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Renate Ridings
Understanding Ourselves and Others Through Psychotherapy & Counselling
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I Feel Isolated, Even Around People — What’s Going On?
Why do I feel isolated and disconnected even when I'm with friends and family? You can be sitting with people—talking, listening, even smiling—and still feel strangely alone. It’s not always obvious to others. On the surface, everything looks normal. But underneath, there’s a sense of distance. Like you’re there, but not fully in it. Maybe you leave social situations feeling flat, or slightly off. Or you notice that even when conversations go well, something doesn’t quite lan
4 days ago3 min read


Why Can’t I Stop Self-Doubt from Replaying Conversations in My Head?
The cost of self-monitoring and self-doubt. You send a message. A few minutes later, you’re reading it again. Wondering: • Was that too much? • Did I explain myself properly? • Have I upset them? • Should I have said something differently? Or perhaps you leave a conversation and find yourself replaying it hours later. You think about what you said. What you didn’t say. How the other person might have interpreted it. And somehow, no matter how many times you go over it, you ne
Jun 83 min read


People pleasing - Why do I always put others first
Why Do I People Please — and Lose Myself in the Process? Feeling disconnected “I’m not really showing up as myself” You might not even notice it at first. You say 'Yes' when you mean 'No', when something doesn’t quite feel right. You go along with plans you’re not that keen on. You prioritise what others need—often without thinking twice. And in the moment, it can feel natural. Even like the “right” thing to do. But later, something shifts. You might feel: slightly resentful
Jun 13 min read


Feeling fine then suddenly overwhelmed
I feel fine one moment and overwhelmed the next – What's happening? You can be completely fine one moment...and then something small happens—a message, a comment, a shift in tone—and suddenly everything feels different. You can be completely fine one moment. Focused. Calm. Getting on with things. And then something small happens—a message, a comment, a shift in tone—and suddenly everything feels different. You feel: overwhelmed anxious unsettled Sometimes it passes quickly. S
May 253 min read


Thinking about therapy but not sure if it’s for you?
You might be wondering whether therapy is something you should even consider. Maybe things aren’t that bad. Maybe you’ve managed so far. Maybe part of you thinks you should just get on with it. And yet, something has brought you here. Not necessarily a crisis. More a sense that something isn’t sitting quite right — even if you can’t fully explain why. And this often isn’t something that shifts just through thinking about it. It’s often not clear-cut For many people, the quest
May 152 min read


Why deciding to start therapy can feel harder than the problem itself
Why deciding to start therapy can feel harder than the problem itself You’ve probably thought about therapy more than once. You might have searched for therapists. Read a few profiles. Closed the tab. Told yourself you’d come back to it when you felt clearer. More certain. More ready. And then… you didn’t. From the outside, it can look like indecision. But what’s often happening underneath is something more specific. It’s not that you don’t want help It’s that you don’t trust
May 53 min read

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