AJH Therapy

16/10/2026

I had a haircut this week, and then afterwards I decided I was in the mood for fresh air and some .
One beach walk later, my face was sticky from the sea spray, my clothes and boots are damp from the incoming tide and my recently done hair is bedraggled from a combination of spray, salt air, wind and drizzle. So that haircut was money well spent lol
but I did feel re-energised!

10/10/2026

You never truly know the battles someone is fighting behind their smile. 🥹💙 Some people are silently carrying pain they struggle to explain, doing their best to get through days that feel heavier than anyone realizes.

That’s why kindness matters. A little patience, a heartfelt conversation, a listening ear, or a simple “How are you, really?” can mean more than we ever know. Sometimes, the smallest act of compassion can remind someone that they are not alone. 🫂🤍

And if life has been especially difficult for you lately, please remember this: you don’t have to be strong every single day. You’re allowed to rest, to ask for help, to take a step back, and to begin again as many times as you need. Healing takes time, and you don’t have to figure everything out all at once. 🌷❤️‍🩹

Your struggles do not define your worth. Your pain deserves to be acknowledged, your feelings deserve to be heard, and your life deserves care, love, and understanding.

So, let’s be gentler with one another—not just today, but every day. We may never fully understand what someone else is going through, but we can always choose to make their world a little less lonely. 💙🕊️

✨ You are enough. You are not a burden. Your story is still unfolding, and the world is better with you in it. Always. 💙

21/09/2026

20/09/2026

Current estimates are that at least half to two thirds of adolescents in the UK are struggling with low self-esteem. Unchallenged, this will stay with them in adulthood and affect their life choices. Low self-esteem or no self-esteem at all is easily dismissed as not being important. But it really does matter.
Having low self-esteem means lacking confidence in yourself or your abilities, and it’s about the value or worth you place on yourself. If you set yourself impossibly high standards that you cannot live up to, you will inevitably feel a failure, when in fact you may have made great achievements but are not able to see them. Some may experience deep seated self-esteem issues that stem from a lack of emotional support from parents or families, or partners. The person who works hard but is taken for granted by their boss and feels unappreciated will probably have low self-esteem as well.
This really does get in the way of being able to cope with difficult situations. Unless you learn to understand where it comes from, you may never feel the freedom to truly accept yourself for who you are.
If you find you are putting a “label” on yourself, I’m inadequate, I’m unattractive, I’m unlovable, I’m stupid, I’m worthless and so on, and if you tell yourself these negatives enough times, eventually you will come to identify yourself with that statement and believe it to be true. Once that belief is in your core system, it will affect how you deal with or react to any situation. If you allow external factors to influence how you rate your self- worth, then your moods are likely to swing between good and bad because that’s the gauge by which you decide if you are a good person or bad one.
Have you ever thought about trying to make things better, but told yourself there’s no point in you trying because nobody can help you feel better about your situation?
Tell yourself that there are people worse off than you, so you should just get on with it? Well, that’s a very powerful way to feel, but it’s just not true.
It’s quite some time ago when I wrote the line “if it matters to you…..then it matters” – but I believe it’s just as relevant now as it was then.
Self-esteem, self-confidence, self-worth – what connects all these things is “self” and that is where you need to start. Finding support from a therapist will help you to create a safe space where you can express yourself and learn to accept who that is.

17/09/2026

If you are looking for a counsellor, please use a proper register such as the Counselling Directory, and search for people in your area who are offering what you need. Check for a PSA mark on their profile. Its ok to have a chat first and decide they are not right for you. There are different types of counselling and therapy, one size does not fit all. If you are not comfortable, you will get nothing out of it as you will not relax and build trust or rapport.

It's over 13 years ago that I first wrote "If it matters to you, then it matters" and I'm still right about that today.

17/09/2026

One of my favourite quotes
“The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.” – Carl Rogers.

06/07/2026

Our mental health isn’t only affected by the cold, dark months. Summer can also impact our mental health for a number of reasons.

For example, we may struggle with the heat and humidity, and the changeability of the weather.

You may feel pressure to dress in a way that makes us feel uncomfortable or act “happy” because it is summer.

You may struggle to sleep in the hot nights and be exhausted in the day.

If you experience symptoms of depression at certain times each year, this is sometimes called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

Common symptoms include:

Persistent low mood

Anxiety

Sleep problems

Difficulties concentrating

Increased irritability

Loss of interest or enjoyment in things.

Here are some simple tips to help you cope in the summer:

Drink lots of water so you stay hydrated.

Keep cool by finding shade or wearing loose clothing.

Visit cool indoor places like your local library or cinema.

Keep a diary of your symptoms to help spot the patterns of SAD.

If you’re struggling with your symptoms please reach out to your GP. You can also call our infoline or look at our website for more information on SAD.

19/06/2026

Loneliness Awareness Week is a reminder that feeling disconnected from others often starts with how we feel about ourselves.

Low self-esteem can make it harder to reach out, build relationships, and feel worthy of connection.

Hypnotherapy for low self-esteem can help you challenge negative self-beliefs, build confidence, and develop a stronger sense of self-worth – making it easier to create meaningful connections and feel less alone.

This , take a step towards a more positive relationship with yourself 💜

https://www.hypnotherapy-directory.org.uk/topics/self-esteem.html

Biodun Ogunyemi