National Clinical Psychology Service

10/10/2026

World Mental Health Day 2026: Being heard matters

When you're considering psychological therapy, you may already have a clear idea of what you want help with. Or you may be unsure how to make sense of what you've been experiencing.

Either way, your experiences, feelings and perspective matter.

This year's World Mental Health Day theme is "Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change."

It's a reminder that being heard isn't simply about someone listening. It's also about having a voice in decisions that affect your mental health and wellbeing.

In psychological therapy, your understanding of your own experiences is central.

Clinical Psychologists work collaboratively with clients to explore their difficulties, develop a shared understanding of what may be contributing to them, and consider ways forward.

In our latest blog, Consultant Clinical Psychologist Dr Jurai Darongkamas reflects on the importance of being heard, including the value of listening carefully to what people say and sometimes what they find difficult to express.

Read the article here: https://www.clinicalpsychologyservice.co.uk/blog/world-mental-health-day-2026-being-heard/

If you're considering private psychological therapy, you can also explore our website to learn about our experienced Clinical Psychologists and how to arrange an appointment.

World Mental Health Day 2026: why being heard matters, how listening supports mental health, and the role of lived experience in psychological therapy.

07/10/2026

Can online therapy work if you find it difficult to open up?

It’s a question clients may quietly wonder about.

Recent research suggests that a strong therapeutic relationship can develop through video therapy, with therapeutic alliance broadly comparable across online and face-to-face psychotherapy.

However, the technology itself can sometimes add another layer of self-consciousness.

During an online session, you may be talking about something highly personal while also seeing a live image of yourself on screen. That can mean noticing your facial expression, appearance or emotional reactions at the same time as trying to focus on the conversation.

****One surprisingly simple adjustment may help: hide your self-view.***

Your camera stays on and your Clinical Psychologist can still see you but you no longer have to watch yourself throughout the session.

Research into videoconferencing suggests that seeing ourselves continuously on screen can increase self-focused attention, cognitive load or fatigue for some people.

We don’t yet have evidence that hiding self-view improves therapy outcomes specifically. However, if seeing yourself feels distracting, uncomfortable, inhibiting, or just makes you more tired afterwards, it may be worth trying.

In addition, if you are worried about opening up in therapy, it may help to remember:

You don’t have to tell your whole story in the first session.

Feeling hesitant, self-conscious or unsure about talking online can itself be something worth discussing with your Clinical Psychologist.

Sometimes a very small change may help you focus a little less on how you appear on screen and a little more on the conversation itself.

Read more about online therapy, therapeutic relationships and practical ways to make remote sessions feel easier:

https://www.clinicalpsychologyservice.co.uk/blog/online-therapy-hard-to-open-up/

25/06/2026

Is TIERI (standing for trauma induced emotional regulation and interpersonal relational difficulties) a potentially helpful term?

New article: Complex PTSD can affect far more than memories of trauma.

It can shape how someone experiences safety, closeness, trust, conflict, shame, criticism and relationships. What may look from the outside like emotional “overreaction”, withdrawal, mistrust, anger or instability may actually be the nervous system responding in ways that once helped the person survive.

A trauma-informed approach asks:
“What happened to you?”
“How did you survive?”
“What is still affecting you now?”

TIERI is not a formal diagnosis. It is a descriptive, trauma-informed phrase that can help make sense of how trauma may affect emotions and relationships, without locating the problem in the person’s “personality”.

This can matter because some people who have lived through trauma may have been given diagnoses such as BPD or EUPD. For some, these labels are useful. For others, they can feel blaming, painful or stigmatising. TIERI offers another way to describe some of the same emotional and relational difficulties through the lens of trauma, survival and adaptation.

EMDR and trauma-focused CBT can be helpful for PTSD and complex PTSD, but with complex trauma, therapy often needs careful preparation. Building trust, emotional stabilisation, safety and a manageable pace is not a delay to treatment. It is part of making trauma therapy safer and more sustainable.

At National Clinical Psychology Service, our Clinical Psychologists use psychological formulation to understand difficulties in the context of a person’s life experiences, strengths, needs and goals.

You do not need to know the exact diagnosis before asking for help.

Contact us to enquire about EMDR, trauma-focused CBT or support for trauma-related difficulties, or read our full article here.

Complex PTSD can affect emotions, relationships, self-worth and safety. Learn the signs, how it relates to complex trauma, and how EMDR or trauma-focused CBT may help.

15/05/2026

Mental Health awareness week

05/05/2026

Ten Years On: A Moment to Reflect. This May marks ten years since the National Clinical Psychology Service was established and registered with Companies House. Hasn't a lot changed in 10 years...

While the company itself is registered as dormant, the professional work has continued actively throughout this time.

Founded by Dr Jurai Darongkamas, this work reflects over 30 years of experience across NHS and independent practice, and more recently alongside a small network of trusted colleagues.

The past ten years have been marked by significant global change, including Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic, the election of two US presidents with contrasting views, 6 UK Prime Ministers, the war in Ukraine, and the conflict involving Gaza and Iran.

Alongside these events, there has been increasing awareness of global warming, as well as rapid technological advances, including the growing influence of artificial intelligence in many aspects of daily and professional life.

Over the past decade, the enquiries received have remained consistently varied. There have been recurring themes; particularly stress, anxiety, depression, after-effects of trauma, complexities arising from limited or disrupted access to NHS services. These experiences can be frustrating and, at times, discouraging for people. With the right support, people can regain a sense of direction and strength. Psychological services can provide a space to explore, recover, and move forward with confidence.

A sincere thank you to colleagues, referrers, and clients who have supported and placed their trust in this work over the years. Your support is always valued.

The focus remains the same: thoughtful, high-quality clinical and medico-legal work carried out with care, clarity, and professionalism.

If you would like to find out more or discuss a referral, you are very welcome to get in touch https://www.clinicalpsychologyservice.co.uk/contact-us/.

03/04/2023

Check out "Introduction to Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT), 2 day workshop"

Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT). 2 day intro workshop: overview, practice CAT tools, for counsellors, therapists, psychologists, MH staff.