Acceptance Work in Psychological Therapy
Learning acceptance in therapy: Acceptance is not resignation, but a conscious decision and an active psychological process.
Blog
The Online Psychologist - Blog: Welcome! Here you'll find useful posts on the subject of mental health. Enjoy!
Acceptance Work in Psychological Therapy
Biography Work in Psychology
Biography work in psychology: Reappraising life stories strengthens identity and helps to understand psychological processes.
The symptoms of depression: affecting feelings, thoughts, body and behaviour
The symptoms of depression: depression affects 4.4% of people worldwide and influences feelings, thinking, body and behavior.
Weltschmerz: When the world weighs too heavy
Understanding and overcoming Weltschmerz: Read here what causes Weltschmerz, how it affects you psychologically & what you can do about it.
Your First Therapy Session: Understanding the Process and What to Expect
Your first therapy session: seeking psychological help is often associated with many emotions, e.g. uncertainty, fear and hope.
Strengthening low self-esteem: development, effects & psychological help
Psychology: strengthening self-esteem! How is self-esteem created? What are the effects of low self-esteem? How can you strengthen it?
Overcoming Heartbreak: Psychology-Based Strategies After a Breakup
Heartbreak: at World's End! Whether it's been a short romance or a long-term relationship - read here how you can overcome & heal heartbreak.
Couples and marriage therapy: causes of problems, communication and modern online solution approaches
Couples & marriage therapy online: Help for relationship partners when love, fun and ease become a challenge over the years.
Psychiatrist, psychologist, psychotherapist – similarities & differences
There are three professional groups when it comes to mental health: Psychiatrist, Psychologist and Psychotherapist. What's their difference?
Online therapy: professional support whenever and wherever you like!
Online therapy in vogue: how you can learn to deal well with challenges, stress and illnesses flexibly & location-independent.
The 5 Love Languages: a Key to Deeper Connection!
Five languages of love: why some couples seem to understand each other effortlessly, while others are having a hard time getting along.
Living according to the principle of approach or avoidance?
Whether we live according to the principle of approach or avoidance makes a big difference in how we feel about us and our lives.
What role(s) are you actually playing in your life?
What are your role(s) in life? It can be surprising how many there actually are and what demands, joys and fears they bring.
Psychologists and their “laser eyes” – a scary myth.
Psychologists and their "laser eyes" - a scary myth. Read here why you can feel free to open up in therapy in a self-determined way.
Do you dare being truly authentic and vulnerable?
Being authentic and vulnerable - a challenge that many people find difficult to face. What about you? Do you dare?
Self-reflection: the key to yourself!
Reflection: key to yourself! Self-reflection means mental processes which make you get to know and understand yourself better.
Does achieving goals really make you happy?
Happiness through goal achievement? As we grow up, we observe our surroundings and deduce what we want for ourselves.
Your goals coming true – make it goals that fulfil you!
Your goals coming true! Make it goals that fulfil you - with conscious know-how about setting and formulating goals.
About bonding and healing – just by being you.
Just by being you - how we can be invaluably healing for others without even realising it. Let's never underestimate our "echo"!
Johari: about a window, blind spots and your unconscious.
Self-image & external image: what a window with four fields can tell you about your blind spots and your unconscious.
Why we need emptiness to refill our lives.
Emptiness: a good thing. The feeling of emptiness can often be frightening for us. We feel lonely, uprooted and disorientated.
Grounding & anchoring: when life pulls you off your feet.
Stability through grounding & anchoring: how to find your way back to yourself when life pulls the rug out from under your feet.
Why only one single moment really belongs to you!
One moment for you! Why the present moment is the only one that really belongs to you & what you can do to make it a 100% yours.
The Butterfly Effect: 1 step – 1000 possible consequences!
1 step - 1000 possible consequences! Taking a look at the interconnectivity of the single parts of the world.
“Nothing could have been” – about sharpening your critical eye!
Nothing could have been: why we run after toxic relationship patterns and how we can sharpen our critical eye.
