“Compassion is the courage to be vulnerable with ourselves.” ~ Sarah Macklin I've noticed something interesting over the years that I have sat with people in my role as Counsellor. No matter what issue, grief, difficulty or desire for change that someone may come in to speak with me about, there is one thing that helps with everything. I have also noticed that there are some unhelpful beliefs people often hold about this thing, which can act as real barriers in terms of them being able...

Most couples in conflict don’t need better intentions. They need better language. Not polished communication. Not “ use your I-statements .” We need phrases that will help us to: • interrupt argument escalation • lower your partners defensiveness • signal that you are seeking to understand (even if you don't agree) • stop your negative cycle in its tracks so it doesn't take over and ruin your day / evening / entire weekend! There's some real-life practical examples below to help you do just...

Closeness doesn’t evaporate overnight ... it fades away in the small spaces where we forget to see each other. The small little things we stop noticing and doing; tiny gestures before leaving the house, the things that go unseen or unnoticed. The everyday micro-moments of paying attention that might seem meaningless, but in reality speak volumes to our nervous systems. Researchers and therapists like the well-known couples therapists John and Julie Gottman, have studied long-term...