Broken hearts, broken promises and broken dreams… love can shatter our world and leave us feeling lost, exhausted and disillusioned. We empower those who have hurt or left us to define our future and align our happiness and ability to love another within the constraints we bind ourselves in after a painful break up. “You can search through the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not found anywhere. You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe deserve your love and affection.” – Buddha There is no one, not even the ‘perfect partner’ who can make you feel happy and loved if you have failed to create a space within yourself for self-love. Loving and accepting ourselves is the key to our own wellbeing and happiness. Self-love is finding what makes you happy and only you. It’s about developing an intimate relationship with yourself that does not rely on someone else’s approval or love. Too often I see clients that have given up on love because they are unable to overcome the pain or betrayal of an ex-lover and have resigned themselves to being a “failure in love”. The truth is… they have fallen out of love with themselves! Self-love should be your first love not your last. It’s more than just feeling good, it’s an appreciation of self and it grows and strengthens from those activities and actions that support your psychological, physical and spiritual growth. So for those of you spending Valentine’s Day without a date… now is the perfect time to start a love affair with yourself, it might just change your life. Follow our guide below to starting a Self-Love Routine: Be Mindful
Being present in your life enables you to open up your heart and mind so you can feel what is it you need instead of what you think you want. Be mindful of who you are and act on this, rather than on what others think you want. Be Kind We should always be concious of what we say to ourselves because we are always listening. Set the intention to say something kind to yourself every day, such as “I am a beautiful and powerful person.” Affirmations are a great way to reinforce how we feel about ourselves and draw positivity into our lives. Set Boundaries Too often we struggle to say ‘no’ to work, friends or family. Create boundaries that nurture you and avoid committing to activities that zap your energy both physically and emotionally. Forgive Yourself We all make mistakes, none of us are perfect and you know what…that’s ok! Instead of beating yourself up and worrying what others are thinking, let it go and move on. Learn from it and then leave it in the past where it belongs and give no more thought or time to it. Self-Care Pamper yourself, take a long soak in a candle lit bath with your favourite essential oil or herbal tea bath. Meditate or take up a hobby that you love. Find time to be in your own company doing the things that you love. Forget waiting for someone to buy you flowers, treat yourself to a beautiful bouquet. Listen to your body and mind, go for a run or walk, take time out for yoga or meditation. Accept and Love Yourself Be your own authentic self! It can be exhausting trying to be someone you’re not or being the version of yourself created by someone else. As Kurt Cobain once said “Wanting to be someone else is a waste of who you are.” Accept who you are and embrace that person. We are all unique and accepting and loving ourselves for who we are leads to happiness and equilibrium. Your wellbeing and happiness is an inside job. The only person that can take it away from you is you! Instead of trying to avoid Valentine’s Day this year, why not ignite that love affair with yourself and fall back in love with you.
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Love is all around us but with the pressures of everyday life it can become all too easy to lose focus on the positive feelings of happiness it can bring into our lives. As the daily grind wears away at us we can start to take for granted the amazing gift that is sharing and receiving love with those that mean the most. When we talk about love we are not just referring to the romantic kind. Love comes in so many different shapes and sizes, it means something different to each and every one of us and even when you think you can't find it, you only need to stop and look around to see that love is present in every part of our lives. You just need to be willing to take the time to notice. That is why we have put together a list of 20 Love Affirmations for every love in your life. They include affirmations for all aspects of love from family to self-love and from the romantic to finding your own version of love in the everyday. So take five minutes, clear your mind and repeat the affirmations below out loud, focusing on each word as you say it. Repeat daily and refocus your consciousness to allow yourself to welcome love back into your life. If you would like a bit more detail on what exactly an affirmation is, how they work and what they can be used for we wrote a whole post about them here. 20 LOVE AFFIRMATIONS |
It’s a little early I know but who am I to deny a little Christmas magic to seep into my work and home while we prepare for the arrival of the festive season. After all it’s been a chilly weekend… my excuse for finding me curled up in front of the roaring wood burner this Sunday evening watching Miracle on 34th Street, immersed in the magic of what is Richard Attenborough’s heart warming performance as Santa Claus.
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As adults we have the luxury of time, years of experience to reminisce on happy Christmas memories. Those exciting and magical eve’s waiting for Santa to arrive and awaking to a bulging stocking before running downstairs to see if he had left gifts under the tree. Santa Claus embodies the spirit of Christmas, a sense of innocence and adventure. For most children a visit to see Santa is a fun and magical time leading up to Christmas Eve but for what as adults we perceive as harmless fun, can in fact be a traumatic experience for some children.
So what should you do if your child is frightened of Santa Claus?