How to keep “red flags” and toxic relationships out of your life!
"Red flags" & toxic relationships - how to spot them, learn to deal with them and keep them out of your life!
The Imposter Syndrome and how to escape it!
Escaping the Imposter Syndrome! About supposed fraud, distorted self-perception and your way back to reality.
The art of cognitive restructuring – how your patterns of thought can change your life.
Changing thoughts: cognitive restructuring! The quality of your thoughts can influence your life to an astounding extent.
When life treats you with some good opportunities!
Today: a good opportunity! How to effectively turn well-known daily hassles into lots of good opportunities.
Relaxation despite the stress of everyday life? Create your ‘safe space’!
Your safe space! The safe space is a very common imagination technique from the field of relaxation training.
About the ‘unbelievable’ – deep truths, visions and intuition
Believing in the unbelievable - how the unbelievable reveals deep truths if you are prepared to listen patiently and reflect.
‘May I need medication?’ – Effects, benefits & who to talk to
'May I need medication?' A common question amongst people who find themselves in mental crises and stressful situations.
Psychological expertise – limits & possibilities
About psychological expertise - why psychologists don't have second sight and yet sometimes have an inkling of what's going on in people.
How your truth and belief systems determine your life
Watch your belief systems! Are your beliefs and guidelines that determine your feelings and actions in everyday life actually your own?
Healthy or ill? About biology, your psyche & your social network!
Healthy or ill? Read here how the interaction between biology, your psyche and your social network influences your well-being!
About countries, borders & prejudice
About countries, borders & prejudice - and about realising that the lines on maps are not there naturally but have been created by people.
How altruism will enrich your life!
Creating space for altruism! How selflessness and consideration for others can change our lives for the better.
Anxiety & anxiety disorders – how to get help when EVERYTHING seems threatening!
When EVERYTHING seems threatening! Why anxiety makes you feel that everything seems to be totally wrong and where to find help.
Living in society – locked in a golden cage?
Society: a golden cage? Sometimes we can feel controlled by society; like a bird being trapped in a cage.
Anxiety and panic attacks: the vicious cycle of anxiety!
Anxiety and panic attacks! As soon as anxiety is breathing down your neck, a vicious cycle begins to spin. Learn more about it here!
Curiosity instead of fear: a mind-shifting concept!
Curiosity instead of fear! How would our lives change if we'd approach things that frighten us with curiosity instead of fear?
When fear becomes focused: Phobias & treatment options
Phobias: “focused” anxiety disorders! Phobias are fears that are focused on specific objects or situations.
Asking for help and support – a big venture!
Venture "asking for help"! When someone asks us how we are, our answer is usually “good”, regardless of how we're really feeling.
Healing by creating space for our pain!
Creating space for pain! Those who feel pain often want to push it away - but healing only succeeds if we give our pain some space.
The magic of manifestation: bring your wishes to reality!
The magic of manifestation: your thoughts affect your feelings, your feelings affect your behaviour & your behaviour shapes your character.
The miracle question: welcome magic into your life!
The magical miracle question! A magic fairy visits you secretly at night while you sleep and makes all your worries disappear...
Why it is important for our mental health to be seen and heard!
Being seen and heard! It is a basic human need to be seen and heard with all our hopes, worries and fears. Read here why this is so crucial.
About accepting your negative emotions!
Accepting your negative emotions: sadness, anger, fear and guilt can weigh heavily on us; but every emotion has meaning and justification.
Gratitude for every waking moment!
Appreciating every waking moment: waking up every morning might be the most underrated gift ever. What does it imply, to wake up every day?
Recovery instead of despair: a good night’s sleep – every night!
A good night's sleep - every night! Sometimes it can be difficult to relax, bring your day to a welcoming close and just let it be.
Motivation: about short-term and long-term satisfaction
Motivation: long-term goals! About intrinsic motivation and why postponing short-term satisfaction leads to more success in the long run.
About social conventions and your innermost desires
About your innermost desires! A critical look at "What do you want to be when you grow up?" and "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?".
