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Co-dependency is complex and difficult to define. There are various different definitions for co-dependency. The reason why it is important to define co-dependency is that it helps to determine what the solution should be. One of the ways that co-dependency can be defined, is that it can be seen as a psychological condition or a relationship in which a person...

This article is based on a book by Gary Chapman called “The Five Love Languages”. His basic premise is that love is not expressed by what you need or feel. He feels that true love expresses the other person’s needs. Therefore, a person’s most basic emotional need is not to fall in love but to be sincerely loved by another....

Many parents feel a certain amount of distress, anxiety or discomfort when speaking to their children about their divorce because they are concerned about how the children will react. They are most often concerned that their children will not be able to handle the news. This can be painful because it symbolises the end of the “old” family unit and...

“Inner child work" is a significant, powerful and an important therapeutic tool. It differentiates from the way therapy has been done in the past. According to Bradshaw (1990) in his book, “Home Coming - Reclaiming and championing your inner child" there are people that present with ongoing and persistent problems e.g. depression, chronic dissatisfaction, addiction and difficulty with relationships that...

Stress can be defined as a condition that is characterised by symptoms of emotional or physical tension. It can be seen as a reaction to a situation where a person feels threatened or anxious. Stress can be positive, e.g. preparing for a wedding, or negative, e.g. when dealing with a trauma or a natural disaster. Stress is therefore a natural...

Domestic abuse is present at all levels of society and can happen in any relationship regardless of ethnic group, income level, religion, education or sexual orientation. Women and children are the most common victims and substance abuse can be a problem adding to the abuse. The term domestic abuse or domestic violence incorporates all forms of abuse that go beyond...

Most of us have experienced shyness at some stage in our lives. Certain people battle to make social connections comfortably. Children can often be labelled as being shy. Some people find it difficult to understand shyness, they assume that if a child is shy he must have problems. They also believe a shy child must have a poor self-image, which is...

In The Star newspaper, 15th April 2015, Daisy Goodwin wrote an article called “teen terrors of the internet”. She feels that parents should become more aware and involved in their teenager’s online activities, as she is concerned about online gaming addiction and how it effects teenagers. She states that parents need to take action in order to prevent the children...

I recently presented workshops on adolescence and the various issues that are relevant in their lives. I conducted 4 workshops for adolescents between 12 and 18 years, with boys and girls addressed separately, about 10 in each group. These are some of the issues discussed and dealt with in the workshop, as well as the feedback received.  The goal of...