CBT Cambridge/ Online Ruth Parchment - BABCP Accredited Psychotherapist UK

21/06/2026

What if? Those two words can start a spiral. In my latest blog, I unpack why intrusive thoughts in Pure O (Purely Obsessional) OCD feel so convincing — and what you can do to respond differently. Read practical insights and compassionate strategies to reduce their power. https://wix.to/Nzz1EDV

What if?For many people, those two words are where the struggle begins.What if I harmed someone?What if I don't really love my partner?What if I've been lying to myself?What if that memory means something terrible?What if I'm capable of something I would never want to do?The content of the question....

11/11/2023

Who can relate?

16/09/2022

What Is Emotional Loneliness?
Emotional loneliness is the state of feeling emotionally disconnected from the people around you or being unable to connect with them on a deep or meaningful level. If you’re experiencing this type of loneliness, the perceived poor quality of your relationships is causing you to feel this way.

Just as with any other type of loneliness, emotional loneliness can be caused by different circumstances. Some of the most common triggers include:

-Parental neglect in childhood
-Trauma in childhood or adulthood
-Substance abuse
-Situations that cause an individual to be seen as different or as an outcast

Emotional loneliness stands apart from other types of loneliness and it is not the same as emotional isolation. Extract from: https://www.rootsofloneliness.com/emotional-loneliness

01/08/2022

When building connections, it's helpful to consider qualities and actions that provide emotional safety. A great post from

21/07/2022

A infographic from which explains how chronic pain impacts the mind and body. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps provide pain relief in a few ways. First, it changes the way people view their pain. “CBT can change the thoughts, emotions, and behaviors related to pain, improve coping strategies, and put the discomfort in a better context,” Hullett says. You recognize that the pain interferes less with your quality of life, and therefore you can function better.

CBT can also change the physical response in the brain that makes pain worse. Pain causes stress, and stress affects pain control chemicals in the brain, such as norepinephrine and serotonin, Hullett says. “CBT reduces the arousal that impacts these chemicals,” he says. This, in effect, may make the body’s natural pain relief response more powerful. [ Managing Chronic Pain: A Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Approach
By Elizabeth Shimer Bowers]

09/06/2022

I shared a few of my thoughts around coming out as part of pride month this year. https://metro.co.uk/2022/06/09/what-to-do-if-youre-afraid-your-family-will-disown-you-for-coming-out-16748775/amp/ the idea you need to come out to every single person in your life to be complete isn’t necessarily true for everyone.

She tells Metro.co.uk: ‘It’s important to allow yourself to come out at a time that feels right for you.

‘There has been a popular notion that you aren’t living your most authentic self if you aren’t out to everyone. This idea is harmful and doesn’t consider the individual circumstances that can make it very difficult to come out. ‘Some clients I have worked with have come from oppressive family backgrounds where coming out means being shamed, cut out, punished and/or ostracised from their families and communities.’

A red flag that indicates your family members might not take the news well is how they talk about LGBTQ+ people and subjects – are they open-minded or do they sound judgemental?

Ruth, who’s a psychotherapist who specialises in working with LGBTQ+ individuals, says you should ‘give yourself time and space to process your emotions and thoughts’.

‘It can be helpful to come out gradually,’ she adds, ‘gauging who feels safe and trustworthy to come out to. You do not have to come out to all family members and can ask those that you do come out to not to share your disclosure.’ In addition to giving yourself time, you may also find that your family members need a bit of time to process.

Ruth explains: ‘Give family time to process your coming out, as it may be news that your family are hearing for the first time.

Clients that I have worked with have found it useful to share resources that help educate family on aspects of their identity and coming out.’

As well as considering your family’s perspective, you also need to make sure you’re taking care of yourself.

‘For many people, Ruth says, ‘coming out is a highly emotional experience that brings up a lot of anxiety. I recommend practising self-care ahead of the conversation and making sure that you are looking after yourself.

09/06/2022

Coming out can be nerve-wracking at the best of times, and that can be multiplied tenfold if you're worried your family won't take it well.

05/05/2022

Great advice from

21/02/2022

Ive thought a lot about friendships and social connections recently. Recent research has shown how crucial positive friendships and social connections are to our health and wellbeing. Our nervous systems are wired for social connection and as social creatures, isolation can lead to experiences very similar to physical pain.
A link to the full article can be found here: https://happiful.com/what-is-social-capital