MiP Therapy

10/09/2026

World Su***de Prevention Day | 10 September

Sometimes the hardest part of asking for help is believing that we are worth receiving help.

In my therapeutic work, I have often thought about what happens when someone becomes absent — not simply from a room or a conversation, but from themselves.

When we feel overwhelmed, depressed, lonely or abandoned, our own needs can become difficult to recognise. We can become so focused on getting through the day, protecting ourselves, or managing what is happening around us that our own wishes and feelings almost disappear.

And sometimes accepting help can feel like weakness.

But needing someone does not make us weak.

Acknowledging our need for help is a strength.

There is something profoundly important about another person being able to hold us in mind when we are struggling to hold ourselves in mind.

And the same is true for others.

To notice that someone doesn’t seem themselves.

To ask how they really are.

To listen without thinking we must fix it.

To stay present when the conversation becomes difficult.

We don’t always need the perfect words.

Sometimes it starts with something as simple as:

> *“I’ve noticed you’ve not seemed yourself lately. How are you really doing?”*

And then being prepared to listen to the answer.

Su***de prevention is not only about what happens in a crisis. It is also about the connections, conversations and relationships that can help someone feel less alone before they reach that point.

If you are struggling, accepting help is not a failure. It can be the beginning of something different.

And if you are worried about someone, don’t be afraid to ask.

You might not be able to take away their pain. But you can help them carry it.

Today, let’s remember that sometimes being there — genuinely, patiently and without judgement — matters more than we realise.

***dePreventionDay ***dePrevention

26/08/2026

“What do you do?”

It's often one of the first questions we ask when meeting someone.

It seems harmless. Just a way of getting to know someone.

But perhaps there's more beneath it.

We hear someone's occupation and, often without realising it, begin to make assumptions.

Are they successful?
Ambitious?
Intelligent?
Someone like us?
Someone we might admire or compete with?

And sometimes the answer can tell us something about ourselves too.

Someone else's promotion might remind us of one we didn't get. Their confidence might highlight our own uncertainty. Their career might represent something we once wanted.

Their success hasn't necessarily created our insecurity. It may simply have illuminated something that was already there.

For many of us, work also becomes closely connected to identity.

“I'm good at my job.”

can become:

“I'm a capable person.”

and eventually:

“This is who I am.”

That's when criticism can feel like rejection, a missed promotion like personal failure, or stepping away from work like losing part of ourselves.

So perhaps the next time we ask someone:

“What do you do?”

there's another question worth considering:

“What does your work mean to you?”

And perhaps the more difficult question:

“Who are you when you're not doing it?”

Read the full MiP Therapy article: 'How Work Can Change Our Identity'

12/08/2026

What does it cost to keep performing?

High performance is something organisations value.

People who deliver, take responsibility, solve problems and always seem to cope are often rewarded with recognition, trust, greater responsibility and career progression.

But what happens when success becomes uncomfortably tied to how someone sees themselves?

It can be easy to misinterpret what we see in front of us.

What looks like confidence can contain anxiety and internal worries.

What looks like commitment can be driven by fears of disappointing others.

What looks like resilience can conceal an inability to stop.

And sometimes, the employee who always says "yes" is the person finding it hardest to say:

"No, I need to stop."

Or perhaps:

"I need help."

From a psychological perspective, strength can sometimes become a defence against feelings of vulnerability, inadequacy or weakness.

The performance is real.

The achievement is real.

But beneath it, there may also be a psychological cost being paid.

Our latest MiP article explores the hidden pressures behind high performance, achievement, identity and the difficulty of saying no.

Perhaps the question for organisations isn't simply "How well are they performing?"

Perhaps is also:

"What is it costing them to keep performing?"

Read the full article and discover what lies beneath.

06/08/2026

The Quiet Employee… What Lies Beneath?

When someone who was once engaged becomes noticeably quieter, it's easy to assume they're simply getting on with their work.

Sometimes that's true.

But sometimes silence is communicating something much deeper.

For leaders, managers, HR and authority figures maybe rather than asking,
"Why aren't they speaking?"

perhaps could ask,

"Has something changed, something I can help with."

Small behavioural changes often appear long before performance declines or sickness, absence and mental health problems begin.

I see the importance of creating workplaces and organisational culture, where people feel genuinely safe to speak, isn't just good leadership — it's good prevention.

Our latest MiP 'What Lies Beneath' article explores what silence at work may be telling us and how leaders can respond with empathy rather than assumption.

31/07/2026

"My door is always open."

It's a phrase heard in workplaces everywhere.

Most leaders say it with genuine care and the best of intentions.

But an important question remains:

If the door is open, why do so many employees still choose not to walk through it?

The answer often lies beneath the surface.

Before raising a concern, asking for help or admitting they're struggling, employees may already be asking themselves:

• Will I be judged?
• Will this change how my manager sees me?
• Will speaking up make any difference?

An open-door policy creates an opportunity.

Psychological safety creates the confidence to use it.

Our latest blog explores why employees stay silent, how workplace culture influences communication, and what leaders can do to create environments where people genuinely feel safe to speak.

Read the full article on our website and join the conversation.

What do you think creates genuine psychological safety at work?

15/07/2026

Something new is on the horizon!

Introducing What Lies Beneath, a monthly newsletter dedicated to uncovering the hidden forces that shape decision-making, leadership, relationships, and organizational culture. 🌊 Often, the most significant influences remain out of sight, tucked beneath the surface. This newsletter invites a deeper look beyond visible outcomes, exploring beliefs, assumptions, and unspoken questions that quietly steer workplaces. Ready to explore the unseen factors shaping organizational life?

Start the journey into what truly lies beneath. Let’s dive deeper together! 🔍📩

Something New is Coming… We’re launching a new newsletter called What Lies Beneath—a space for exploring the hidden factors that shape how and

15/07/2026

Kindness is very underrated

EmotionalWellbeing SelfCareIsHealthcare ProgressNotPerfection MindfulLiving GentleWithYourself TherapySupport CompassionStartsWithin

07/07/2026

Sunshine and holidays can lift our mood—but they don’t erase difficult feelings. If you’re still struggling while everyone else seems carefree, you’re not alone. Every season brings its own challenges, and it’s okay to need support, whatever the weather. 🌤️💛

MentalHealthAwareness SummerWellbeing SelfCompassion MIPTherapy Counselling Psychotherapy EmotionalHealth HealingJourney YouAreNotAlone Wellbeing

02/07/2026

☀️ **The Summer Holiday Paradox**

*"I couldn't wait for my holiday... so why don't I feel relaxed?"*

Many of us look forward to our holidays for months, believing they'll help us escape the pressures of everyday life.

But when the pace finally slows, something unexpected can happen.

We feel restless.
We become irritable.
We struggle to switch off.
Old worries and emotions begin to surface.

Why?

From a psychodynamic perspective, holidays don't remove stress—they remove distraction. When life becomes quieter, our minds finally have the space to process thoughts and feelings that may have been hidden beneath the busyness of everyday life.

Perhaps the greatest gift of a holiday isn't escaping ourselves.

Perhaps it's discovering ourselves.

Read our latest blog to explore the psychology behind **The Summer Holiday Paradox** and discover why understanding what lies beneath can lead to greater self-awareness and emotional wellbeing.

💭 Have you ever found it difficult to relax once your holiday actually began?

The Summer Holiday Paradox: Why it's so hard to switch off "I couldn't wait for my holiday... so why did I feel restless, anxious and disappointed?"