EMDR, Counselling & Psychotherapy in Exeter

05/03/2026

Trust isn't built through grand declarations. It's built through four things repeated consistently over time.

Consistency means their words match their actions and their effort doesn't spike and crash. Transparency means they share openly, you can ask questions without them getting defensive, and you feel like you know who they actually are. Accountability means they own mistakes without deflecting and they actually change behavior instead of just apologizing repeatedly. And reliability means they show up when they say they will, especially during hard times, not just easy ones.

Trust isn't a feeling. It's a pattern. And you can evaluate it by paying attention to these four things.

04/03/2026

02/03/2026

If you grew up feeling like your needs were too much, apologizing for having them probably became automatic.

"I'm sorry I got so emotional." "I'm sorry I need so much reassurance." "I'm sorry for being a burden." Most people don't even realize they're doing it. It just feels like the polite thing to say.

But apologizing for your needs teaches the people around you that those needs are a problem. Gratitude does something completely different. It acknowledges what someone gave you instead of shaming yourself for needing it.

"Thank you for holding space for me" lands in a completely different place than "sorry I got so emotional." Same moment. Totally different message.

23/02/2026

"The secret [to happiness] is that you are already a completely whole, perfect person. You are not damaged goods, you are not incomplete, you are not flawed, you are not unfinished, you do not need remodelling, fixing, polishing or major rehabilitation. You already have within you everything you need to live a wonderful life. You have common sense, wisdom, genius, creativity, humor, and self esteem. You are pure potential. You are missing nothing.

The only thing that can keep you from enjoying all that you already are is a thought. One thought. Your thought. Not someone else’s thought. Your thought . . . Whatever thought you are thinking at the moment that feels more important to think than feeling grateful, alive, content, joyful, optimistic, loving and at peace. . . that’s the only thing that’s between you and happiness."

It's That Simple - Mavis Karn

14/02/2026