Dr Elaine Ryan

Deciding to attend therapy can be a series of decisions; what type of therapist and what treatment model? Previously, I discussed the benefits of seeing a psychologist. In this article, I shall discuss the different psychologists and how to choose the right one to help you.  What is psychology? Psychology is the scientific study of…

In writing this article, I aim to give you a map or guide to what a psychologist can do for you if you attend therapy. To be objective, I have to situate myself on this map and state that I am a counselling psychologist, just one of the many professions that make up the helping…

When I look back over the prominent relationships in my life, the ones that failed, I believe, were because of my behaviour, which now, with the benefit of hindsight and many years working as a psychologist, I can see was the result of anxiety. I found it hard to spot what we (psychologists) now call…

We all have experienced psychological triggers at some point, but what are they exactly? Psychological triggers are stimuli that can cause a stark change of emotion. For example, you might feel calm when you find out you have to take a train, and immediately your chest tightens, and you feel anxious. The thought of the…

If someone has upset you or wronged you somehow, showing kindness and compassion toward them can help you let it go. Showing compassion can initially feel wrong. When annoyed with someone else, most people do not automatically want to be kind to the person who has hurt them. But unless you want to carry the…

The quality and ultimate success of adult relationships depend on choosing the correct person and working on your partnership and how you relate to others. According to attachment theory, the quality of care and bond developed with your primary caregiver shapes future interactions into adulthood, including romantic relationships. I first became interested in Bowlby’s attachment…