Our Blog
Insights, Tools, Resources and Stories for Growth and Healing
Our Blog Philosophy: Sharing Knowledge, Building Connection
At The Circle Clinic, we see learning as a cornerstone of healing and growth, accessible to everyone.
Why Share Knowledge?
We believe that sharing is caring. Knowledge is a powerful tool for empowerment and connection. By offering practical, evidence-based insights through our blog, we aim to bridge psychological understanding and everyday life, making mental health resources accessible and relatable to all.
The Story in Our Logo: A Journey Back to Wholeness
If you’ve ever looked at our logo and wondered what it means (or even if you haven’t) we’d love to tell you! Because the story behind it is really the story behind everything we do.
Did you know that the word “healing” comes from the Old English hælan, meaning “to make whole” (Egnew, 2005)? Not to fix, not to erase what happened – but to make whole. That difference matters. Fixing implies something is broken beyond its current state. Wholeness implies that all the parts of you (even the ones that feel fractured, unwanted, or out of place) belong. They are part of you. And they deserve to be met.
We chose the circle because, across cultures and centuries, it has carried one consistent meaning: wholeness. Carl Jung (one of the founding figures of analytical psychology) saw the circle as a symbol of the self in its totality: an image the psyche reaches for when it is trying to hold itself together (Jung, 1968). You don’t need to know any of that history to feel it. A circle has no start, no end, no hierarchy. Everything inside it belongs.
That’s exactly what we’re trying to create here – a space where every part of you is welcome, where every part of you can be held in connection. Where you don’t have to curate yourself to be accepted. Where the parts you’ve been taught to hide, are met with the same openness as the parts you lead with. Inclusion and belonging aren’t afterthoughts for us; they are the foundation. You can read more about the values behind that on our mission page.Â
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Inside our circle sits a tree. Roots, trunk, branches (all of it held within the circle). The tree is what grows, what bends in storms and stays standing, what reaches toward light while staying connected to the ground it came from (Ncube & Denborough, 2009). Humanist psychology has long held that people, like seeds, carry within them an innate potential to grow (they simply need the right conditions): warmth, safety, genuine acceptance (Rogers, 1961). As a practice, that’s what we try to be. Not the source of your growth, but the conditions that make it possible. We aim to hold that space of care, authentic connection and safety for you, all parts of you.
How We Work
At The Circle Clinic, we take an integrative and holistic approach to therapy. Our psychologists draw from a range of psychological traditions (rather than committing to a single method) and tailor the work to meet you where you are. Because you are not a diagnosis or a problem to be solved. You are a whole person, and the therapy you receive should hold that complexity. Learn more about how we work here
Healing Happens in Connection
We hold firmly to the belief that healing is rarely a solo journey. Neurobiologically, we know that our nervous systems regulate in relationship (we settle, grow, and come back to ourselves in the presence of others who feel safe) (Porges, 2011). Healing is not just something that happens inside the therapy room. It happens in community.
That’s why, alongside individual and couples therapy, we offer workshops and support groups (spaces where people come together, are witnessed, and find strength in each other’s stories).
We also believe that mental health care is a right, not a privilege. Our practice is built on a distributive justice model: a sliding scale payment system where those with more resources contribute, easing access for those with less. Because the circle only works when everyone gets to be inside it. You can read more about our approach to financial accessibility on our mission page.
So when you see our logo, here's what it's actually saying:
Whatever brought you here, whatever part of you feels broken off or out of place – there is space for it. We don’t erase parts of you. We are deeply, wholly, dedicated to meeting you in the fullness of being human. Walking you back home, alongside you – finding your way to feeling whole again.
If that resonates, we’d love to hear from you. You can reach out here whenever you’re ready.
References
Egnew, T. R. (2005). The meaning of healing: Transcending suffering. Annals of Family Medicine, 3(3), 255–262. https://doi.org/10.1370/afm.313
Jung, C. G. (1968). Mandala Symbolism (R. F. C. Hull, Trans.). Princeton University Press.
