In recent years, conversations about mental health have become more open than ever before. While this has helped reduce stigma, many people continue to struggle with anxiety, stress, loneliness and a sense of disconnection. Modern life often asks us to keep going, even when we're feeling overwhelmed, leaving little time to pause and understand what lies beneath our distress.Our emotional wellbeing doesn't exist in isolation. From our earliest experiences, relationships shape how we see ourselves, how safe we feel in the world, and how we connect with others. Sometimes the ways we learned to cope in the past continue into adulthood, even when they no longer serve us. We may find ourselves repeating familiar patterns in relationships, struggling to trust others, or feeling disconnected from ourselves.Relational therapy is based on the understanding that healing happens through relationships. Rather than focusing solely on symptoms, it explores how past and present relationships influence the way we experience ourselves and others. The therapeutic relationship itself becomes an important part of this process, offering a safe, consistent and non-judgemental space where new ways of relating can gradually emerge.

 

In my clinical practice in Brighton I feel that therapy with my clients isn't about being given advice or having someone tell you what to do. It's about being genuinely heard, understood and accepted. Within that relationship, there is an opportunity to make sense of your experiences, deepen your self-awareness and discover new ways of relating to yourself and the people around you. Often this also means thinking holistically about improvements on your mental wellbeing about what happens outside of therapy. This can  look like a walk along Hove seafront on a blustery day with a friend or joining an evening class in one of Brighton's many adult educational offerings, even if it's just for fun. The importance is on connections with other humans, our minds need this to flourish.