The Therapy Journal
This is where psychotherapy steps out of the session and into conversation. From our defences that shape our daily lives to the emotions that drive our choices, these pieces explore the human mind through a psychodynamic lens.Whether clinical or cultural, every post asks the same question: what happens when we stop avoiding our feelings?Where therapy meets everyday life…
What Cures in Therapy Is Truth…
Therapy helps when we stop avoiding what we fear. Research consistently shows that facing what triggers our anxiety leads to genuine improvement. In practice, this means working through the tension between feelings, anxiety, and defence until what’s true can finally be felt and expressed. Truth restores coherence to the mind and body, the moment of quiet honesty when something long denied can finally be seen.
The Psychology of the Inner Critic: How the Voice Inside You Took Power
The inner critic isn’t just all about self-doubt; it’s a survival strategy born from fear, shame, and unmet needs. It once kept you safe, but now it keeps you small. Understanding how it formed is the first step in taking your power back.
Why We Repeat What Hurts Us: The Pull of Familiar Pain
We don’t repeat painful patterns because we’re broken. We repeat them because we’re trying, unconsciously, to master something that once overwhelmed us. The mind repeats what it didn’t get to resolve. Therapy helps to make what we are unaware of into awareness (unconscious into conscious) so we can finally stop mistaking familiarity for safety and start choosing something new.
Your Defence Mechanisms: A Self Discovery Quiz
When you think about your emotional defences, what comes to mind? Many of us imagine walls, shields, or barriers – but here's something fascinating: your defence mechanisms are actually clever ways your mind handles difficult feelings! Think of them as your emotional immune system, automatically protecting you from psychological discomfort.
We all have these defences, and they're completely normal. In fact, they're pretty ingenious when you think about it. Maybe you crack jokes when things get too serious, throw yourself into work when you're hurting, or find yourself being extra nice to someone who's upset you. These aren't character flaws – they're sophisticated strategies your mind developed to help you feel safer with challenging emotions…