Ncube, N., & Denborough, D. (2009). The tree of life: A narrative therapy approach for working with vulnerable children. Dulwich Centre Foundation.
Porges, S. W. (2011). The polyvagal theory: Neurophysiological foundations of emotions, attachment, communication, and self-regulation. W. W. Norton & Company.
Rogers, C. R. (1961). On becoming a person: A therapist’s view of psychotherapy. Houghton Mifflin
How We Love and Who We Are: Books on Relationships, Identity and Connection
We are shaped not only by what happens inside us, but by who we love, how we connect, and the communities and identities we belong to. The books in this list take that seriously.
This is Part 2 of The Circle Clinic’s recommended reading list. Where Part 1 focused on the inner world, this part turns outward: towards relationships, desire, sexuality, identity, culture, and the therapeutic approaches that help us make sense of it all.
You will find books here for anyone navigating love in its many forms, exploring their identity, processing the impact of race and culture on their wellbeing, or wanting to learn more about specific therapy modalities.
There is no right place to begin. Start with whatever feels most relevant to where you are right now.
Body Image and Food
- Intuitive Eating
by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch
A groundbreaking anti-diet framework that teaches you to reconnect with your body’s hunger and fullness cues for a more peaceful, sustainable relationship with food.
- The Body Is Not an Apology
by Sonya Renee Taylor
A radical and empowering call to cultivate unapologetic body love and dismantle the systems of oppression that fuel body shame and self-rejection.
Relationships and Attachment
- Hold Me Tight
by Sue Johnson
An emotionally focused therapy guide that helps couples identify and break the negative cycles keeping them disconnected and rebuild a secure, lasting bond.
- Love Sense
by Sue Johnson
A compelling exploration of adult attachment science and why humans are wired for deep, lasting emotional bonds that form the foundation of healthy relationships.
- Attached
by Amir Levine and Rachel Heller
A practical guide to understanding your attachment style and how it shapes your relationships, helping you find and build more secure, satisfying connections.
- Wired for Love
by Stan Tatkin
A neuroscience-informed guide to understanding your partner’s brain and building a secure, lasting relationship through attunement, empathy, and mutual care.
- The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work
by John Gottman and Nan Silver
An evidence-based relationship guide drawn from decades of research on what genuinely makes couples thrive, communicate well, and stay connected long-term.
- Eight Dates
by John Gottman, Julie Schwartz Gottman, Doug Abrams and Rachel Carlton Abrams
Eight meaningful conversation guides to help couples deepen intimacy, strengthen friendship, and navigate the key areas that make love endure.
- Us
by Terrence Real
A relational life therapy guide to moving beyond harmful relationship patterns towards genuine intimacy, mutual respect, and lasting love.
- The State of Affairs
by Esther Perel
A compassionate and thought-provoking reframe of infidelity that explores what affairs reveal about desire, identity, and the evolving nature of modern relationships.
- After the Affair
by Janis Abrahms Spring
A compassionate, evidence-based guide for both partners navigating the painful aftermath of infidelity and deciding whether to heal the relationship or move forward.
Sexuality and Desire
- Come As You Are
by Emily Nagoski
A science-based guide to understanding female sexuality, arousal, and desire that helps women embrace and celebrate their unique sexual selves without shame.
- Come Together
by Emily Nagoski
A research-grounded guide for couples looking to sustain and deepen sexual connection through curiosity, compassion, and understanding context.
- Magnificent Sex
by Peggy J. Kleinplatz and A. Dana Menard
A study of what sexually optimal experiences actually look like and how couples of all ages can cultivate deeply fulfilling, embodied intimacy.
- Mating in Captivity
by Esther Perel
A provocative and insightful exploration of the tension between security and desire in long-term relationships and how to keep erotic energy alive.
- Better Sex Through Mindfulness
by Lori Brotto
An evidence-based guide to using mindfulness techniques to deepen sexual pleasure, address low desire, and reconnect mind and body during intimacy.
