Sitting in the waiting room at the hospital I am thinking about a question I was sent by a young man who has moved cities to start a new job and feels that none of his co-workers like him. He writes that however cheery and pleasant he is he remains an outsider and convinced that people are … [Read more...] about Misplaced Gratitude
Relationships
Inadvertent Vegetarian
I've realised this week that I have become a weekday vegetarian. I only know this because on Wednesday nobody felt like cooking and the children decided to get take-out from Nando's. "What do you want?" my son asks me as I'm flicking through the menu on my phone. "Umm, I'll have the Beanie … [Read more...] about Inadvertent Vegetarian
Inadvertent Birthday Hustling
I've been researching and writing a piece on "Hustle Culture" this week which has taken a lot more time than I'd anticipated. As a consequence, I have got behind with my other work. One evening, after we've cleared the dinner plates I say, "I've got to finish an "Ask A Therapist" question … [Read more...] about Inadvertent Birthday Hustling
Imposter Syndrome In Cake
I've taken a commission to write a series of blog posts for a mental-health organisation and I'm telling my daughter about it as we make tomato sauce for pasta. "What do they want you to write about?" "Issues at the intersection of work and mental health" "You struggle to find enough ideas … [Read more...] about Imposter Syndrome In Cake
Finders Keepers
In a heated argument with her brother about the most appropriate distribution of an excellent batch of double chocolate muffins, my daughter pushes back until it becomes a bit too much, at which point she reluctantly retreats, tearful. She goes upstairs into the bathroom pursued shortly … [Read more...] about Finders Keepers