Taking better decisions with the help of your inner team!
Decisions: your inner team! Taking decisions from the perspective of just one person can be more than challenging. Let your inner team help!
Quality time: the essence of fulfilling relationships!
Quality time: fulfilling relationships! Why the quality of the time we spend together is crucial for our relationships.
Who are you actually? Let’s talk about identity!
Identity: who are you? Identity is formed, among other things, by genetic predispositions and the experiences we have in our lives.
Overthinking and its psychological consequences!
Overthinking and psychological consequences! Over-analyzing situations or events can have considerable psychological impact on your mind.
How does it feel to be truly seen?
About being truly seen: the difference between being fleetingly looked at or truly seen, recognised and understood.
Savour your life! About the power of your sensory organs
Activate your five senses! Do you want to fully savour certain moments? Live a situation to the fullest? Be 100% present?
Self-love: when well-being, self-actualisation and resilience come together
Self-love: feeling it? Self-love, as the ability to accept and appreciate ourselves, is essential for our mental well-being.
What we need to feel comfortable anywhere!
About feeling comfortable anywhere! Sometimes we don't feel well. We think that if we could be somewhere else, everything would be better.
Mindfulness – what’s actually the duration of ‘now’?
Mindfulness: about the ‘now’! How long do you think ‘now’ actually lasts? According to science, it only lasts 2-3 seconds.
Are you choosing a life in deficiency or abundance?
Experiencing deficiency or abundance? The perception of happiness or distress doesn't depend on the actual situation you find yourself in.
Self-care: tips for your everyday life!
Take care of yourself! Putting self-care into daily practice can sometimes be difficult. Let's find you some tips here!
Visions: who, if not you, and when, if not now?
Visions: boost your motivation! Having dreams, goals and visions energises us and makes us wake up more motivated in the morning.
Visualisation: experience your body in a new way!
Visualisation: experience your body! In mental training, specific mental images are created to affect sensations in the body. Try it here!
About the courage of asking for help!
Help! A brave word - many of us grow up with the belief that it is weak to ask for help, when actually it's a sign of self-respect.
Early warning signs – about the prevention of mental illness episodes!
Early warning signs - definition and handling! Early warning signs can arise before an episode of mental stress or illness occurs.
Breathing: the link between physiology and psychology
Breathing: physiology and psychology! All the physiological effects of breathing also have a profound psychological significance.
Abdominal breathing: the steady rhythm of life
Abdominal breathing: a guide. Our breathing is controlled by the autonomic nervous system & seems to be the most natural thing in the world.
Authenticity – are you living freedom and self-actualisation?
Authenticity: about self-actualisation and freedom! Authenticity means living in harmony with your own values and needs.
Let’s talk about your date with life!
Your date with life: ‘Your date with life takes place in the present moment; and the meeting point is exactly where you are right now.’
How to deal with stressful emotions!
About handling your emotions: pushing stressful emotions away only works to a certain extent, because they’re always there for a…
Hard truth or comfortable lie?
Confrontation: the hard truth! Confronting the hard truth is more helpful than clinging to a comfortable lie in the long run.
Self-awareness with Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
Self-awareness: emotions & needs! Truly understanding your emotions and needs is the key to getting to know yourself.
Basic emotions: about cross-cultural feelings
What are basic emotions? Basic emotions are the the ones that show up in every person regardless of their culture & specific socialization.
Your spirit: faith, God and the universe!
Spirit: what is it? Call it your spirit, your psyche, the universe, the good Lord, a higher power, the purpose of your life.
Enjoy peace and serenity with progressive muscle relaxation!
Jacobson: progressive muscle relaxation! Learn how to relax individual muscle groups and your mind in just a few minutes.
Gratitude: when life turns out differently than you would have wanted it to
Gratitude: every day anew! ‘Gratitude for all there is and all there isn't.’ - Being grateful, even when things don't go as planned.
Your very own personal collection of happiness!
Your jar of happiness! Treat yourself with the best present of the year: a glass jar and 365 Post-its full of happiness on New Year's Eve.