Modern Life Is Rubbish (or Is It?)

Artificial Intelligence

The Impact of AI on Who We Are and Who We Become

Jeanine Connor MBACP, MSc, MEd, BSc (Hons) on October 12, 2026

AI systems map preferences, patterns, and choices and influence them, too, creating an algorithmic self. We need to use AI consciously to manage threats to the human self.

AI systems map preferences, patterns, and choices and influence them, too, creating an algorithmic self. We need to use AI consciously to manage threats to the human self.

Relationships

Tell Me About Your Relationship With Your Mother…

Jeanine Connor MBACP, MSc, MEd, BSc (Hons) on October 5, 2026

We make sense of ourselves through relationships. Our primary relationship is with our mother, which is why it shows up so often in therapy.

We make sense of ourselves through relationships. Our primary relationship is with our mother, which is why it shows up so often in therapy.

Adolescence

No Sex Please, We’re Gen Z*

Jeanine Connor MBACP, MSc, MEd, BSc (Hons) on September 28, 2026

What's the truth behind headlines suggesting Gen Z are in a "sex recession"?

What's the truth behind headlines suggesting Gen Z are in a "sex recession"?

Therapy

The Similarities Between Therapy and Dating

Jeanine Connor MBACP, MSc, MEd, BSc (Hons) on September 21, 2026

First sessions, like first dates, contain a wealth of information about whether we’re a good match and how the relationship is likely to pan out.

First sessions, like first dates, contain a wealth of information about whether we’re a good match and how the relationship is likely to pan out.

Beauty

Pretty Privilege and the Body Positivity Myth

Jeanine Connor MBACP, MSc, MEd, BSc (Hons) on September 14, 2026

Societal norms expose women and girls to greater scrutiny and harsher judgment, leading many to become hung up on appearance.

Societal norms expose women and girls to greater scrutiny and harsher judgment, leading many to become hung up on appearance.

Child Development

The Search for Causation Comes from a Desire for Certainty

Jeanine Connor MBACP, MSc, MEd, BSc (Hons) on September 7, 2026

Suggesting a singular cause for psychological challenges is reductionist. We can adopt a holistic approach and consider biological, psychological, and environmental factors.

Suggesting a singular cause for psychological challenges is reductionist. We can adopt a holistic approach and consider biological, psychological, and environmental factors.

Adolescence

Sex, Death and Adolescence

Jeanine Connor MBACP, MSc, MEd, BSc (Hons) on September 1, 2026

Psychoanalytic theory, including Freud's ideas about the life and death drives, can help us understand the process of adolescence.

Psychoanalytic theory, including Freud's ideas about the life and death drives, can help us understand the process of adolescence.

Adolescence

Endings and Beginnings

Jeanine Connor MBACP, MSc, MEd, BSc (Hons) on August 25, 2026

Beginnings are usually a time of hopefulness, anticipation and fantasy, whereas endings are associated with suffering and pain and are perceived as beyond individual control.

Beginnings are usually a time of hopefulness, anticipation and fantasy, whereas endings are associated with suffering and pain and are perceived as beyond individual control.

Adolescence

Reality and Other Adolescent Worlds

Jeanine Connor MBACP, MSc, MEd, BSc (Hons) on August 10, 2026

The eerie and upside-down world of teen fiction parallels the eerie and upside-down world of adolescence, where the boundary between reality and fantasy can become blurred

The eerie and upside-down world of teen fiction parallels the eerie and upside-down world of adolescence, where the boundary between reality and fantasy can become blurred

Therapy

How Confidential Is Psychotherapy?

Jeanine Connor MBACP, MSc, MEd, BSc (Hons) on August 4, 2026

Personal Perspective: My observations have led me to wonder about the extent to which therapists understand confidentiality, and how much they care.

Personal Perspective: My observations have led me to wonder about the extent to which therapists understand confidentiality, and how much they care.

Adolescence

The Problem With Pushing Resilience

Jeanine Connor MBACP, MSc, MEd, BSc (Hons) on July 21, 2026

Personal Perspective: Modern life is hard for Gen Z-ers, as they face permacrisis, endless choice, and other challenges. Calling them snowflakes doesn't help.

Personal Perspective: Modern life is hard for Gen Z-ers, as they face permacrisis, endless choice, and other challenges. Calling them snowflakes doesn't help.

Adolescence

Old Enough to Know

Jeanine Connor MBACP, MSc, MEd, BSc (Hons) on July 13, 2026

Children are equipped with innate curiosity, and often bring questions about sex and death to therapy to be made sense of.

Children are equipped with innate curiosity, and often bring questions about sex and death to therapy to be made sense of.

Therapy

To Niche or Not to Niche, That Is the Question

Jeanine Connor MBACP, MSc, MEd, BSc (Hons) on July 6, 2026

Therapists face a dilemma between ticking all the boxes on directory profiles and advertising a niche. But which is best for potential clients?

Therapists face a dilemma between ticking all the boxes on directory profiles and advertising a niche. But which is best for potential clients?

Adolescence

Attention Seeking vs. Seeking Attention

Jeanine Connor MBACP, MSc, MEd, BSc (Hons) on June 30, 2026

“Attention-seeking” adolescents are communicating need through their behavior, and adults should recognize that.

“Attention-seeking” adolescents are communicating need through their behavior, and adults should recognize that.

Emotional Validation

How to Avoid Pathologising Ordinary Emotion

Jeanine Connor MBACP, MSc, MEd, BSc (Hons) on June 22, 2026

We should aim to validate young people's ordinary emotional expression, rather than seeking to pathologise it.

We should aim to validate young people's ordinary emotional expression, rather than seeking to pathologise it.

Social Media

What the Social Media Ban Really Means for Under-16s

Jeanine Connor MBACP, MSc, MEd, BSc (Hons) on June 17, 2026

The UK's proposed ban on social media for under-16s won't work. Here's why.

The UK's proposed ban on social media for under-16s won't work. Here's why.

Gender

Let’s Normalize Young People’s Gender and Sexual Fluidity

Jeanine Connor MBACP, MSc, MEd, BSc (Hons) on June 12, 2026

Personal Perspective: Clinging rigidly to binary theories of gender and sexuality does young people a disservice.

Personal Perspective: Clinging rigidly to binary theories of gender and sexuality does young people a disservice.

Sexual Orientation

During Pride Month, "Rainbow Washing" Isn't Enough

Jeanine Connor MBACP, MSc, MEd, BSc (Hons) on June 4, 2026

Personal Perspective: Reflecting on the true meaning of LGBTQ+ allyship in therapy spaces.

Personal Perspective: Reflecting on the true meaning of LGBTQ+ allyship in therapy spaces.

Politics

No Place for Politics in Therapy?

Jeanine Connor MBACP, MSc, MEd, BSc (Hons) on May 18, 2026

Personal Perspective: Some people claim that the psychotherapy room is no place for politics, but is it even possible to keep the political out of the room?

Personal Perspective: Some people claim that the psychotherapy room is no place for politics, but is it even possible to keep the political out of the room?

Adolescence

Modern Life Is Rubbish (Or Is It?)

Jeanine Connor MBACP, MSc, MEd, BSc (Hons) on May 11, 2026

If modern life is rubbish, how can we hold onto the hope in psychotherapy?

If modern life is rubbish, how can we hold onto the hope in psychotherapy?