All of us will experience periods of emotional pain, distress or dissatisfaction in our lives – this is part of what it means to be human. Normally, we are able to cope with these challenges by drawing on our inner resources or the support of family and friends. But sometimes troubling thoughts and feelings can overwhelm us, affecting our ability to enjoy life, and having a negative impact on our health, wellbeing and relationships. We can feel stuck, lost and alone. When this happens, it is sometimes hard, may even seem impossible, to share how we feel with those closest to us, leading to a deeper sense of isolation and helplessness.

Some of the issues that bring people to therapy include:

• Relationship problems
• Loss of meaning or direction in life
• Feeling helpless, frustrated, angry or emotionally volatile
• Feeling stuck in unhelpful patterns of behaviour
• Life changing events eg parenthood, illness, retirement, bereavement
• Anxiety, panic attacks, OCD
• Sadness, depression
• Self-harm or suicidal thoughts
• Unresolved childhood experiences
• Trauma - past and present, including PTSD
• Eating disorders
• Abuse and bullying, whether emotional, physical or sexual
• Living with conditions such as ADHD and autism

People may also seek therapy as a way of understanding themselves better and enhancing their sense of wellbeing so that they can live their life more fully.