Rosamund Ammon Therapy

09/01/2026

“We change only when we have a sense that we are understood for the many reasons why change is so hard for us”
- Alain de Botton

08/12/2025

14/11/2025

When people are at their most ‘unlovable’
That is when they need loving the most

26/10/2025

Do you remember being told the story of the shepherd and the lion (or Androcles and the Lion)? Are you sitting comfortably?…

There was once a peaceful village in the foothills of a mountain. One night a ferocious lion came down to the village, snarling and lashing out, and the villagers were very, very scared. They put together a committee of the decision makers, and these wise ones picked the strongest fighters from the village to collect together their mightiest weapons. The lion visited the village, spreading terror, every night. And each night the fighters approached the lion, throwing their spears at him, waving fire in his face and shouting. The lion did not retreat but became more and more enraged. The villagers were in despair.

There was a boy from the village who had been out in the mountains grazing the sheep, and was returning to the village. He was nearly home but night had fallen so he took the sheep to the mountainside and huddled for shelter in a cave. It was only when he lit his fire for the night that he noticed the lion, cowering in the depths of the cave. Upon seeing the fire, the lion began to snarl and growl at the shepherd boy. The boy was deciding whether to run or fight for his life, when he noticed the lion had a huge thorn in his paw. The lion wasn’t murderous, he was in pain. Calmly he approached the lion, gently pulled the thorn from his paw and wrapped the wound in his own blanket. The lion instantly calmed and soon fell asleep in front of the fire, exhausted.

We have all been that lion. We know something is wrong, and we might even approach others for help. But we don’t know that we are in pain. We don’t know what is causing that pain and we certainly don’t know how to resolve it. That pain is causing us to feel really, really scared. So we lash out. We might lash out at others, but more importantly we lash out at ourselves, punishing ourselves with our mightiest weapons, telling ourselves that we need to try harder, we’re not good enough, perhaps that we are mad, bad or sad, or even that we are unloveable and worthy of rejection.

Sometimes it takes another person to notice that we have a huge thorn in our paw. And that each day we have been walking on it, pushing it further into our softest, most exposed parts.

There will always be thorns. Perhaps we might be able to live in a way where we understand our thorns, where we are able to explain or show them to others. And to live in a way where we know others have their own thorns and we can give them the gift of grace to let them bear their unresolved pain.

11/09/2025

The most common question I get asked when people see my shelves of miniatures is ‘oh do you work with children too?’ Sadly, for now, I don’t, but in a way of course I do, because all of us are still the Child we always were, trying to make sense of all these big overwhelming emotions that life has thrown at us.

This is why I love working with the miniatures. When a client feels overwhelmed, confused or perhaps aware there is ‘something’ unknown and/or subconscious that is begging to be heard, we’ll turn to the miniatures to look for some answers.

By selecting seemingly arbitrary ornaments, toys or curios, our subconscious can at last tell us what it is holding on to. Generally we place them in a sandtray - which represents the containment of our current world, however that looks - and reflect on the items selected and the positions they are in. This always leads to really rich and enlightening discussion and deepens our understanding of the self.

Sandtray and miniatures is just one of the creative ways in which we can work. Other approaches include guided imagery, memory work, storytelling, role play, art/clay and music to name just a few. Creativity connects and allows the subconscious to come into consciousness and when this can be heard and listened to, it brings peace to our overwhelmed minds.

26/03/2025

The way that we bond and attach with our first primary caregivers forms the blueprint of how we connect across all of our relationships. For whatever reason, with no blame or fault ascribed, sometimes we’re not lucky enough to have formed a Secure Attachment. Sometimes we might be securely attached to one person at one time but insecurely attached to another person or at another time. Understanding our attachment style can give really good insight into our relationships, and might sometimes explain why we seem to be communicating at odds with the person we most want to connect with. There is nothing wrong with this, and nothing that needs to be ‘fixed’, but bringing it into our awareness is often all it takes for things to seem clearer and lighter.

09/03/2025

I’m often asked, ‘What’s the best way to support my friend or relative who’s going through a tough time’? The answer is far simpler than you might imagine - just be there with them.

Generally people aren’t looking for anyone to solve all their problems, offer practical solutions or make the feeling go away. Often this is impossible anyway or people already know what they need to do. But having someone who can sit with you during the hard time and tolerate the uncomfortable feeling with you, is worth more than any solution.

If someone feels brave enough to open up their vulnerability and share what is troubling them, it’s important to validate that person’s feeling, and understand that they are telling their truth. Affirm this for them and reassure them that the feeling is understandable and valid. Believe them. Telling someone not to worry - because you don’t want to see them worrying and the pain this is causing them - may make them feel as if they are wrong to have the worry. This invalidation will likely result in them feeling bad about feeling bad and deepen the negative cycle.

Similarly, advising someone to practice gratitude and point out that others have it worse, again negates their pain. If you have a broken leg and your neighbour has two broken legs - you still have a broken leg and deserve to have this looked after. Likening the problem to something or someone else you’ve heard about may be an attempt to show you understand where they are coming from, but it may be misconstrued as a comparison and take away the focus from their worries and make them feel unimportant.

Finally, listen. Listen without waiting for it to be your turn to talk. This is their stuff. Be curious, be non-judgemental, be authentic. Reassure them that they can trust you with their vulnerability. Many people don’t want to open up because they don’t want the real them to be seen or heard. See them. Hear them. And love the real them.

Image copyright ‘The Rabbit Listened’ by Cori Doerrfeld.

04/02/2025

Matryoshka dolls are a fabulous metaphor for thinking about the different layers or parts we may have that make up our ‘self’. The animal set here is just one of many creative techniques I use with clients. I absolutely love this poem ‘Russian Doll’ by Rachel Rooney. I wonder what your layers might look like?
And, if we’re feeling really philosophical, are the layers *inside* of us, as the poem suggests, or are the layers *outside* around the real us.

20/01/2025

We’re told today, Blue Monday, is the most depressing day of the year. But we can be depressed any day of any year, regardless of the season, or indeed any external factor. And it is *always* ok to ask for help on any day you need it.

08/01/2025

January can seem like the longest month when energy and motivation are low, and warmth and light seem a long way off. Some of my clients have found this diagram useful - it explains how our brain and body makes certain chemicals to boost our happiness, perhaps making these cold dark days a little easier to bear.

If you think therapy might also help you to address persistent low mood then please do get in touch and we can chat about how I might be able support you.

01/01/2025

Just to let current clients know I have opened up appointments at 11am and 1pm this Friday 3rd Jan for anyone wanting any additional headspace