Smart Therapy Magazine
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What to do during a panic attack (and why it feels like you’re dying)
A panic attack can feel like a medical emergency. Here's what's happening in your body, what actually helps in the moment, and why deep breaths backfire.
Why do I feel like something bad is about to happen?
That sense of dread with no clear cause has a name: anticipatory anxiety. Here's what's happening in your body, and what helps.
Why Do I Assume the Worst When Someone Goes Quiet on Me
Why does silence from someone you care about feel like a verdict? Here's the attachment psychology behind assuming the worst, and what helps.
Why Do I Replay Conversations in my Head for Days Afterwards?
Still thinking about something you said days ago? Here's the psychology of post-event processing, and why the loop is so hard to switch off.
What is an Emotional Flashback?
An emotional flashback can make a small moment feel unbearable. Here's the psychology behind it, and why it isn't an overreaction.
What is EMDR? The Science Behind the Therapy
What is actually happening during an EMDR session? Why would moving your eyes back and forth help with something as serious as PTSD? Is it just for trauma, or can it help with other things? And is there real science behind it, or is it more speculative than it sounds?
The Psychology of Parenting Without a Routine: aka Why the Summer Holidays are Hard
There's a particular kind of dread that settles in around mid-July. The last day of school approaches and with it, six weeks of unstructured time that needs to be somehow filled, managed, survived.
How to Find Affordable Counselling in Clapham and South West London
If you've been trying to access therapy and found yourself stuck between long NHS waiting lists and private fees that feel out of reach, you're not alone.
Loneliness and the Brain: Why Feeling Alone Can Feel Like Physical Pain
Loneliness activates the same neural pathways as physical pain. Here's the neuroscience behind why it persists, and why simply seeing more people often isn't enough.
England’s New Mental Health Strategy: What It Actually Means for You
On 15 May 2026, during Mental Health Awareness Week, the government launched what it described as a once-in-a-generation cross-government Mental Health Strategy for England. It was met with widespread cautious welcome from the sector, and a fair amount of questions from the people it's actually intended to help.
The Psychology of People Pleasing
People pleasing isn't a personality trait, it's a survival strategy rooted in your nervous system. Here's the psychology behind it, and how to begin changing it.
Why Can’t I Sleep? The Science Behind Anxiety and Broken Sleep
Exhausted but unable to sleep? The link between anxiety and broken sleep runs deeper than most advice addresses. Here’s what the research actually shows.
Am I Too Self-Aware? When Reflection Becomes Rumination
There's a version of self-awareness that helps, and one that keeps you stuck. If you've done the reading, understand your patterns, and still feel like you're going in circles, this is for you.
What Actually Happens in a therapy Session?
Not sure what to expect from therapy? Here's an honest, jargon-free guide to what actually happens in a session, and what you definitely don't need to bring with you.
Why Rest Feels Uncomfortable
If stillness makes you anxious, or you feel guilty the moment you stop, it's not a productivity problem. Here's the psychology behind why rest feels so hard for so many people.
The Fawn Response
Fight, flight, freeze … and fawn. The fourth stress response is the least talked about and one of the most common. Here's what it is, where it comes from, and why it's so hard to spot in yourself.
Why You Can't Just Set Boundaries
Knowing you need to set a boundary and actually being able to hold one are two very different things. Here's the psychology behind why boundaries feel so difficult - and what actually helps.
The Psychology of Betrayal
Betrayal can deeply affect mental health. Explore the psychology of betrayal, betrayal trauma theory, and why trust violations can feel so destabilising.
How Trauma Passes Through Generations
Intergenerational trauma can shape families for decades. Learn how trauma passes through generations, what research says, and how healing cycles can begin.
Why Families Sometimes Protect the Abuser
Why do families sometimes protect abusers? Explore the psychology of denial, loyalty, and family systems and how these dynamics affect survivors of abuse.

