Blogs and Articles
Welcome to the Strive blog where you will find practical guidance, thoughtful reflections and expert insights on mental health, wellbeing and counselling. Alongside posts written by our qualified team, we also offer our placement counsellors the opportunity to contribute their own articles which are always moderated and written with full respect for client confidentiality. Whether you are looking for advice, reassurance or a deeper understanding of therapy, this space brings together a range of voices to support your wellbeing.
[{"id":604,"link":"https:\/\/strivetherapy.co.uk\/publications\/see-me-for-who-i-am\/","name":"see-me-for-who-i-am","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"A year on: See me for who I am.","author":{"name":"Steve Widdowson","link":"https:\/\/strivetherapy.co.uk\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Nov 29, 2025","dateGMT":"2025-11-29 20:55:59","modifiedDate":"2025-11-29 20:55:59","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-11-29 20:55:59","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/strivetherapy.co.uk\/category\/publications\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Publications<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/strivetherapy.co.uk\/category\/publications\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Publications<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":"<a href='https:\/\/strivetherapy.co.uk\/tag\/counselling-matters\/' rel='post_tag'>Counselling Matters<\/a><a href='https:\/\/strivetherapy.co.uk\/tag\/masculinity-and-identity\/' rel='post_tag'>masculinity and identity<\/a><a href='https:\/\/strivetherapy.co.uk\/tag\/men-in-therapy\/' rel='post_tag'>men in therapy<\/a><a href='https:\/\/strivetherapy.co.uk\/tag\/ncps\/' rel='post_tag'>NCPS<\/a><a href='https:\/\/strivetherapy.co.uk\/tag\/person-centred-practice\/' rel='post_tag'>person centred practice<\/a><a href='https:\/\/strivetherapy.co.uk\/tag\/phenomenology-in-counselling\/' rel='post_tag'>phenomenology in counselling<\/a><a href='https:\/\/strivetherapy.co.uk\/tag\/reflective-practice\/' rel='post_tag'>reflective practice<\/a><a href='https:\/\/strivetherapy.co.uk\/tag\/therapeutic-relationships\/' rel='post_tag'>therapeutic relationships<\/a>"},"readTime":{"min":6,"sec":59},"status":"publish","excerpt":"A reflective look at a year of working with men in therapy and how the person centred approach has shaped my understanding of masculinity, identity and truly seeing the human in front of me."},{"id":597,"link":"https:\/\/strivetherapy.co.uk\/publications\/being-human\/","name":"being-human","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"Being Human","author":{"name":"Steve Widdowson","link":"https:\/\/strivetherapy.co.uk\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Nov 29, 2025","dateGMT":"2025-11-29 20:39:04","modifiedDate":"2025-11-29 20:39:05","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-11-29 20:39:05","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/strivetherapy.co.uk\/category\/publications\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Publications<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/strivetherapy.co.uk\/category\/publications\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Publications<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":"<a href='https:\/\/strivetherapy.co.uk\/tag\/person-centred-practice\/' rel='post_tag'>person centred practice<\/a><a href='https:\/\/strivetherapy.co.uk\/tag\/personal-development\/' rel='post_tag'>personal development<\/a><a href='https:\/\/strivetherapy.co.uk\/tag\/professional-development\/' rel='post_tag'>professional development<\/a><a href='https:\/\/strivetherapy.co.uk\/tag\/reflective-practice\/' rel='post_tag'>reflective practice<\/a><a href='https:\/\/strivetherapy.co.uk\/tag\/stress-and-wellbeing\/' rel='post_tag'>stress and wellbeing<\/a><a href='https:\/\/strivetherapy.co.uk\/tag\/therapeutic-relationships\/' rel='post_tag'>therapeutic relationships<\/a>"},"readTime":{"min":6,"sec":10},"status":"publish","excerpt":"A personal journey through stress, therapy and counselling training that explores how self awareness and growth shaped the way I now work and led to the development of my wellbeing workshop."},{"id":591,"link":"https:\/\/strivetherapy.co.uk\/reflections\/person-centred-wellbeing\/","name":"person-centred-wellbeing","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"Person-Centred Wellbeing","author":{"name":"Steve Widdowson","link":"https:\/\/strivetherapy.co.uk\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Feb 11, 2025","dateGMT":"2025-02-11 20:17:52","modifiedDate":"2025-11-29 20:20:27","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-11-29 20:20:27","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/strivetherapy.co.uk\/category\/reflections\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Reflections<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/strivetherapy.co.uk\/category\/reflections\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Reflections<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":"<a href='https:\/\/strivetherapy.co.uk\/tag\/emotional-safety\/' rel='post_tag'>emotional safety<\/a><a href='https:\/\/strivetherapy.co.uk\/tag\/person-centred-practice\/' rel='post_tag'>person centred practice<\/a><a href='https:\/\/strivetherapy.co.uk\/tag\/professional-development\/' rel='post_tag'>professional development<\/a><a href='https:\/\/strivetherapy.co.uk\/tag\/reflective-practice\/' rel='post_tag'>reflective practice<\/a><a href='https:\/\/strivetherapy.co.uk\/tag\/therapeutic-relationships\/' rel='post_tag'>therapeutic relationships<\/a><a href='https:\/\/strivetherapy.co.uk\/tag\/trust-in-therapy\/' rel='post_tag'>trust in therapy<\/a>"},"readTime":{"min":8,"sec":20},"status":"publish","excerpt":"A behind the scenes look at a development workshop delivered at Loughborough University, exploring how trust, openness and genuine connection can grow when people feel safe to reflect and engage together."},{"id":580,"link":"https:\/\/strivetherapy.co.uk\/publications\/meet-me-where-i-am\/","name":"meet-me-where-i-am","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"Meet me where I am","author":{"name":"Steve Widdowson","link":"https:\/\/strivetherapy.co.uk\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Dec 4, 2024","dateGMT":"2024-12-04 19:37:40","modifiedDate":"2025-11-29 19:52:30","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-11-29 19:52:30","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/strivetherapy.co.uk\/category\/publications\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Publications<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/strivetherapy.co.uk\/category\/publications\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Publications<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":"<a href='https:\/\/strivetherapy.co.uk\/tag\/campfire\/' rel='post_tag'>campfire<\/a><a href='https:\/\/strivetherapy.co.uk\/tag\/counselling-matters\/' rel='post_tag'>Counselling Matters<\/a><a href='https:\/\/strivetherapy.co.uk\/tag\/empathic-understanding\/' rel='post_tag'>empathic understanding<\/a><a href='https:\/\/strivetherapy.co.uk\/tag\/mens-counselling\/' rel='post_tag'>men's counselling<\/a><a href='https:\/\/strivetherapy.co.uk\/tag\/ncps\/' rel='post_tag'>NCPS<\/a><a href='https:\/\/strivetherapy.co.uk\/tag\/outdoor-therapy\/' rel='post_tag'>outdoor therapy<\/a>"},"readTime":{"min":7,"sec":42},"status":"publish","excerpt":"This article explores how empathy, acceptance and genuine presence can strengthen relationships. It offers simple, practical ways to deepen connection and understand others more fully."}]