First of all stop and step back… really try to look at the situation from their perspective. For young children who are still developing an understanding of imagination and reality there is very little to compare this to, it is a common fear in children between the ages of 2-7 years. Santa as an omnipresent being is everywhere and sees everything. Let’s not forget the famous song ‘Santa Claus is Coming to Town’
So what should you do if your child is frightened of Santa Claus?
First of all stop and step back… really try to look at the situation from their perspective. For young children who are still developing an understanding of imagination and reality there is very little to compare this to, it is a common fear in children between the ages of 2-7 years. Santa as an omnipresent being is everywhere and sees everything. Let’s not forget the famous song ‘Santa Claus is Coming to Town’
Children are presented with a stranger in a red suit who is all seeing, all knowing… someone they can’t hide from! So it’s understandable that some children will find it all a little overwhelming and upsetting to start. Don’t give up on your dream of taking your child to see Santa and letting them relive the magic you once experienced. Most children outgrow those early fears of Santa but until they do, here are a few tips to help you through the festive period:
Don’t Force Them
If you know your child is afraid don’t use bribes or threats. It’s true… that perfect photographic shot is within reach, just a few gentle nudges forward. The question is at what cost? It’s important not to push your child until they are ready, or you run the risk of potentially causing psychological harm and further emotional stress.
Acknowledge Their Fear
Remember this is about putting your perspective to one side and seeing the situation from theirs. A grotto can be noisy, crowded and even the “Ho, Ho, Ho..” from Santa can be unsettling. Never mind the beard, suit, gloves and the fact you are asking them to sit on the lap of a stranger! Every child is unique and so are their fears.
Santa Who?
It’s important to reassure them that it’s safe and everything is ok. Stranger anxiety develops in children around 6 months and is a natural and normal part of development. However, it’s also important to maintain a safe approach when it comes to strangers. Perhaps introducing the concept that they only talk to Santa when a trusted adult is with them.
Take it Slow
Talk about Santa, read stories about him and show them pictures. Visit Santa’s workshop/grotto a few times and allow your child to observe Santa from a distance that they are comfortable with, perhaps even wave to him and gradually move closer. This will enable them to become familiar with him and intrigued. If they have older siblings why not encourage them to watch while they visit with Santa. If/when they decide to get closer, don’t feel it necessary to force them to sit on Santa’s lap if you feel this is distressing them. Instead, encourage them to stand next to Santa and talk to him from a distance they are comfortable with.
Believe
Be patient and resist the urge to tell them Santa is not real. It’s likely this fear will dissipate on its own, so why not use the time to build your child’s trust.
Finally… if your child is still distressed, don’t force them to see Santa. Wait and try again next year!
Written by Nicole McKendry
#fearofsanta #childphobias #dundee #standrews #scotland #christmas
#fearofsanta #childphobias #dundee #standrews #scotland #christmas
Over the years, we have been asked by quite a few people if there is a meaning behind our name,
Therapy in the City.
The short answer to that question is yes!
To us, the words Therapy in the City are a way to describe finding your calm in the rush of life.
Let us explain…
The Therapy Part...
Therapy is of course part of what we do as a global hypnotherapy and mind coaching practice and is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as a treatment that is intended to relieve or to heal. For our clients, therapy is a process they can use to relax their minds and bodies, it allows them to refocus, reenergize and reinvigorate their lives.
However, this idea of finding calm is not just something we believe is reserved exclusively to therapy sessions, it is everywhere. It can be found in small things such as a well-deserved quiet moment with a good cup of tea or a quick cuddle with the dog to big moments such as climbing mountains and travelling the world. To find any sense of calm is to find your therapy and that is where the first part of our name comes from.
The City Part...
The second part, City, might at first seem self-explanatory. We currently work from clinics in St Andrews and Dundee but over the years we have held practices all over the UK and of course we are now available for sessions online in cities, towns and villages all over the world. So, the City part of our name refers firstly to the location of our business but on a deeper level it refers to the general rush of everyday life.
Many of us are living in a hectic hurricane, we are torn between the things we need to do and the things we want to do. For many people day to day life can seem to fly past in a blur of work and to do lists and over time this state of constant tension can lead to anxiety, stress and even depression.
#find yourTITC
That is why we believe it is important to take even just five minutes a day to find a little piece of calm and enjoyment, to take a step away from the rush of life and allow yourself some Therapy in the City or as we call it TITC.
Come and join our search for calm over on Instagram and #findyourTITC
Therapy is of course part of what we do as a global hypnotherapy and mind coaching practice and is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as a treatment that is intended to relieve or to heal. For our clients, therapy is a process they can use to relax their minds and bodies, it allows them to refocus, reenergize and reinvigorate their lives.
