douglasJan 24, 20214 minCardboard BoxesLockdown has brought its own challenges one of which is limited mobility. We have to spend more time in our homes so whilst we're stuck...
douglasNov 24, 20202 minAre you depressed?These are words from someone who is: Shower. Not a bath, a shower. Use water as hot or cold as you like. You don't even need to wash....
douglasAug 27, 20202 minDisapproving Looks I'm aware that when we walk past a couple who are chatting we may get the feeling that they are making comments about us — possibly in...
douglasJul 28, 20201 minSelf esteemI have come across people who suffer from low self-esteem. The inability to truly like or at least appreciate themselves. Many of these...
douglasJul 22, 20202 minYou've got a friend I believe that if a friendly psychologist visited our homes and looked at the books which are kept beside our beds or lying on top of our...
douglasJul 15, 20202 minOuchI've hurt my back. This isn't a cry for help or a petition where I expect to be inundated with copious amounts of sympathy cards. It's...
douglasJul 8, 20201 minBuy a VDub It's 15 degrees centigrade outside as I write this. Up here in the NE of Scotland that's a heatwave. Indeed I've had to open the window...
douglasJul 1, 20202 minIt's raining again There is something about rain which makes me want to pick up a good book (well you wouldn't deliberately choose a bad one would you?)...
douglasJun 23, 20203 minSummer ReadsAs we approach the summer we may well be looking to pack a novel, (or two) or even the kindle or some other e-book appliance into our...
douglasJun 16, 20202 minYou're important I have a sister with red hair and when she was younger it was always the source of conversation. Often, she was teased unmercifully —...
douglasJun 9, 20202 minJust Breathe . . .Many years ago, I was approached by the East Lothian Courier for an ‘interview.’ I was the new boy in town and a few paragraphs from me,...
douglasJun 3, 20202 minBrokenness Have you ever been in the company of a friend or a family member when they have shared some news, specifically bad news and you have...
douglasMay 26, 20202 minThe beginning of the end Many years ago I used to take two and half sugars in my tea. Actually most of the adults in my household did the same. Not two sugars,...
douglasMay 20, 20202 minSocial Distancing and Other New Normalities At the beginning of the lockdown I felt a tinge of guilt. Mainly because other people were working but I wasn't. Face to face counselling...
douglasApr 29, 20201 minFinding a buddyIn these unprecedented times which we find ourselves I'm discovering that many more people are using technology (including myself) to...
douglasApr 23, 20201 minJust so you know . . . As a therapist I won't: Try to fix you. Give you advice. Tell you what to do. Pretend I know more about you than you do. Assume what is...
douglasApr 15, 20201 minLockdown norms Week four of lockdown, well at least in the UK. I hope you are finding resources to occupy yourself during the days at home — that's if...
douglasApr 6, 20201 minCoronaviris . . . it has changed usI'm aware that the coronavirus has had a major impact on our lives, maybe more than anything else before. As a consequence many people...
douglasMar 14, 20201 minLet's fudge things up In the late 17th century, fudge was a verb meaning "to fit together or adjust [clumsily]." Then around 1800, the word was used to mean a...
douglasMar 8, 20201 minRules I attended a conference in Darlington a few days ago, the subject being shame. It was inspiring, educational, challenging and disturbing....