- Mind the Gap
by Karen Gurney
A psychosexologist’s accessible guide to understanding the desire gap in relationships and practical, evidence-informed ways to close it for a more fulfilling sex life.
- The Ultimate Guide to Kink
edited by Tristan Taormino
A frank, inclusive, and thorough resource for anyone curious about BDSM, kink, and alternative forms of consensual erotic expression.
Ethical Non-Monogamy and Polyamory
- Polysecure
by Jessica Fern
An attachment theory-informed guide to building secure, loving, and emotionally fulfilling connections within non-monogamous and polyamorous relationships.
- The Ethical Slut
by Janet W. Hardy and Dossie Easton
A foundational and liberating guide to navigating multiple consensual relationships with honesty, open communication, and genuine joy.
- More Than Two
by Franklin Veaux and Eve Rickert
A comprehensive ethical framework for practising polyamory that centres the wellbeing, autonomy, and agency of every individual involved.
- Building Open Relationships
by Liz Powell
A practical, inclusive workbook for creating sustainable open relationships grounded in communication, consent, and honest self-awareness.
- The Polyamorists Next Door
by Elisabeth Sheff
A research-based look at polyamorous families and what their lived experiences reveal about love, commitment, and the diversity of family structures.
Queerness and LGBTQIA+ Identity
- The Velvet Rage
by Alan Downs
A moving exploration of shame, authenticity, and the path to emotional wholeness for gay men navigating a culture that has long denied their full worth.
- Queer: A Graphic History
by Meg-John Barker and Julia Scheele
An engaging, accessible graphic introduction to queer theory, sexuality, and gender identity through decades of academic thinking and lived activism.
- Beyond the Gender Binary
by Alok Vaid-Menon
A poetic and powerful call to dismantle the gender binary and embrace the full, beautiful spectrum of human identity and self-expression.
- All Boys Aren't Blue
by George M. Johnson
A candid memoir-manifesto exploring Black queer identity, family, friendship, and the ongoing journey towards self-love and community belonging.
- Queering Your Therapy Practice
by Julie Tilsen
An essential guide for therapists committed to practising with genuine affirmation, curiosity, and deep respect for LGBTQIA+ clients and identities.
- Trans Bodies, Trans Selves edited
by Laura Erickson-Schroth
A comprehensive, community-authored resource covering health, relationships, identity, and wellbeing written by and for transgender people.
Disability Justice
- Care Work: Dreaming Disability Justice
by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha
An essential collection of essays on disability justice, mutual aid, and what it means to build genuinely accessible, caring communities.
- Disability Visibility edited
by Alice Wong
A powerful anthology of first-person essays by disabled people that centres their lived experiences and challenges mainstream narratives around disability.
- Being Heumann
by Judith Heumann
A memoir by a pioneering disability rights activist whose lifelong fight for inclusion transformed access and equality for millions across the world.
Race, Culture and Decolonising Therapy
- Decolonizing Therapy
by Dr. Jennifer Mullan
A bold and necessary call to dismantle white supremacy within mental health practice and centre the healing of marginalised and racially traumatised communities.
- My Grandmother's Hands
by Resmaa Menakem
A somatic exploration of how racial trauma is stored in the body across generations and how embodied healing practices can foster individual and collective change.
- The Racial Healing Handbook
by Anneliese Singh
A practical workbook guiding readers through exploring racial identity, processing racial trauma, and building meaningful steps towards personal and collective healing.
- Sisters of the Yam
by bell hooks
A soulful and liberatory guide for Black women on self-recovery, emotional wellbeing, and the transformative power of community, self-love, and sisterhood.
Therapy Approaches
EMDR
- Getting Past Your Past
by Francine Shapiro
An accessible guide by the founder of EMDR therapy showing how this evidence-based approach can help process painful memories and break unhelpful patterns for good.
- Tapping In
by Laurel Parnell
A practical introduction to resource tapping, an EMDR-inspired self-help technique for building inner resilience and calming an overwhelmed or anxious nervous system.
