Ck Therapy thoughtful reflections
Sometimes self-esteem begins with letting something kind about yourself stay a little longer
Many people find it easier to absorb criticism than kindness.
Not because positive things are untrue,
but because the brain is naturally wired to notice potential threats more than reassurance. This is part ofis referredto as the brain’s “negativity bias” an adaptive survival response designed to help us scan for danger, rejection, or mistakes.
Over time, especially if someone has experienced criticism, shame, inconsistency, or low self-worth, the brain can become even more practiced at filtering for the negative while dismissing the positive.
Compliments get minimised.
Achievements get brushed aside.
Kindness feels uncomfortable or undeserved.
Strengthening self esteem is not about forcing yourself to “think positively.”
It is about slowly helping the brain build familiarity with safer, more balanced ways of secing yourself.
Sometimes healing begins with small moments:
letting the compliment land, accepting the reassurance,
or resisting the urge to immediately dismiss something kind.
The more we practise noticing and holding onto positive experiences, the more we create new patterns for the brain to return to.

CKTherapy Book recommendation: ADHD A to Z by Leanne Maskell
A really accessible and practical read for anyone wanting to better understand ADHD, whether personally, professionally, or in supporting someone else.
What we loved most about this book is how easy it is to engage with. The chapters are clear, concise, and easy to dip in and out of, so it doesn’t feel overwhelming or like something you have to read cover to cover. You can simply pick up the sections that feel most relevant to you at the time.
It offers simple, realistic advice alongside psychoeducation in a way that feels compassionate, validating, and genuinely useful.
As psychotherapists, we really appreciate resources that make complex experiences feel understandable without being overly clinical and this book does that well.
For more genuine resource recommendations (not adverts) visit our resource page on our website ;
https://www.ckpsychotherapy.co.uk/resources.html

We'd Love to hear your feedback on our podcast. learn more on about Twice Translated on our podcast page ;
​https://www.ckpsychotherapy.co.uk/podcast.html

Ck therapy testimonials
A review from a client who’s worked with Catherine.
“Catherine has been nothing but warm and professional since the moment I spoke to her.
She has guided me through a really difficult time in my life and I am so thankful for all
that she has done for me.”
if you’ve worked with one of our therapists we’d love to hear your feedback.
Read our reviews or write your own review;
https://g.page/r/CQUUqyupMp3pEBE/review

“Doing your best” is not a fixed standard.
Some days it looks like being productive, present, and motivated.
Other days it looks like resting, setting boundaries, getting through the day quietly, or asking for support.
Your capacity will naturally change depending on stress, grief, burnout, emotional load, physical health, and life circumstances.
We often judge ourselves unfairly for not functioning at the same level every day, without considering how much we may be carrying internally.
Doing your best does not always mean doing the most.
Sometimes it means responding to yourself with honesty, flexibility, and compassion instead of pressure.
Progress is not measured only by productivity.
There is also strength in slowing down, recovering, and continuing gently.
#selfcare #progress #therapy #psychotherapy

Emma Barnett’s documentary on endometriosis left us reflecting in so many ways . Especially this one particular quote:
“Why am I a warrior? I’m not well.”
​
As therapists, this statement felt incredibly powerful.
We often hear people described as “warriors” when they are living with chronic illness, pain, loss, trauma or other invisible struggles. While often intended as praise, the word can sometimes carry an unspoken expectation: to keep fighting, keep researching, keep explaining, keep proving.

Many of the people who sit in our therapy room are exhausted. Not only from what they are experiencing, but from the effort of trying to be heard. They have become experts in their own conditions, symptoms or circumstances because they have felt they needed to gather evidence, learn the language, and advocate tirelessly just to have their experiences recognised.

Whether living with endometriosis, chronic illness, mental health difficulties, grief, neurodivergence, or another hidden struggle, there can be a deep loneliness in feeling that your suffering is invisible to others.

Perhaps the question is not why someone isn’t fighting harder. Perhaps the question is why so many people have to fight so hard to be believed?
And wherever you are in your experience fighting, grieving, coping, resting, or simply trying to get through the day...

