you already are. You can read the full blog here:

👉 https://serenityofmindtherapy.com/2025/12/30/new-year-same-you/

If this resonates, and the thought of starting the year has left you feeling unsettled, self-critical or stuck, you don’t have to make sense of it alone. Feel free to reach out.

I’m a UK-based psychodynamic therapist and registered member (MBACP) of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), offering online and in-person therapy in Crowborough, East Sussex, and Haywards Heath, West Sussex.

Why does January feel emotionally heavy? A psychodynamic therapist explores New Year anxiety, self-criticism and why change begins with understanding.

21/12/2025

As my working year draws to a close, I’ve switched on my out of office until the New Year.

For many, this time of year brings rest, connection, and a chance to breathe after a long twelve months. And for others… it really doesn’t. Christmas can magnify what’s already present: loneliness, grief, complicated family dynamics, financial strain, or the quiet pressure to feel jolly when you’re simply not.

If this time of year feels hard, please know there’s nothing wrong with you. You’re not failing at Christmas. You’re being human.

If you find yourself struggling over the festive period, support is available:

- Samaritans — 24/7 support on 116 123
- Shout — confidential text support by texting SHOUT to 85258
- If you feel like you can’t cope and are at breaking point, you can get same-day or next-day help by calling NHS 111 and selecting the mental health option. This will connect you to the 24/7 mental health crisis line. Alternatively, you should contact your GP urgently in the first instance.
- If you feel at immediate risk of danger, self-harm or su***de or are worried about someone who is, please call 999 immediately.

And if you’re managing “well enough,” perhaps there’s space to gently notice the people around you. A message, a check-in, or a moment of genuine listening can make more difference than we realise.

Wishing you steadiness, kindness, and moments of ease over the festive period and into the New Year. And if nothing else, it’s okay to meet this season exactly as you are.

17/12/2025

🎄 Christmas, Loss, and the Empty Chair at the Table 🎄

Christmas has a way of amplifying things. The lights seem brighter, the music louder, and for many people, one thing becomes harder to ignore: who isn’t there.

Sometimes it’s a bereavement. Sometimes it’s an estrangement, a changed relationship, or a version of family (and of ourselves) that no longer exists. Amid the rituals and expectations, an empty chair can speak volumes.

If this season brings mixed feelings, sadness alongside gratitude, longing alongside relief, there’s nothing wrong with you. Christmas has a habit of stirring the past and inviting old losses to the table, whether we planned for them or not. Read more here:

👉 https://serenityofmindtherapy.com/2025/12/15/christmas-loss-and-the-empty-chair/

Sometimes Christmas isn’t about making it merry, it’s about making space. So, if something resonates, don’t hesitate to contact me.

I’m a UK-based psychodynamic therapist and registered member (MBACP) of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), offering both online and in-person sessions in Crowborough, East Sussex, and Haywards Heath, West Sussex.

Christmas can amplify grief, loss, and absence. A psychodynamic reflection on why the festive season feels heavy, and when counselling support may help.

10/12/2025

🎄 Christmas Reflections — The Emotional Snowglobe We All Shake

Christmas has a funny way of looking sparkly on the surface while quietly nudging our inner world and whispering, “Feeling a lot yet?”

Behind the lights, carols and questionable novelty jumpers lies a season that stirs memories, awakens old roles, and turns our emotional landscape into something of a festive snowglobe, beautiful, chaotic, and occasionally hard to see through.

If the season feels tender, tangled, or a bit louder than your nervous system would prefer, you’re not alone. Christmas doesn’t need to be performed, it can be experienced, in whatever way fits the person you are today. Read more in my new blog here:

👉 https://serenityofmindtherapy.com/2025/12/07/christmas-the-emotional-snowglobe/

And if something in it resonates, if you feel the weight of expectations, the pull of old patterns, or a quiet longing for a different kind of Christmas, you don’t have to navigate it alone. If you’d like to explore the feelings beneath the tinsel, don’t hesitate to contact me.

I’m a UK-based psychodynamic therapist and registered member (MBACP) of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), offering both online and in-person sessions in Crowborough, East Sussex, and Haywards Heath, West Sussex.

Christmas stirs memories, roles and emotions. Explore a kinder, realistic way to navigate the season with psychodynamic insights and self-compassion.

02/12/2025

🔦 Stranger Things — The Upside Down We Carry Within 🔦

Some stories don’t just entertain us, they tap on the walls of our inner world and whisper, “This feels familiar, doesn’t it?”

Stranger Things is one of those rare shows that sneaks under the skin. Yes, there are monsters, portals, and suspiciously slimy tendrils… but beneath all that? It’s a masterclass in the emotional landscapes we all navigate.

