January is often labelled “Divorce Month.” Family law firms see an increase in enquiries, and many people begin searching for couples counselling in Swords, North Dublin, and surrounding areas. But January does not break relationships. It exposes cracks that were already there. https://youtube.com/shorts/nhYmjZTqnjU?si=1aTexJLBOiql27kS The…
Christmas parties are usually harmless. Bit of food, a few drinks, everyone pretending the Secret Santa budget wasn’t completely ignored.But every year here in Swords, Balbrigan, Port Marnock or Malahide you may hear the same kind of story. Not about affairs, but about moments.…
Making friends as a twenty or thirty something can be surprisingly tricky. In college or school, we were surrounded by people our own age spending hours each day together. Even if not every connection became a lifelong friendship, the opportunities were there. And we…
Netflix’s House of Guinness isn’t really about a pint of stout. It’s about family secrets, the weight of expectations, and people trying to figure out who they are while living under someone else’s rules. And honestly, that hits close to home. Because most of…
Let’s be honest if you’ve ever heard the phrase “We were on a break!” you probably instantly think of Friends and Ross shouting it from the rooftops. But behind the sitcom punchline is something many of us recognise in ourselves or our relationships: defensiveness.…
“Discomfort endlessly has pulled itself upon me, distracting, reacting. Against my will I stand beside my own reflection; it’s haunting how I can’t seem to find myself again; my walls are closing in.” ~ Chester Bennington, 1976 – 2017 The first time I…
Meet Siobhan McCarthy: A Pluralistic Psychotherapist at Summit Counselling & Psychotherapy Swords At Summit Counselling & Psychotherapy Swords, we know that finding the right counsellor is one of the most important steps on your journey. Every therapist brings their own style, training, and personality…
Self-care is everywhere these days — from TikTok tips to wellness podcasts to those “treat yourself” memes. It sounds simple enough: take care of yourself. Rest. Recharge. Eat a vegetable. So why does it often feel… overwhelming, confusing, or just plain out of reach?…
Contempt is often described as the most destructive of the Gottman’s’ Four Horsemen. It doesn’t just hurt — it erodes the very foundation of emotional safety in a relationship. Where criticism attacks a partner’s behaviour or character, contempt communicates disgust, often through sarcasm, sneering,…
What Ross and Rachel Can Teach Us About Communication We’ve all been there—feeling frustrated with our partner and blurting out something that starts with, “You always…” or “Why do you never…” According to Dr. John Gottman, this is the first sign that a relationship…