Thoughts, practical exercises and fresh perspectives on relationships, emotional wellbeing and everyday life. Written by Martin Hirschbuehl, psychologist and systemic therapist in Riga.
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Online therapy can make support easier to access when travelling to a practice is difficult, when you live abroad, or when you and your partner are in different places. A useful question is not simply whether video sessions work, but…
You feel close, the relationship seems calm, and then your partner withdraws, questions the relationship or starts an argument. Repeated changes between closeness and distance can leave you anxious and unsure how to respond.
Many of us learn to organise life around rules: be helpful, work harder, avoid disappointing people. Some rules protect what matters. Others continue shaping our choices long after they have stopped fitting our circumstances.
When stress rises, you may notice a tight chest, tense muscles or thoughts moving too quickly to follow. A short breathing exercise can sometimes help you slow down enough to choose your next step.
A meaningful life rarely follows a perfect plan. These 20 principles are prompts for reflection about responsibility, relationships and care for yourself. They are not a checklist you must complete or a promise that effort alone can…
In a long-term relationship, it can be tempting to compare the everyday reality you know with the possibilities you imagine elsewhere. A new person may seem exciting partly because you have not yet shared routines, disagreements or…
You may be used to solving problems, staying useful and carrying on under pressure. Yet being capable does not prevent loneliness, anxiety or relationship difficulties. Therapy offers a place to examine what is happening and work on…
During an argument, you may reach a point where you repeat yourself, stop hearing your partner or feel an urgent need to defend your position. Continuing at that moment can deepen the conflict. A clearly agreed pause can make a more…
Short days and long winters can affect your energy, routines and sense of connection. Some people feel a mild seasonal dip; others develop depression that needs treatment. If winter feels difficult, it helps to understand the difference…
Do you reach for your phone without deciding to, keep scrolling longer than intended or find it difficult to stay with a quiet task? These habits can be frustrating. You can work on them without trying to “detox” your brain.
You know something matters, but starting feels difficult. Waiting until you feel fully ready can leave you stuck. Sometimes a small action helps motivation develop; sometimes the difficulty is a sign that you need rest, support or a…
Returning to something that is harming your life can bring shame and confusion. Understanding the pattern is a more useful starting point than judging your character. Change often needs practical support, attention to underlying…
When concentration, energy or mood are suffering, it is tempting to search for a single food, supplement or technique that will fix everything. A more useful starting point is to look at the conditions of your everyday life and choose…
You do not need to control every thought to respond differently to life. These seven reflections are practical starting points for self-understanding. “Hacking your brain” is a metaphor for practising new responses, not a claim that the…
Phones help parents work, organise family life and stay connected. They can also interrupt moments with a child. The useful question is how to make room for attention and connection within ordinary life, without expecting parents to be…
When your partner shares something difficult, you may want to explain, defend yourself or offer a solution. Empathy begins with understanding their experience. You can take that experience seriously while also having your own perspective.
When you are struggling, it can be difficult to know where to begin. A psychologist and a psychiatrist may both support mental health, but their training and roles are different. The right starting point depends on your concerns and the…
A new year can be a useful invitation to reflect, but you can begin a change at any time. A workable resolution connects something you care about with an action that fits your actual life.
Do you often lose track of tasks, struggle to organise your day or feel restless when you need to sit still? These experiences can occur with ADHD, but they can also have other explanations. Recognising a pattern can be a reason to seek…
Sometimes the problem is not a lack of effort, but a poor fit between a person and their environment. This can be particularly relevant when attention, organisation or restlessness make everyday work difficult.
A breakup can unsettle your routines, your sense of security and the future you expected. There is no correct timetable for recovery. The six experiences below are a reflection framework I use in my work, not a validated test or a…
Reading can offer a starting point. If you would like to explore what this means in your own life, you are welcome to get in touch. I offer counselling in English, German and Latvian, in Riga and online.
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