OCD and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
- The OCD Workbook
by Bruce M. Hyman and Cherry Pedrick
A step-by-step, evidence-based workbook for understanding obsessive-compulsive disorder and applying exposure and response prevention techniques to reclaim daily life.
- Overcoming Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts
by Sally Winston and Martin Seif
A reassuring and practical guide to understanding why intrusive thoughts occur and how to stop engaging with them using acceptance-based and CBT strategies
Internal Family Systems (Parts Work)
- No Bad Parts
by Richard Schwartz
An accessible introduction to Internal Family Systems therapy, showing how embracing and healing all parts of yourself leads to lasting inner wholeness and self-leadership.
- Self-Therapy
by Jay Earley
A practical, step-by-step guide to applying Internal Family Systems therapy independently to heal inner conflicts and reconnect with your core, compassionate Self.
Schema Therapy
- Reinventing Your Life
by Jeffrey Young and Janet Klosko
A compassionate guide to identifying the deeply held negative beliefs formed in childhood and changing the life traps that keep you stuck in painful, repeating patterns.
- Breaking Negative Thinking Patterns
by Gitta Jacob, Hannie van Genderen and Laura Seebauer
A practical schema therapy workbook for recognising and transforming the core beliefs and coping modes that drive emotional distress and self-defeating behaviour.
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
- The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook
by Matthew McKay, Jeffrey Wood and Jeffrey Brantley
A comprehensive, practical workbook introducing the core DBT skills of mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.
- Calming the Emotional Storm
by Sheri Van Dijk
A gentle, accessible guide to using DBT skills to manage overwhelming emotions, reduce reactivity, and build a more stable and fulfilling everyday life.
Systemic Therapy and Family of Origin
- Families and How to Survive Them
by Robin Skynner and John Cleese
A witty and surprisingly deep conversation between a therapist and comedian that makes family dynamics, group psychology, and personal growth refreshingly accessible.
- It Didn't Start with You
by Mark Wolynn
A groundbreaking exploration of inherited family trauma and how to identify and break the cycles of pain, fear, and loss passed down through generations.
Existential and Humanist Therapy
- Man's Search for Meaning
by Viktor Frankl
A profound and enduring account of surviving the Holocaust that gave rise to logotherapy and the belief that the search for meaning is the deepest human motivation.
- Staring at the Sun
by Irvin Yalom
An existential therapy guide to facing the fear of death honestly and discovering how mortality awareness can deepen our appreciation and engagement with life.
- The Gift of Therapy
by Irvin Yalom
A generous and personal guide from master therapist Irvin Yalom on what makes therapy genuinely meaningful, offering wisdom for both clients and clinicians alike.
- On Becoming a Person
by Carl Rogers
A foundational text of humanistic therapy that explores the conditions for psychological growth, self-acceptance, and authentic human connection in therapy and beyond.
- Existential Psychotherapy
by Irvin Yalom
A comprehensive and intellectually rich exploration of the four ultimate existential concerns and how therapy can help us live more fully, honestly, and with greater freedom.
- The Denial of Death
by Ernest Becker
A Pulitzer Prize-winning exploration of how the unconscious fear of death shapes human behaviour, culture, and the universal search for meaning and immortality.
- Existentialism Is a Humanism
by Jean-Paul Sartre
A concise and accessible introduction to existentialist thought that affirms human freedom, radical responsibility, and the open possibility of self-creation.
This is Part 2 of The Circle Clinic’s recommended reading list. For books on trauma, grief, anxiety, and the inner world, visit [Part 1: Books for the Inner World]
Reading for the Inner Life: Recommended Books on Emotional Healing and Wellbeing
Some of the most meaningful therapeutic work happens quietly, with a book that names what you have been carrying. This is The Circle Clinic’s recommended reading list for the inner journey: self-help books on trauma, emotional healing, grief, anxiety, shame, and wellbeing. Browse by topic, or start wherever you feel drawn
These are books we genuinely trust. Some are grounded in neuroscience and clinical research. Others are memoirs, workbooks, or quietly wise companions for difficult seasons. All of them have found their way into our sessions, our conversations, and our own reading lives.
