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“Why can’t I just be like everyone else?” It’s a painful question, but one that many young people find themselves asking. For a young person who experiences the world differently from those around them, everyday life can sometimes feel exhausting. School may feel overwhelming, friendships can be difficult to navigate. Things that other people appear…
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For many teenagers, the later years of school can feel like a countdown. Questions about GCSEs, A-levels, college, university, apprenticeships, careers, and the future seem to come from every direction. Family members ask what you want to do. Teachers encourage you to make decisions that could shape your future. Friends start talking about university offers,…
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When people think about a young person struggling with their mental health, they often picture someone who is visibly distressed, withdrawn, tearful, or struggling to cope. But the reality is often very different. Many teenagers who are finding life difficult appear to be doing perfectly fine on the surface. They attend school, spend time with…
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Friendships are a huge part of teenage life. They shape confidence, identity, belonging, and emotional wellbeing. For many young people, friends become just as important as family, sometimes even more so. That’s why friendship fallouts during the teenage years can feel incredibly painful, confusing, and overwhelming. To adults, a disagreement between friends may sometimes seem…
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In recent years, conversations around young people’s mental health have become more open and visible, and rightly so. Anxiety, low mood, anger, and emotional overwhelm are increasingly common experiences for children and adolescents as they navigate school, friendships, identity, and a fast-moving world. One term that often comes up in these conversations is emotional resilience.…
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As a counsellor who works closely with young people, I see a growing theme in the therapy room: beneath the surface of the online world they navigate every day, many young people feel deeply disconnected, from themselves, from others, and sometimes even from the things they used to enjoy. They’re growing up in a world…
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It’s not uncommon for people to hesitate before investing in therapy. One of the most frequent reasons given is the cost: “I just can’t afford it right now.” And yet, often in the same breath, they’ll mention a holiday they’re planning, a fresh set of nails, a bottle of wine, or the latest TV subscription…
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Most of us have moments where we feel tense, irritable, or emotionally drained, but we’re not always sure why. These feelings can simmer quietly beneath the surface, showing up as tiredness, a short fuse, or a subtle heaviness we carry through the day. Often, when we pause to reflect, we find that this emotional weight…
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We’ve all had moments where our reaction to something feels bigger than the situation seems to warrant. A comment that leaves us reeling. A tone of voice that brings up disproportionate hurt. A small disagreement that sends our nervous system into overdrive. And afterwards, that familiar self-doubt might creep in: “Was I overreacting?” “Why did…
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People pleasing can often look like kindness. It can sound like a polite “yes,” a reassuring smile, or going out of your way to help someone. On the surface, it appears thoughtful, even admirable. But underneath, people pleasing is often driven by anxiety, fear of rejection, and a deep need to feel safe in relationships.…
Bridget Jenkins Counselling 