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cosy therapy
helping you build a life you love
blog
I write a weekly blog with my thoughts on a variety of mental health topics, so you can get to know how I work. These are just a few ideas - take what works for you, leave what doesn't
Listening without getting drained 😌
As a therapist, people often ask me how I keep myself well, while listening to experiences of trauma. It’s a tricky skill but it can be...
April Cunliffe
Apr 292 min read
Goal setting for mental health
I use goal setting in my therapy practice, so that clients and I can make sure we cover what matters. So what are mental health goals?...
April Cunliffe
Apr 142 min read
Bedrotting? Or duvet days?
Sometimes, we may find ourselves stuck in bed. Lately it’s been called bedrotting - capturing the judgment that we are ‘rotting away’ in...
April Cunliffe
Apr 82 min read
Expanding your comfort zone
When I think about ‘getting outside of my comfort zone’, I feel afraid. Doing things that I’ve not done before? Risking making mistakes?...
April Cunliffe
Apr 33 min read
My issue with self care
'Self care' is a term that comes up a lot. And if it works for you, keep it up! Every pathway is different, and you’ve gotta use the...
April Cunliffe
Mar 242 min read
Gender adventures
It’s important for therapists to meet you where you’re at, and to move with you as you change and expand your idea of self.
April Cunliffe
Mar 142 min read
5 ways to manage conflict
Conflict can feel scary, but disagreements happen in most long term personal relationships. Whether it’s a partner, a friend, family...
April Cunliffe
Feb 42 min read
Coping with change
Break ups, job loss, friendship loss, illness, grief. When I’ve gone through times of change, I used to feel lost and overwhelmed. Over...
April Cunliffe
Jan 211 min read
Setting boundaries
Boundaries is a buzzword lately, but how do we set boundaries - and will it be difficult? Here’s a few ideas to get you thinking: 🌱...
April Cunliffe
Jan 142 min read
Avoiding January burnout
I have to admit: I didn’t want to write this week. I thought I’d get my writing started this week, get back into the swing of things. But...
April Cunliffe
Jan 72 min read
Surviving the holidays
Christmas can be a stressful event for many of us. Not everyone feels comfortable around family! And with it fast approaching, you may...
April Cunliffe
Dec 19, 20242 min read
Sleep as self care
Sleep is an important part of mental health care. It helps us process emotions, store long-term memories, and it su pports our immune...
April Cunliffe
Dec 11, 20242 min read
"I Don’t Deserve It": How We Self-Exclude from Happiness
In our pursuit of happiness and success, we often find ourselves getting in our own way. But why do we do this, and how does it affect...
April Cunliffe
Dec 4, 20242 min read
Building habits that stick
Building new habits can be tricky, and we have all experienced the sting of disappointment when a new routine doesn’t stick. I spend a...
April Cunliffe
Nov 27, 20242 min read
What is anger trying to tell you?
Anger is such an important emotion, and it’s not often talked about. You know when you feel it: perhaps it hits you like a ton of bricks,...
April Cunliffe
Nov 20, 20243 min read
Your best winter yet?
The approach of winter may be affecting your mood. For many of us, the longer nights and the colder weather can cause a sense of gloom....
April Cunliffe
Nov 13, 20242 min read
Feeling your feelings
I used to hate feeling my feelings! I found them horrible, icky, and sometimes they felt really unsafe. But avoiding them meant they got...
April Cunliffe
Nov 4, 20243 min read
Making friends as an adult
Something that often comes up in therapy and support groups, is how hard it can be to make friends as an adult. When we are children, we...
April Cunliffe
Oct 28, 20243 min read
Affirmations for Self Esteem
What are affirmations? I’ve been using affirmations as a daily practice to support my self esteem, confidence and mental health. So what...
April Cunliffe
Oct 23, 20243 min read
Self-sabotage
We’ve all done it. To some extent or other, we have found ourselves doing something that we know is not good for us. We might have kept...
April Cunliffe
Oct 7, 20242 min read
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I am based between Edinburgh and London
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