What is Contextual Empathy?

A number of people have given feedback and messaged appreciation for my defining a new term, 'contextual empathy' explicitly to avoid thinking/empathising solely in ahistorical, here-and-now, or decontextualised human-only terms. Here is the definition used (Ahmad, 2025):"Contextual empathy (author term/definition): Empathy seeks to understand a person’s inner world (client frame of reference) and experience as … Continue reading What is Contextual Empathy? →

Therapist disclosure

Image: Mike Lewinski Therapist Disclosure Revisited: By Mamood Ahmad Disclosure Self-disclosure is the intentional or unintentional disclosure to the client of aspects of the therapist’s personal biography, such as identity, positionality, values, beliefs, or lived experience. Disclosure may occur while in therapy or outside of it. Self-disclosure may be deliberate, unavoidable, accidental, or client-initiated (Zur … Continue reading Therapist disclosure →

The therapeutic setting

Therapy is typically offered at the therapist’s organization or their home offices. However, therapy may be also be available in a number of different environments such as your home, in outside spaces, in your work office, or even in more unusually noisier environments. In the digital age, therapy can also be available through a number … Continue reading The therapeutic setting →

Psychological health professionals compared

I often get questions from people who are confused with the difference between counselors and psychotherapists and other types of psychologically trained professionals. I'll try to explain it simply as possible. Therapists are trained to work with you over short or long term to help to bring about psychological change and enhance wellbeing. They are trained … Continue reading Psychological health professionals compared →

Time to heal

When there is a physical injury, our body tells us very quickly when something is wrong. If we injure our leg, we are soon aware of our condition because of pain or a limitation, such as not being able to move a leg freely. We usually realise because of these symptoms and their impact on … Continue reading Time to heal →

But I had a good childhood!

When you reflect upon your childhood, especially your caregivers and family, it may appear to you that any problems you have now are in no way related. This can be especially true if you did indeed have a good childhood. However, there are a number of perspectives you may wish to consider when deciding whether … Continue reading But I had a good childhood! →