Send us a text Phenomenology is a posh word that psychologists use to mean the idea of someone's subjective and individual experience. We could all have exactly the same experience but feel completely different about it and it's important we understand why. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/richardnicholls.net Thread...

Send us a text If you ever find yourself stuck in the same old arguments, playing out like a bad soap opera then that might be the Drama Triangle at work. Where we slip into roles of Victim, Rescuer, or Persecutor without even realising. So, today I’ll explain how the cycle works, why we get caught in it, and how to step out of the drama by choosing healthier roles instead. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community http...

Send us a text Why do families, schools and workplaces so often create “roles” like the star, the scapegoat, the peacekeeper or the joker? In this episode we dive into systems theory, exploring how groups unconsciously assign parts to people in order to keep balance, and the cost this can have on our self-esteem and identity. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Med...

Send us a text Happiness isn’t a destination. It’s the small, fleeting sparks that weave through ordinary days. A sip of coffee, a kind word, a favourite song on the radio. In this episode I explore how these micro-moments of joy soften life’s edges, shift our perspective, and remind us that even on tough days, good things are still here. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls ...

Send us a text It's World Mental Health Day today, a good day to challenge some old beliefs that have been holding us back. Sometimes what you think is “just how I am” is actually a hand-me-down. And when you realise that, you get to choose whether to keep something or let it go. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/rich...

Send us a text If your sense of self is based around helping others and it's the only place where you get your self worth from. It might be worth checking that you don't make things worse. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/richardnicholls.net Threads https://www.threads.net/@richardnichollsreal Instagram https://www...

Send us a text According to multiple studies, fear of judgement is the number one biggest fear, above dying. The author Elbert Hubbard once wrote, "Do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing, and you'll never be criticised." And that's probably the only way to avoid criticism, isn't it? Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/...

Send us a text Today is International Relaxation Day. So I thought I'd do something different this week for my bonus episode and guide you through a 5 minute relaxation exercise. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/richardnicholls.net Threads https://www.threads.net/@richardnichollsreal Instagram https://www.instagram...

Send us a text Most people think of boundaries as being like a physical thing as if there's a chalk outline on the ground everywhere you go and if someone steps into it it makes you upset. The thing is the only one that knows the boundary is there is you. Today is all about why boundaries are important, how to set them and how you know if someone's crossed the line. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www....

Send us a text What's the difference between someone who has all the motivation and enthusiasm you could wish for and someone who, even though they don't have depression, still can't feel motivated? Well, in order to answer that I think it's worth looking at what motivation actually is. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links Bluesky https://bsky.app/profi...

Send us a text It's Friday 13th, so today I've got a bonus episode for you about the psychology of superstition. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/richardnicholls.net Threads https://www.threads.net/@richardnichollsreal Instagram https://www.instagram.com/richardnichollsreal Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Richar...

Send us a text Your brain has a remarkable ability to filter and remember important experiences while discarding the less significant ones. It does so by comparing new experiences with past ones and using emotional reactions to determine their importance. Let's look at how we can train it! Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links Bluesky https://bsky.app/pr...

Send us a text Today is all about Obsessive Compulsive Personality. OCD is talked about a lot because it's such a life destroying disorder, and so is quite obvious if someone has it. But when it's a personality trait people can often just get labelled as "difficult" and they don't seek help. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links Bluesky https://bsky.app/...

Send us a text Being behind on your goals doesn't mean rushing to get everything finished, it doesn't mean disrespecting yourself and not looking after yourself. One of the most important factors in getting through a busy life with a healthy and happy mindset is the quality time that you put to one side just for you. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links ...

Send us a text Ever heard of Sensory Processing Sensitivity? It's a neurological trait that means that one in 6 people have super duper processing abilities of all of their experiences. Sounds like a superpower doesn't it? Some with it don't always think so though. Take the test https://hsperson.com/test/highly-sensitive-test/ Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social...

Send us a text It may be Valentine's Day this month, a day to remind someone that you love them, but I think we very often need to bring it closer to home. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/richardnicholls.net Threads https://www.threads.net/@richardnichollsreal Instagram https://www.instagram.com/richardnichollsrea...

Send us a textCognitive Distortions are the thinking traps where our mind convinces us of something that isn't actually true.Once habitual and almost a part of our personality, they can very often start the ball rolling for depression and anxiety.Support the showJoin our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.comJoin the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/richardnicholls.net Threads https://www.threa...

Send us a textFor many, anxiety is all about being vulnerable to the possibility of rejection. It's normal for our brain to seek out what we fear and notice dangerous possibilities. But those with bad experiences may have been primed from an early age to expect rejection by default.Because of this, their brain is going to start perceiving rejection everywhere.Support the showJoin our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.comJoin the Patreon community https://www.patre...

Send us a textKindness is often linked with better mental health. It helps us to feel connected to others, creates a sense of belonging and reduces isolation.But I say there's a time and a place for it, and it might not be now and it might start closer to home.Support the showJoin our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.comJoin the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/richardnicholls.net Threads htt...

Send us a text"Awe" tends to be defined as the emotion we experience when encountering something with such perceived vastness that our brain might find it hard to comprehend how it can exist.Being "awed" by an experience can have some surprisingly powerful, positive effects on us.Awesome LinksWatch All The Apple TV Aerial Video Screensavershttps://bzamayo.com/watch-all-the-apple-tv-aerial-video-screensaversElbow One Day Like This with the BBC Concert Orchestra and choir Chantage https://www.d...