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In-person appointments in Hampstead, plus online therapy across the UK and internationally
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Chocolate cookies and birthday cake - the psychological sigh
Feeling stressed or overwhelmed? Try a physiological sigh: take two quick, sharp breaths in through your nose, then slowly breathe out through your mouth.
For children, imagine smelling chocolate cookies twice, then slowly blowing out all the candles on a birthday cake.
It’s quick, simple and discreet enough to use during a stressful meeting or difficult conversation – a tiny reset when you need it most.
Jenny Doe
1 min read
Autism and ADHD diagnoses in adult women
Autism and ADHD diagnoses in adult women
An autism or ADHD diagnosis in adulthood can bring relief, validation and grief. For many women, years of adapting, masking and trying to meet expectations can hide just how much effort everyday life takes. A diagnosis may help explain parts of your past, but it doesn't explain everything. Perhaps its greatest value is offering a kinder way to understand yourself—and discovering what neurodivergence means for you.
Dr Prarthana Shetty
2 min read
Why Slowing Down Can Sometimes Make You Feel Worse Before You Feel Better
We often expect life to feel better as soon as it slows down. Yet after prolonged pressure, quiet can initially bring tiredness, anxiety, irritability or difficult emotions to the surface.
When we are busy, we can become skilled at simply carrying on. Once demands reduce, the nervous system may need time to adjust. Rest can feel unfamiliar, and activity that once provided structure or distraction is suddenly absent.
This does not necessarily mean slowing down has made things
Dr Jo Stuart
5 min read
The Art of Loving – Erich Fromm
Although published in 1956, The Art of Loving still offers a valuable perspective: love is not just a feeling but a practice. Fromm argues that mature love is built on four qualities—care, responsibility, respect, and knowledge. Rather than "falling in love," he encourages "standing in love": consistently supporting another person's growth through everyday actions, understanding, and commitment.
Dr Caroline Taylor
3 min read
Why So Many People Feel Anxious, Exhausted and On Edge Right Now
Many people feel more anxious, exhausted and overwhelmed, not because they are failing, but because they are living under constant pressure. Financial worries, work demands, AI, global uncertainty and endless news keep the brain in threat mode. Instead of trying to control everything, focus on what you can influence, set boundaries, prioritise rest and recovery, and remember: caring about the world doesn't mean carrying all of its weight.
Dr Jo Stuart
4 min read
Evidence-based self-development
Many of us engage in self-development to become better in some way, feel happier, or simply grow as people. Human growth can bring many benefits to our wellbeing and support our relationships with family, friends, romantic partners, and colleagues. At the same time, I have noticed a huge increase in self-development content across social media. It is encouraging that so many people want to grow and become the best version of themselves. However, much of this advice offers lit
Dr Caroline Taylor
4 min read
Why Power Matters in Therapy: Bringing Community Psychology into Private Practice
When people come to therapy, writes Dr Megan Patterson, they are often looking for ways to make sense of difficult experiences, overcome challenges, and create meaningful change in their lives. While therapy often focuses on thoughts, feelings, and relationships, I also draw on ideas from community psychology to understand the wider contexts that shape our wellbeing. One of the key ideas in community psychology is power. Power influences our opportunities, relationships, sens
Dr Megan Patterson
2 min read
Using Freezing Cold Water to Manage Intense Anxiety, Panic and General Wellbeing
**Using Cold Water for Anxiety and Panic**
Freezing cold water can help reduce intense anxiety and panic by interrupting the body's alarm response. Splashing cold water on your face or applying a cold cloth to your cheeks may activate the body's natural calming reflex, helping slow the heart rate and reduce distress. While it is not a cure for anxiety, it can create enough space to regain control and use other coping strategies. Used safely, it can also promote grounding and
Dr Jo Stuart
6 min read
Hope is a Verb
There are times when it seems that hope is beyond our grasp. Times when sadness or disappointment, loss or hurt seem too strong and consuming to allow space for hope. When we have lost a loved one, we can feel lost and terrified, stuck in grief with all its emotions, the ‘frozen present’. We can feel challenged to the core – who am I if I am not, a partner, daughter, son; who am I without that friend; how can I live, if my child dies? It can feel impossible, as well as disres
Harriet Goldenburg
2 min read
World Meditation Day: The Quiet Revolution Inside the Human Mind
Meditation is increasingly recognised by science as a powerful tool for mental wellbeing. Regular practice can reduce stress, calm the brain’s fear centre, improve emotional resilience, and even reshape neural pathways linked to memory and compassion. This World Meditation Day, Dr Sarah Jane Khalid reminds us that the mind was never designed for constant chaos, and that healing can begin with a single breath.