You do not need to be in therapy to find something useful here. This list is for anyone ready to understand themselves a little more honestly.
General Wellbeing
- How to Be an Adult
by David Richo
 A practical guide to developing emotional maturity, healthy boundaries, and genuine self-giving love for adults ready to move beyond ego and childhood wounds.
- The 12 Steps to Self-Parenting for Adult Children
by Philip Oliver-Diaz and Patricia O'Gorman
A compassionate, step-by-step guide for adult children of dysfunctional families to heal inner wounds and reparent themselves with care and intention.
Everyday Tenderness
- The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse
by Charlie Mackesy
A beautifully illustrated book offering gentle wisdom on kindness, self-compassion, and belonging for anyone navigating loneliness or life’s harder moments.
Perfectionism, Burnout and Overfunctioning
- The Perfectionist's Guide to Losing Control
by Katherine Morgan Schafler
A liberating reframe of perfectionism that helps high-achieving women harness their drive without sacrificing their wellbeing or burning out.
- Burnout
by Emily and Amelia Nagoski
A research-backed guide to understanding and breaking the cycle of chronic stress and burnout, especially for women carrying invisible emotional and social loads.
Boundaries
- Feeling Good
by David Burns
A classic, evidence-based cognitive behavioural therapy workbook that helps readers identify and challenge the distorted thinking patterns driving depression and low self-esteem.
Generalised Anxiety and Panic
- The Anxiety Toolkit
by Alice Boyes
A practical, research-grounded guide for understanding your personal anxiety patterns and building effective strategies to move through fear rather than avoid it.
- The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook
by Edmund Bourne
A comprehensive, step-by-step workbook offering CBT-based techniques for managing anxiety, panic attacks, and phobias from the comfort of your own home.
- Hope and Help for Your Nerves
by Claire Weekes
A compassionate classic that teaches sufferers of anxiety and panic disorder that acceptance, not fighting, is the path to lasting calm and recovery.
Emotional Awareness and Regulation
- How Emotions Are Made
by Lisa Feldman Barrett
A groundbreaking neuroscience-based theory showing that emotions are constructed by the brain rather than hardwired, with profound implications for mental health and wellbeing.
- Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents
by Lindsay C. Gibson
A clear-eyed and validating guide to understanding the lasting impact of emotionally unavailable parents and how to reclaim your sense of self and emotional freedom.
Shame and Self-Compassion
- Self-Compassion
by Kristin Neff
A research-backed guide to treating yourself with the same kindness you would offer a close friend, replacing self-criticism with warmth, resilience, and self-acceptance.
- I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn't)
by Brene Brown
An empowering exploration of shame, perfectionism, and vulnerability that helps readers recognise they are not alone in their struggles and step towards wholehearted living.
- Unshame
by Carolyn Spring
A compassionate and deeply personal guide to healing the toxic shame rooted in trauma and complex PTSD, written with honesty and hard-won understanding.
- Radical Acceptance
by Tara Brach
A Buddhist psychology-informed guide to releasing self-judgement and embracing life fully through the twin practices of mindfulness and self-compassion.
Grief
- It's OK That You're Not OK
by Megan Devine
A gentle, honest guide that validates grief without trying to fix it, offering real solace and companionship for anyone navigating devastating loss.
- Grief Works
by Julia Samuel
A deeply human exploration of grief through real stories and reflective practices designed to help readers move through loss at their own pace and in their own way.
- The Year of Magical Thinking
by Joan Didion
A raw and luminous memoir of grief and survival following sudden loss that has become a touchstone for anyone trying to make sense of bereavement.
Addiction
- In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts
by Gabor Mate
A deeply humane account of addiction as a response to pain and disconnection, drawing on neuroscience, personal histories, and radical compassion.
- Unbroken Brain
by Maia Szalavitz
A compelling neuroscience-based reframe of addiction as a learning disorder, challenging stigma and opening the door to more effective, compassionate treatment.
