Shapeshifting and people pleasing are often mentioned in the same breath but they’re not the same thing. This post explores what shapeshifting actually is, where it begins, how it develops and what it can cost over a lifetime.
Fawners are often the most accommodating, dedicated people in any workplace. But when the culture shifts around them, that accommodation can quietly become the path to burnout. This post explores why and what it reveals.
Fawning is the least well known of the four trauma responses and yet it’s the one I see most in my counselling practice. Unlike fight, flight or freeze, it doesn’t look like a trauma response from the outside. This post explores what it is, how it shows up and what it quietly costs.
Have you ever found yourself unable to speak during a difficult conversation, your mind going completely blank? Or felt stuck and unable to move forward, despite desperately wanting to? This is your freeze response – often misunderstood as laziness or lack of motivation, but actually a profound survival mechanism. In this post, I explore what…
Have you ever felt an overwhelming need to leave a situation, even when you weren’t in real danger? That’s the flight response. It’s your body’s instinctive way of protecting you from perceived threat. In this post, I explore how the flight response works, why it can become overactive after trauma, and how understanding your body’s…
You might know the feeling - your jaw tightens, your chest feels hot, and words spill out faster than you intended. Later, you replay it all in your mind and wonder why you reacted that way.
For many people, these moments aren’t just about losing your temper. They’re your body’s way of saying 'I don't…
What does the word 'trauma’ mean to you? You may think of the impact that extreme events like war, accidents, or natural disasters can have. Or perhaps you know personally that it’s not just about ‘big’ events. It can also come from experiences such as bullying, medical treatment, relationship difficulties, chronic stress, or sudden loss.
I think it’s helpful…