However, this idea of finding calm is not just something we believe is reserved exclusively to therapy sessions, it is everywhere. It can be found in small things such as a well-deserved quiet moment with a good cup of tea or a quick cuddle with the dog to big moments such as climbing mountains and travelling the world. To find any sense of calm is to find your therapy and that is where the first part of our name comes from.
The City Part...
The second part, City, might at first seem self-explanatory. We currently work from clinics in St Andrews and Dundee but over the years we have held practices all over the UK and of course we are now available for sessions online in cities, towns and villages all over the world. So, the City part of our name refers firstly to the location of our business but on a deeper level it refers to the general rush of everyday life.
Many of us are living in a hectic hurricane, we are torn between the things we need to do and the things we want to do. For many people day to day life can seem to fly past in a blur of work and to do lists and over time this state of constant tension can lead to anxiety, stress and even depression.
#find yourTITC
That is why we believe it is important to take even just five minutes a day to find a little piece of calm and enjoyment, to take a step away from the rush of life and allow yourself some Therapy in the City or as we call it TITC.
Come and join our search for calm over on Instagram and #findyourTITC
#findyourTITC, #relaxation #howtobehappy
Written by Jade Fraser-McKendry
Written by Jade Fraser-McKendry
If you have stopped in at our Therapy Couch in the past you will know that we well and truly believe that change starts in the mind. As we tell all our clients and just about anyone that pops by for a chat, what the mind conceives the body can achieve, it really is as simple as breathe, listen, change.
So today we wanted to take the chance to share with you how we start our morning’s here at TITC and let you in on Therapy in the City’s Top Ten Amazing Affirmations. These quick and simple positive phrases will help you to start making and implementing life changing beliefs and the best part is you will only need to squeeze five minutes out of your day to give it a go.
So today we wanted to take the chance to share with you how we start our morning’s here at TITC and let you in on Therapy in the City’s Top Ten Amazing Affirmations. These quick and simple positive phrases will help you to start making and implementing life changing beliefs and the best part is you will only need to squeeze five minutes out of your day to give it a go.
So, what are affirmations?
If you have been anywhere near social media (particularly Pinterest) in the past few years, you are sure to have heard whisperings on the amazing effects of positive affirmations. In simple terms affirmations are statements that you make to yourself, about yourself and for yourself.
They consist of positive declarations about specific aspects of your life, ranging from the personal to the professional and work by routinely affirming to yourself (just like the name says) positive thoughts and beliefs. The daily repetition of these statements is made using the current tense, to solidify in your mind that they are not simply who or what you want to be, but who you already are. So instead of saying I want to be happy, an affirmation would mean saying out loud and proud, I am happy.
By presenting your goals for change as declarations of truth, affirmations can start to adjust the way you think and feel about yourself and your life. They can help to focus, motivate and guide your subconscious mind to start pushing out negative and limiting beliefs and replacing them with seeds of visualization that you can help grow into positive transformations.
They consist of positive declarations about specific aspects of your life, ranging from the personal to the professional and work by routinely affirming to yourself (just like the name says) positive thoughts and beliefs. The daily repetition of these statements is made using the current tense, to solidify in your mind that they are not simply who or what you want to be, but who you already are. So instead of saying I want to be happy, an affirmation would mean saying out loud and proud, I am happy.
By presenting your goals for change as declarations of truth, affirmations can start to adjust the way you think and feel about yourself and your life. They can help to focus, motivate and guide your subconscious mind to start pushing out negative and limiting beliefs and replacing them with seeds of visualization that you can help grow into positive transformations.
How to get started...
We know this might all seem a bit strange at first, the process of telling ourselves how amazing we are and admitting what we feel we truly deserve to have and feel is sadly not the norm in everyday life. That’s why we have made it a little easier with our video below, not only does it give you 10 daily affirmations to practice, it also allows you to say them along with us (your new affirmation buddies) until you get comfortable with the process.
We would recommend for best results that you repeat each affirmation around five times a day, every day, really allowing yourself to focus and absorb the words you are saying. Remember for affirmations to work you need to believe in what you are saying and trust in the truth of your statements.
So, pop yourself down in your happy place, click play and let’s start making a change.
We would recommend for best results that you repeat each affirmation around five times a day, every day, really allowing yourself to focus and absorb the words you are saying. Remember for affirmations to work you need to believe in what you are saying and trust in the truth of your statements.
So, pop yourself down in your happy place, click play and let’s start making a change.
#affirmations | #positivity | #makeachange
Written by Jade Fraser-McKendry
Author
There's always room for one more on our Therapy couch... so whether you join us daily, weekly or just when you have time to stop by we hope that our therapy chatter allows you to take time out in your busy life, to unplug from your everyday stressors and simply breathe, listen and change!
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