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Therapeutic relationships

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Two people on a train reading Metro newspapers, one headline reads “Real claim: We’ve got £85m Bale”, the other “Royalty: A new wave”.

Love

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What I’ve learned about relationships as an agony uncle

I am an agony uncle. This is what I’ve learned about men, women and how relationships work in my 10 years of giving advice

by James McConnachie

Therapeutic relationships

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Psychodynamic therapy helped me overcome trauma when CBT couldn’t

The toxic memories of trauma governed my life for years. But psychodynamic therapy made me feel seen and set me free

by Lucia Osborne-Crowley

Black-and-white photo of a man in a patterned shirt looking up at a tall modern glass building with a grid-like facade.

Therapeutic relationships

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Life coaching is unregulated and growing rapidly. Should it be reined in?

Anybody can call themselves a life coach, and then offer what amounts to serious therapy. Should life coaching be regulated?

by Elias Aboujaoude

Abstract painting of a seated woman, depicted with vibrant and bold colours, including red, green, blue, yellow, and purple.

Psychoanalysis and the unconscious

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The power of slow therapy, revealed in two pioneering memoirs

Two therapy memoirs by Lucy Freeman, an overlooked mental health pioneer, remind us of the value of slow, convoluted therapy

by Elliot Jurist

A baby in floral pyjamas lying on a bed, holding hands with a woman in a polka-dot dress who leans over, smiling.

Psychotherapy

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Getting what we think we want can reveal just how complex desire is

Helping my clients probe their unspoken wants creates a space of freedom to express the possibilities that lie dormant

by Charlotte Fox Weber

Black-and-white photo of a woman in a dark dress, heels and pearls lying on a leather couch; she is looking upwards with a thoughtful expression.

Therapeutic relationships

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My failed analysis gave me confidence and taught me when to quit

What does successful psychoanalysis look like? I’d read all around Freud and I didn’t know, but then neither did my analyst

by Lisa Levy

A person’s shadow is cast in overlapping red, yellow and blue on a pink and blue wall. The shadow highlights their face and shoulder.

Psychotherapy

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Psychotherapy under the microscope: how exactly does it work?

To improve psychotherapy, researchers are looking beyond what happens in a session to learn exactly how change is achieved

by Ciarán O’Driscoll

A woman holding a child while a man examines his neck glands, all in a softly lit indoor setting showing care and attention.

Therapeutic relationships

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Slow medicine, like slow food, puts people ahead of profit

The physical and mental health of patients are deeply intertwined. GPs are best-placed to help, but they need more time

by Mariam Tokhi

A dark-skinned hand with a pulse oximeter on a finger displaying 98% oxygen saturation and 84 bpm on a grey countertop.

Bioethics

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Some medical devices don’t mean to be racist, but they are

Oppression can get built into anything, including medical devices. How do they influence us, and what can we do about them?

by Vanessa Carbonell & Shen-yi Liao

Singer in black performs surrounded by dancers in red hooded outfits. Energetic atmosphere, vivid stage lighting.

Therapeutic relationships

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Either/or questions are part of psychotherapy’s language games

When a patient poses a binary question, it’s tempting to give a straight answer, but they are often seeking so much more

by Darren Haber

Hands holding a vintage wristwatch with a white face, black numerals, and a mesh metal strap against a dark background.

Self-harm and suicide

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The violence of suicide reverberates in, and through, us all

A psychodynamic perspective on suicide can help us all reckon more honestly with the interconnectedness of psychic pain

by Kyle Boyd

Blurry photo of a medical professional in green scrubs pushing a hospital bed quickly, with motion emphasised by streaking effect.

Self-harm and suicide

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What working in emergency care taught me about suicide risk

Most who die by suicide were considered to be at low or no risk. We need a new framework for understanding the dangers

by Gavin Tucker