Neurodiversity
- ADHD 2.0
by Edward Hallowell and John Ratey
An updated, evidence-based guide to understanding and thriving with ADHD using the latest neuroscience, practical strategies, and a strengths-based lens.
- Scattered Minds
by Gabor Mate
A compassionate and evidence-informed reframe of ADHD as rooted in emotional sensitivity and early environment, offering a more humane path to understanding and healing.
- Unmasking Autism
by Devon Price
A compassionate and validating exploration of autistic identity, the exhausting toll of masking, and what authentic self-expression and community can look like.
- Divergent Mind
by Jenara Nerenberg
An insightful look at how highly sensitive and neurodivergent women are frequently misdiagnosed, and how understanding your wiring can be transformative.
Trauma and the Body
- The Body Keeps the Score
by Bessel van der Kolk
A transformative guide to understanding how trauma reshapes the brain, mind, and body, and the range of therapies that can help restore a sense of wholeness.
- Waking the Tiger
by Peter Levine
An accessible introduction to somatic experiencing that reveals how the body naturally knows how to heal from trauma when given the right conditions and support.
- In an Unspoken Voice
by Peter Levine
A groundbreaking exploration of how trauma is held in the body and how somatic awareness and gentle movement can restore health and a sense of goodness.
- Anchored
by Deb Dana
A polyvagal-informed guide to understanding your nervous system and building everyday practices that support you to feel safe, settled, and genuinely connected.
- When the Body Says No
by Gabor Mate
A compelling look at the mind-body connection and how unacknowledged stress and emotional suppression can contribute to chronic illness and physical symptoms.
- Healing the Traumatized Self
by Ruth Lanius and Paul Frewen
A clinically rich and neuroscience-informed exploration of trauma’s impact on consciousness and the evidence-based treatments that support lasting recovery.
- Accessing the Healing Power of the Vagus Nerve
by Stanley Rosenberg
Practical self-help exercises to activate the vagus nerve and support recovery from anxiety, depression, trauma, and nervous system dysregulation.
- Women, Food and God
by Geneen Roth
An honest and tender exploration of how our relationship with food mirrors our deepest beliefs about worthiness, love, and the spiritual longing beneath compulsive eating.
Complex Trauma and Dissociation
- Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving
by Pete Walker
A compassionate self-help guide to understanding and healing complex PTSD through emotional processing, inner child work, and daily self-compassion practices.
- Coping with Trauma-Related Dissociation
by Suzette Boon, Kathy Steele and Onno van der Hart
A structured, skills-based workbook for understanding and managing trauma-related dissociation in everyday life, written for both survivors and their supporters.
- What My Bones Know
by Stephanie Foo
A searingly honest memoir of healing complex PTSD that illuminates the lived experience from the inside with intelligence, vulnerability, and hard-earned hope.
Psycho-Spiritual
- The Alchemist
by Paulo Coelho
A timeless parable about following your personal legend and trusting the journey of self-discovery, purpose, and spiritual growth that life invites you towards.
- A Return to Love
by Marianne Williamson
A transformative guide to applying the principles of love and forgiveness to relationships, work, and finding a deeper sense of meaning and purpose in daily life.
- The Road Less Travelled
by M. Scott Peck
A classic exploration of discipline, love, and spiritual growth as the true foundations of psychological health, emotional maturity, and a meaningful life.
Looking for books on relationships, sexuality, identity, race, and therapy approaches? Visit [Part 2: Books for Connection and Identity].
Therapy Podcasts I Love
A good podcast is my favourite way to start the work day.
There’s something grounding about listening to other therapists and thinkers talk through the messy, human stuff before I sit down with my own clients. So here are a few of my favourite therapy podcasts and mental health podcasts on rotation right now.
You can find the full playlist here: My Favourite Therapy-ish Podcasts.
These episodes cover everything from attachment and trauma to relationships and the everyday work of being human. They’re a gentle companion, whether you’re commuting, walking, or just need something thoughtful in the background.