Dr Sarah Jane Khalid
2 min read
Adult ADHD Assessment and Treatment: What Good Care Should Look Like
Adult ADHD should not be diagnosed from a quick questionnaire or brief conversation. A high-quality assessment should include a detailed clinical interview, psychometric measures, psychiatric assessment, developmental history, and careful consideration of daily functioning. Good care should also include thoughtful treatment planning, medication review where appropriate, and proper aftercare.
Dr Jo Stuart
3 min read
A brief intro to A Compassionate Approach to Health Anxiety.
Health anxiety can make everyday sensations feel alarming. A headache, a flutter in your chest, or a small change in your body can quickly spiral into worry. While it feels very real, this pattern is often driven by an overactive threat system—not actual danger.
Dr Gulshan Vazir
1 min read
Stress Awareness Month: Navigating Stress with Compassion
April marks Stress Awareness Month in the UK, highlighting how stress affects mental and physical health. While natural, unmanaged stress can harm wellbeing. Recognising symptoms like fatigue or anxiety is key. Simple steps—exercise, mindfulness, time management, and seeking support—can help. This year’s theme, #LeadWithLove, encourages kindness to ourselves and others as we prioritise balance and wellbeing.
Dr Gulshan Vazir
2 min read
Exploring Intercultural Relationships: Dr Reenee Singh’s Work at Hampstead Psychology
Hampstead Psychology is proud to work with Dr Reenee Singh, a Consultant Family and Systemic Psychotherapist with specialist expertise in intercultural couples. Her work explores how culture, identity and difference shape relationships, helping couples navigate complexity with greater understanding. Through her role and the London Intercultural Couples Centre, she brings deep clinical insight to modern relational life.
Dr Jo Stuart
3 min read
ADHD, Energy, and Focus at Work: Learning to Work With Your System, Not Against It
ADHD often isn’t about a lack of focus, but fluctuating energy. Focus depends on energy, interest, and motivation—when these are low, starting can feel hard.
Instead of forcing consistency, notice your patterns. Match demanding tasks to higher-energy moments, and simpler work to lower-energy ones.
Make starting easier by breaking tasks down or adding interest. Variability is part of the system—working with it is more effective than fighting it.
Dr Jo Stuart
4 min read
Finding Your Fit: How to know if a therapist is right for you
Choosing a therapist can feel overwhelming, but the therapeutic relationship is key to good outcomes. A good fit means feeling safe, understanding their approach clearly, having strong professional boundaries, and experiencing both support and gentle challenge. Trust your sense of comfort and collaboration as a guide.
Dr Prarthana Shetty
2 min read
What to Do When You Start Feeling Distant From Your Partner
Feeling distant from your partner can be unsettling, but it does not always mean the relationship is in trouble. Most couples go through periods of disconnection. Often, it is a sign that something needs attention rather than a sign that things are falling apart. Talking early, listening well, showing empathy, and making time for meaningful connection can help rebuild closeness and remind you that you are still on the same team.
Dr Julie Hannan
3 min read
Why the Inner Critic Gets Louder at Midlife
Midlife often brings success, experience, and responsibility—yet the inner critic can grow louder. What once drove achievement can turn into pressure, self-doubt, and burnout. Perfectionism may no longer serve you. By noticing this voice, redefining success, and embracing “good enough,” midlife can become a powerful opportunity to shift from constant striving to meaningful, balanced growth.
Dr Julie Hannan
3 min read
March and Mental Clarity: The Psychology of Transition
March sits at the crossroads of seasons, where change becomes visible and felt. As days lengthen and light returns, our minds begin to shift too. Psychologically, this period invites reflection, renewal, and mental decluttering. The transition from winter to spring mirrors an internal reset—encouraging clarity, fresh perspective, and the motivation to move forward with intention.
Dr Sarah Jane Khalid
1 min read
The Psychology of Love and Connection: A March Reflection for Working
Love and attachment are not simply sentimental ideas but fundamental psychological needs. Psychologist Robert Sternberg described love as consisting of intimacy, passion, and commitment—elements that apply beyond romance and into professional life. Trust with colleagues reflects intimacy, loyalty to shared goals reflects commitment, and passion appears as engagement that drives motivation and innovation. Small moments of genuine connection can strengthen relationships and imp
Dr Sarah Jane Khalid
1 min read
Lets talk and our triage team will be in touch with you about next steps, whether that is to have an initial chat with a psychologist or booking in for an appointment at one of our clinics or online.
Office hours are 09:00 - 17:00 Monday to Friday. We have evening and weekend appointments available.
Call 020 3488 2438 for an appointment or use the form below.
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