The Upside Down mirrors the parts of ourselves we avoid: old wounds, buried feelings, fears that grow teeth when ignored. And then there’s Eleven, slowly reclaiming a sense of self, setting boundaries (sometimes with telekinesis), and learning that vulnerability isn’t weakness but the doorway back to connection. In my new blog, I explore the psychodynamic heart of Stranger Things, the unconscious, trauma, growing up, chosen family, and the monsters that are rarely as external as they appear, read more here:

👉 https://serenityofmindtherapy.com/2025/12/01/stranger-things-the-upside-down/

If something in the piece stirs a familiar echo, the sense of an inner Upside Down close to the surface. you’re not alone. If you would like to explore what’s beneath, at your pace, torch firmly in hand contact me.

I’m a UK-based psychodynamic therapist and registered member (MBACP) of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), offering both online and in-person sessions in Crowborough, East Sussex, and Haywards Heath, West Sussex.

Psychodynamic insights inspired by Stranger Things, exploring trauma, the unconscious, connection and the monsters we face within.

25/11/2025

❄️ Seasonal Affective Disorder — When the Weather Forecast Slips Into Our Inner World ❄️

Some experiences don’t march into our lives, they drift in, a bit like November cloud cover, quietly shifting the atmosphere before we’ve even reached for the light switch. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is one of those visitors: subtle, persistent, and often misunderstood.

SAD highlights the tug-of-war between our inner world and the darker, shorter days around us. Low light, early nights, and skies the colour of porridge can stir something deep: retreat, resistance, longing, and the occasional fantasy of hibernating until spring. I explore this emotional seasonality in my new blog:

👉 https://serenityofmindtherapy.com/2025/11/24/seasonal-affective-disorder-sad/

If something in the piece resonates or nudges at a familiar feeling about the winter months, don’t hesitate to reach out.

I’m a UK-based psychodynamic therapist and registered member (MBACP) of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), offering both online and in-person sessions in Crowborough, East Sussex, and Haywards Heath, West Sussex.

Explore the Winter Blues and Seasonal Affective Disorder with warmth, insight and humour. Understand SAD and find support to navigate the darker months

18/11/2025

✨ Wicked: For Good — Difference, Bravery, and Becoming Ourselves ✨

Every now and then a story strolls into our cultural consciousness, taps us on the shoulder, and says something quietly profound about who we are. Wicked: For Good does exactly that, all while serving emerald cities, flying broomsticks, and more emotional rivalry than a family at Christmas playing Monopoly.

The film offers up the whole psychological buffet, difference, belonging, envy, repair, identity, shadow work, longing, and the kind of friendship that only develops after you’ve silently judged someone and then realised, annoyingly, that you actually quite like them.

Wicked reminds us that becoming ourselves often involves a little chaos, a little courage, and occasionally defying gravity (emotionally, at least, no broom required).

I explore all of this in my new blog:
👉 https://serenityofmindtherapy.com/2025/11/17/wicked-difference-and-bravery/

As ever, if something in the story has stirred questions about your own, you don’t have to navigate your becoming alone. And if your shadow self is green? Honestly, join the club.

I’m a UK-based psychodynamic therapist and a registered member (MBACP) of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), offering both online and in-person sessions in Crowborough, East Sussex, and Haywards Heath, West Sussex.

A psychodynamic exploration of Wicked: For Good, difference, bravery, belonging and becoming yourself. Therapy insight from Serenity of Mind Therapy.

12/11/2025

🧠 Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month 2025: Why “I’m Fine” Isn’t the Full Story

November rolls around, the nights get darker, the John Lewis Christmas ad drops (cue misty eyes and a lump in the throat) … and it also happens to be Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month.

It’s a funny time of year, we’re encouraged to talk about feelings just as the rest of life speeds up into festive chaos. But for many men, those two little words, “I’m fine”, still do a lot of heavy lifting. They cover the loneliness, the exhaustion, the quiet sense that something’s not quite right, but admitting that feels… well, risky.

This month is a reminder to notice how we still measure masculinity by how little we need, how much we endure, and how quickly we get back up. Sometimes, the bravest thing we can do is simply stop and say, “Actually… I’m not fine.”
I explore all of this, in my latest blog:

👉 https://serenityofmindtherapy.com/2025/11/11/mens-mental-health-awareness-month-2025/

Because sometimes, strength begins with slowing down enough to be seen. So, if any of this resonates with you, don’t hesitate to reach out.

I’m a UK-based psychodynamic therapist and a registered member (MBACP) of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), offering both online and in-person sessions in Crowborough, East Sussex, and Haywards Heath, West Sussex.

November is Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, a warm, witty reflection from a psychodynamic counsellor in Haywards Heath and Crowborough.