If any of these themes resonate and you’d like to explore them further, individual therapy might be a good place to start. And if you’d simply like to say hello, reach out anytime.
Got a podcast recommendation of your own? I’d love to hear it.
How Does Therapy Work? 7 Things to Know Before Your First Session
Most people sit with the question of whether to book a session for far longer than they need to. So let’s make it simple. Here’s how does therapy work, answered honestly, from when to start, to when it’s time to stop.
Q 1: When should I book an appointment?
Book when life starts to feel too heavy to carry alone. That might look like anxiety, difficulty facing certain emotions, sleepless nights, relationship strain, or simply feeling overwhelmed. From there, we build a treatment plan shaped around you, one that evolves as you do.
Q 2: How often should we meet?
Once a week works best. Twice weekly if you need more support, though I wouldn’t suggest more than that. Once every two weeks can work too, but I don’t recommend longer gaps. Consistency is where the real progress lives.
Q 3: Will you prescribe medication?
No, I’m a psychologist, not a psychiatrist, so prescribing isn’t part of what I offer. I can, however, liaise with your GP if that feels useful. Research generally favours psychotherapy over medication alone, though for some conditions, combining the two supports better outcomes.
Q 4: How does therapy work with health insurance?
Many Dutch insurers won’t cover sessions at a private practice, though some international policies do, which works in our favour. Being independent means shorter waiting lists and far fewer limits on session number or treatment approach. Worth checking your own policy for reimbursement options.
Q 5: What's your cancellation policy?
Please give 48 hours’ (2 Days) notice if you need to cancel, or to switch a session between in-person and online. Anything less, including no-shows, is charged at the full session rate.
Q 6: Are therapy sessions confidential?
Yes, entirely, with one exception. If you’re at risk of harming yourself or someone else, that confidentiality has limits. Outside of that, what’s shared stays here.
Q 7: When does therapy end?
When your goals are met, or whenever you choose. You’re as free to stop as you were to start. My honest suggestion: stay until you can feel that the shift you came for has actually landed.
Therapy isn’t a fixed script, it’s a relationship that adapts to you, session by session. If any of this resonates, reach out and we’ll take it from there. Curious about the practical side first? Our How It Works page walks through what happens from your very first message onward.
If you're ready to take that first step, get in touch with us today and let's start the conversation, at your pace, in your own time."
How to Take Care of Yourself Mentally: A Simple 360° Self-Care Guide
Learning how to take care of yourself mentally isn’t about adding one more task to your to-do list. It’s about tending to all the parts of you because we are multidimensional beings.
It’s all about balance. A self-care routine should cover as many areas of your life as possible, without being so extensive that it’s unrealistic to fit into your day. Below are simple, sustainable ways to look after yourself emotionally, physically, spiritually, and mentally.
Emotional Self-Care: Practising Emotional Hygiene
Just as we brush our teeth daily, our emotions need regular care too. Research shows that the ability to regulate emotional responses has a direct impact on wellbeing and reduces the risk of mental health symptoms (Menefee et al., 2022). Try:
- Â Journalling:Â sometimes a thought only makes sense once it’s out of your head and on the page
- Communicating your boundaries:Â say what you need before resentment builds up
- Choosing to let intrusive thoughts pass:Â they’re just thoughts, not instructions
- Acknowledging and feeling your feelings: even the
Physical Self-Care: Listen to Your Body
This isn’t about religion specifically it’s about connection to something bigger than yourself. Studies show that people who feel connected to nature report lower levels of stress and anxiety, and greater life satisfaction (Capaldi et al., 2014). Mindfulness practice has also been shown to significantly reduce stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms (Goyal et al., 2014). Try:
- Sleeping well:Â easier said than done, but so much repair happens while you’re asleep
- Eating nutritious food:Â what you eat shapes how you feel, more than we like to admit
- Breathing slowly:Â a few slower breaths can take the edge off a stressful moment
- Moving and connecting with your body often:Â a walk, a stretch, anything that gets you out of your head
