Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviour Disorders: Skin Picking, Hair Pulling and More

The repetitive actions of picking skin and pulling hair are two examples of BFRBs. Body-Focused Repetitive Disorders might not be a familiar term to you, but you’ve... read more »

Parentification: What is it, and how can you help a parentified child?

Some children don't get to 'play house' - they end up running the house, and taking on adult-level responsibilities. When a child is forced to take on the parental role by their... read more »

Family Break-Ups at Christmas

Did you know that Christmas is a peak time for couples to end their relationships? The most wonderful time of the year for some can be a time of family disharmony for others. In the celebrity world, famous people tend to announce their divorces between Christmas and New Year –... read more »

School Bans Designer Coats: Poverty Shaming or Affluent Antagonising?

The decision by the head teacher of Woodchurch school in Merseyside to ban Canada Goose, Pyrenex and Moncler jackets for school children has been met with mixed reviews. Some believe that preventing the wearing of these jackets, that can cost up to £1,000, will reduce poverty shaming. It has been... read more »

Parity of Esteem for Mental and Physical Health Services: Are We Making Progress?

As we reflect on the highs and lows of World Mental Health Day 2018 (held on 10 October), it's always a chance to analyse how close UK society is to achieving equality between mental and physical health provision. Known as parity of esteem, uniting these two branches of health... read more »

Syrian Refugee Crisis: How We Can Help

It is now three long years since three-year-old Alan Kurdi drowned in the Mediterranean – just one victim of many in the ongoing Syrian refugee crisis, but the image of his little body made headlines around the world. Alan died alongside his mother and older brother; his father was... read more »

The Dangers of Parental Alienation

Child custody is an emotive and significant issue for separating parents. It can be complicated by conflicting work schedules and shift patterns, making it difficult to spend time with children in the time you are allocated; it can further be complicated by house moves and introducing new partners into... read more »

Helicopter Parenting and How to Avoid It

Recent research published in the journal Developmental Psychology has fuelled the argument that helicopter parenting – metaphorically hovering above your child, over-protecting them and exerting excessive control over their life – is damaging children’s wellbeing. The findings come from a study of 422 children when aged two,... read more »

Gaming Disorder: Genuine Addiction or Media Hype?

When the World Health Organisation added gaming disorder to the latest edition of its International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), widespread media coverage and an outcry from the gaming industry made it the issue of the moment. The classification applies to people with 12 months of low control over their... read more »

International Women’s Day: Five Female Psychologists to Know

Celebrate these great female psychologists who made a difference. As International Women’s Day approaches (8th March), we felt it was only right... read more »