YOU DO NOT NEED TO PROVE YOUR PAIN TO DESERVE SUPPORT.

Documentary recommendation;
Emma Barnett’s: Fighting Endometriosis
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002x8nb

For further recommendations, visit our resources page A collection of tools and information we genuinely value, with no advertising or sponsorship;
https://www.ckpsychotherapy.co.uk/resources.html

#endometriosis #emmabarnettfightingendometriosis #chronicillnesswarrior #chronicillnessawareness #psychotherapy

“You are allowed to seek support before things become unbearable.”
There is a common belief that therapy is only for when things become unbearable. It can be preventative care, emotional maintenance, self understanding, and personal growth. You do not have to wait until you are completely overwhelmed to deserve support.
Sometimes therapy is about noticing patterns carly.
Learning healthier coping strategies.
Processing stress before it builds into burnout.
Creating space to reflect, regulate, and reconnect with yourself.
We rarely question preventative care when it comes to physical health, yet many people feel they must “justify” going to therapy by reaching breaking point first.
Asking for help before things escalate is not an overreaction. It is often an act of self-awareness and care.
If you’d like to explore support with one of our team’;
www.ckpsyhotherapy.co.uk
[email protected]
07730569162
#psychotherapyservice #compassion #preventionnotcrisis #support

Ck Therapy on emotional safety
When you’ve learned to expect crumbs, consistency and care can feel like too much at first...
Emotional safety can feel unfamiliar when you’ve spent years adapting to inconsistency, unpredictability, or having your needs minimised.
For many people, chaos feels more familiar than calm.
Distance feels safer than vulnerability.
And consistency can feel suspicious at first.
Not because they don’t want healthy connection , but because their nervous system learned to expect disappointment, withdrawal, or emotional scarcity.
So when genuine care shows up, it can feel uncomfortable before it feels safe.
Healing often involves learning that emotional safety is not something you have to earn by abandoning yourself, over-explaining your needs, or accepting the bare minimum.
Consistency, care, reassurance, and respect are not “too much.”
They are part of what allows people to feel emotionally safe enough to be fully seen.
#Psychoeducation #compassionate reframing #psychotherapy #therapistsofinstagram #ashbydelazouch

CK Therapy : compassionate reframing ;
“The way you learned to survive is not the way you have to live.”
So many coping strategies begin as protection.
What once kept you safe may now be keeping you disconnected, exhausted, or stuck in patterns you no longer need.
Survival responses are often intelligent adaptations to difficult experiences , not evidence that something is “wrong” with you.
Compassionate reframing invites us to move from:
“What’s wrong with me?”
to
“What happened to me, and what did I need to do to survive it?”
Healing isn’t about judging the version of you that coped the best way it knew how. It’s about recognising that survival no longer has to be your permanent home.
#compassionatereframing #compassionatemind #compassionatemindapproach #psychotherapy #EMDR

CK Therapy resource recommendations - app recommendation
Juno : Health companion
We have as a team started using
JUNO with our clients and would recommend it whole heartedly.
JUNO is a gentle, calming app with soothing music while using that we’ve found can help people better understand the connection between their physical and emotional symptoms throughout their therapy journey.
We work with many clients experiencing PMDD, chronic illness, endometriosis, and trauma, and having something that feels easy to use, comforting, and able to highlight patterns can be incredibly supportive. It can help clients explore self-care more
meaningfully in sessions, as well as support conversations with their doctor around more joined-up care.
We also really value the sense of community within the app, including the support groups, which can help people feel less alone in their experiences.
It can often feel difficult to explain things to your doctor, especially when symptoms fluctuate or overlap. Being able to create graphs, PDFs, and clear statistics can make those conversations feel easier and help people advocate for the support and care they need.
We also really love the spoons feature, compassionate
supportive lessons & grounding techniques on the app. We sometimes explore these in sessions, and having a simple visual way to track and understand energy levels can be incredibly helpful and validating.
for more reccomendations visit our resource page;
https://www.ckpsychotherapy.co.uk/resources.html
Juno app website;
https://junocompanion.com
no adverts just genuine therapists recommendations!
#notanadjustafan #chronichealthsupport #psychotherapistrecommendation