- Drinking water:Â small thing, but dehydration can leave you foggy and low
- Listening to your body:Â it’s usually telling you something, if you give it a chance
- Taking the supplements you might need:Â worth a chat with a professional if you’re not sure what helps
- Laughing:Â even on the hard days, try to find something that makes you smile
Spiritual Self-Care: Find What Grounds You
This isn’t about religion specifically it’s about connection to something bigger than yourself. Studies show that people who feel connected to nature report lower levels of stress and anxiety, and greater life satisfaction (Capaldi et al., 2014). Mindfulness practice has also been shown to significantly reduce stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms (Goyal et al., 2014). Try:
- Taking time to connect with nature:Â step outside, even just for a few minutes
- Praying, meditating, or practising a moment of mindfulness:Â whatever brings you back to the present
- Being generous with another, through a random act of kindness:Â it tends to do as much for you as it does for them
- Having faith in something:Â humanity, the sun always rising, God, or the energy of love
Mental Self-Care: Nourish Your Mind
This is where learning how to take care of yourself mentally really comes into focus small daily habits that shift how you think and feel. Try:
- Doing something that brings you pleasure:Â like watering your plants, or whatever your version of that is
- Reading things that inspire you:Â be a little choosy about what you let into your head
- Practising positive self-affirmations:Â your inner critic doesn’t need to have the last word
- Reframing a situation:Â instead of spiralling into catastrophic thinking, ask yourself what else could be true
Final Thoughts: Self-Care Is Not Selfish
Taking care of yourself mentally doesn’t have to be complicated. Start small, choose one or two practices from each area, and build from there. If you’re finding it hard to cope on your own, reaching out to a licensed psychologist can help you build a routine that truly supports you.
References
Menefee, D. S., Ledoux, T., & Johnston, C. A. (2022). The importance of emotional regulation in mental health. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, 16(1), 28–31. https://doi.org/10.1177/15598276211049771
Mahindru, A., Patil, P., & Agrawal, V. (2023). Role of physical activity on mental health and well-being: A review. Cureus, 15(1), e33475. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.33475
Capaldi, C. A., Dopko, R. L., & Zelenski, J. M. (2014). The relationship between nature connectedness and happiness: A meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 5, 976. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00976
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The Story in Our Logo: A Journey Back to Wholeness
The word ‘healing’ comes from the Old English hælan, meaning ‘to make whole’ not to fix, not to erase, but to bring all parts of you back together. At The Circle Clinic, our logo is more than a design. It’s a promise: that whatever brought you here, there is room for it
How We Love and Who We Are: Books on Relationships, Identity and Connection
We are shaped not only by what happens inside us, but by who we love and the identities we carry. This is The Circle Clinic’s recommended reading list for relationships, sexuality, LGBTQIA+ identity, race, and therapeutic approaches. Whether navigating love, connection, or self-understanding, start wherever feels most relevant right now.
Reading for the Inner Life: Recommended Books on Emotional Healing and Wellbeing
Some of the most meaningful therapeutic work happens quietly, with a book that names what you have been carrying. This is The Circle Clinic’s recommended reading list for the inner journey: self-help books on trauma, emotional healing, grief, anxiety, shame, and wellbeing. Browse by topic, or start wherever you feel drawn.
Therapy Podcasts I Love
A good podcast is my favourite way to start the work day. Here are a few of the therapy and mental health podcasts I keep coming back to, perfect for your commute or a quiet moment to yourself.
How Does Therapy Work? 7 Things to Know Before Your First Session
Wondering how therapy actually works? From booking your first session to knowing when it’s time to stop here are honest, practical answers to the questions people ask most.
How to Take Care of Yourself Mentally: A Simple 360° Self-Care Guide
Learning how to take care of yourself mentally isn’t about adding one more task to your to-do list it’s about tending to all the parts of you. This 360° guide covers simple, sustainable ways to support yourself emotionally, physically, spiritually, and mentally, without it feeling unrealistic to fit into your day.