Tony Austin Counselling

24/08/2026

Not blaming but healing. Understanding why we talking about childhood in therapy.

Worried therapy will make you resent your parents? A Brighton counsellor explains how therapy explores childhood without blame.

20/08/2026

Worried Therapy Will Make You Resent Your Parents? Read This

Worried therapy will make you resent your parents? A Brighton counsellor explains how therapy explores childhood without blame.

17/08/2026

Many of us carry stories about ourselves that began much earlier than we realise.
“I’m not good enough.”
“I must keep everyone happy.”
“My needs don’t matter.”
“I should be tougher.”
“I shouldn’t make a fuss.”
Therapy offers a space to explore where those stories came from and whether they still need to define you.
This is not about blaming your parents. It is about understanding your experiences with honesty and compassion, so you can begin to relate to yourself in a kinder and freer way.
If this resonates with you, you are welcome to get in touch. I offer a free introductory session where we can talk about what you would like to explore.

Worried therapy will make you resent your parents? A Brighton counsellor explains how therapy explores childhood without blame.

13/08/2026

If you grew up in a home where conflict felt unsafe, you may have learned to keep the peace at all costs.
As an adult, that can show up as:

finding it hard to say no
worrying about upsetting people
avoiding difficult conversations
putting other people’s needs before your own
struggling to assert boundaries

These patterns often began as ways of coping. Therapy can help you understand where they came from — and begin choosing something different.
My latest blog looks at how childhood messages can shape adult self-worth, without turning therapy into blame.

Worried therapy will make you resent your parents? A Brighton counsellor explains how therapy explores childhood without blame.

10/08/2026

Our early relationships often become the template for how we relate to ourselves and others. That does not mean pointing the finger or rewriting your whole family history through blame.
It means asking compassionate questions such as:

What did I learn about myself growing up?
What did I have to do to feel safe or accepted?
Are those patterns still helping me today?

Understanding is not the same as blame. And it can be the first step towards change. My latest blog discusses this in more detail:

Worried therapy will make you resent your parents? A Brighton counsellor explains how therapy explores childhood without blame.

06/08/2026

Do you ever find it hard to accept a compliment?
For some people, praise feels uncomfortable. They brush it off, minimise it, or make a joke at their own expense. On the surface, that can look like modesty — but sometimes it points to something deeper.
The messages we received growing up can shape how we see ourselves as adults. If we learned, directly or indirectly, that we were never quite good enough, it can be hard to let kindness in.
Therapy can help you explore those old messages and begin creating a kinder relationship with yourself.
I’ve written more about childhood, self-worth and therapy in my latest blog.

Worried therapy will make you resent your parents? A Brighton counsellor explains how therapy explores childhood without blame.

04/08/2026

A common worry people have before starting therapy is:
“Will talking about my childhood make me resent my parents?”
Therapy is not about blaming the people who raised you. It is about gently understanding the early messages you absorbed, how they may still be shaping your self-worth, and whether those old stories still serve you now.
Sometimes we can acknowledge that our parents did their best — while also recognising that certain experiences left a mark.
If this is something you have wondered about, my latest blog explores this in more detail.
https://tonyaustincounselling.com/blogs/2026/8/4/is-therapy-about-blaming-your-parents-understanding-childhood-and-self-worth-nbsp

Thinking about therapy? I offer a free introductory session if you would like to talk things through.

Worried therapy will make you resent your parents? A Brighton counsellor explains how therapy explores childhood without blame.

31/07/2026

Do you find yourselves having the same argument again and again? Relationship therapy can help couples slow the pattern down, understand what is really being expressed, and find new ways to communicate each person's needs more clearly. My recent blog explores the common reasons couples seek relationship therapy and may answer some of your questions if you are struggling to communicate with your partner.
https://tonyaustincounselling.com/blogs/2026/4/9/v3vxg8r2ud648astz2nycc9wtpuzhx

29/07/2026

So many relationship difficulties begin with feeling unheard, misunderstood or criticised. In my recent blog I explore why communication is one of the most common reasons couples seek relationship therapy — and how learning to talk differently can begin to shift the pattern.

https://tonyaustincounselling.com/blogs/2026/4/9/v3vxg8r2ud648astz2nycc9wtpuzhx

08/07/2026

Here is my latest blog, for the person looking to start therapy but who is feeling overwhelmed and doesn't know where to start.

You have decided to explore therapy and that is a brave and hopeful step. This blog is to give you some ideas to help you notice what matters, trust your instincts and feel a little more confident about taking the next step.