Articles by Sue Cowan-Jenssen

07Feb

A Psychotherapist Responds to King Charles' Cancer Diagnosis

Sue Cowan-Jenssen

cancer, health, illness, mortality, society

Therapists

King Charles has been diagnosed with cancer. Psychotherapist Sue Cowan-Jenssen considers how his being open about his diagnosis helps to de-shame cancer, and also reminds us all of our own mortality
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16Mar

How Acts of Kindness Relieve Depression Symptoms

Sue Cowan-Jenssen

anxiety, depression, empathy, kindness, society, volunteer

Therapists

Acts of kindness, big or small, have been shown to have a beneficial effect on mental health. Psychotherapist Sue Cowan-Jenssen shares recent research on depression and anxiety symptoms
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05Oct

What Happens When Politics Lacks Emotional Intelligence?

Sue Cowan-Jenssen

emotions, empathy, politics, society

Therapists

As the mini budget brings rage and anxiety to her therapy room, therapist Sue Cowan-Jenssen asks whether it is a lack of emotional intelligence that leads to politics and politicians failing to understand the needs and lives of everyday people.
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07Jun

Depp vs Heard and the Mob Mentality of the Internet

Sue Cowan-Jenssen

abuse, bullying, couples, domesticviolence, narcissism, relationships, shame, society, TV

Therapists

Depp vs Heard gripped the world's attention, but what do the memes, clips and gifs say about the mob mentality of the internet? Therapist Sue Cowan-Jenssen explores how shaming others might in fact make us even harder on ourselves too.
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20Apr

What Will Be the Lasting Impact of Trauma for Refugees Fleeing Ukraine?

Sue Cowan-Jenssen

childhood, family, society, trauma

Therapists

Epigenetics tells us how trauma can be passed down the generations. As huge numbers of Ukrainians are forced to flee their country, therapist Sue Cowan-Jenssen reflects on the lasting mental health impact.
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11Apr

Family Estrangement: When Parent-Child Bonds Break

Sue Cowan-Jenssen

books, childhood, family, parenting

Therapists

Most parents might do the best they can, but this doesn't mean their children won't feel hurt or let down by the relationship. Therapist Sue Cowan-Jenssen explores family estrangement, and what it takes to heal parent-child rifts.
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17Jan

Why Are Politicians So Bad at Saying Sorry?

Sue Cowan-Jenssen

coronavirus, politics, society

Therapists

Many are unconvinced by Boris Johnson's recent apology, which has done nothing to quell angry feelings towards the Prime Minister. Why are politicians so bad at saying sorry and admitting when they have made mistakes, asks therapist Sue Cowan-Jenssen.
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19May

Prince Harry, Therapy, and Intergenerational Trauma

Sue Cowan-Jenssen

childhood, family, society, trauma

Therapists

Prince Harry has recently given an interview in which he spoke of wanting to break the cycle of pain he experienced in his own childhood. Therapist Sue Cowan-Jenssen explores the concept of intergenerational trauma and the role therapy plays in healing.
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03Feb

Ideas as Opiates: The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories

Sue Cowan-Jenssen

coronavirus, politics, psychology, society

Therapists

Uncertainty and fear make fertile ground for more extreme views, as people cling to ideas that help them make sense of the world. Therapist Sue Cowan-Jenssen explores the psychology of conspiracy theories.
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25Jun

Covid in the Consulting Room: How My Therapy Practice Has Changed

Sue Cowan-Jenssen

coronavirus, therapists

Therapists

Therapist Sue Cowan-Jenssen reflects on how Covid-19 has changed her therapy practice, both in terms of moving online, and in terms of her work with clients
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30Oct

Unicorn: The Memoir of a Muslim Drag Queen Review

Sue Cowan-Jenssen

books, LGBT, sexuality, society

Therapists

Unicorn by Amrou Al-Kadhi is a memoir charting the author's experience from god-fearing Muslim boy, to a vocal, queer drag queen estranged from their family
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08Apr

How Brexit Affects Mental Health

Sue Cowan-Jenssen

Brexit, politics, society

Therapists

Therapists are busier than ever, with Brexit stress bringing in new clients struggling with uncertainty and anxiety, says therapist Sue Cowan-Jenssen
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20Feb

Meghan Markle and the Psychology of Media Backlash

Sue Cowan-Jenssen

psychology, society

Therapists

The media have turned against Meghan Markle: why? Sue Cowan-Jenssen explores the psychology of media backlash
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31Jan

Tribalism in Politics and Therapy

Sue Cowan-Jenssen

anger, politics, society, therapy

Therapists

Humans have a strong need for identity and belonging, but this invariably creates the idea of 'outsiders'. Sue Cowan-Jenssen explores tribalism in politics and therapy
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24Oct

Why Dishonesty in Politics Affects Us On a Personal Level

Sue Cowan-Jenssen

politics, society, trust

Therapists

Dishonesty and lying in the wider social and political realm is harmful for the same reasons as it is in the personal realm, posts therapist Sue Cowan-Jenssen
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17Jan

How We Lose Trust in Politics and Politicians

Sue Cowan-Jenssen

identity, politics, society

Therapists

People need to feel they are significant or they lose trust in those who govern them. Therapist Sue Cowan-Jenssen posts on mental health effects of disillusionment in society
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19Jun

Grenfell Tower: How Government Should Respond, How Therapists Can Help

Sue Cowan-Jenssen

empathy, PTSD, therapy

Therapists

The official response to the horrendous fire in North Kensington's Grenfell Tower has shocked many. Could therapists offering free appointments help those so badly affected?
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12Jun

Why Politicans Need to Be More Authentic

Sue Cowan-Jenssen

authenticity, emotions, politics, psychology, society

Therapists

Theresa May showed a lack of authenticity during her campaign, which was exacerbated by her response to the Grenfell Tower fire. How different would politics be if politicians were more willing to be honest about their feelings?
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30Mar

When Did Bullying Become Acceptable?

Sue Cowan-Jenssen

bullying, society, therapy

Therapists

We know that the consequences of bullying can be damaging so why is it so tolerated or even encouraged? Therapist Sue Cowan-Jenssen explores a toxic issue
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17Oct

When Reality Doesn't Meet Expectations

Sue Cowan-Jenssen

Brexit, change, identity, therapy

Therapists

Unexpected changes – such as the Brexit vote – can make us feel suddenly anxious about the lives we had anticipated living. Sue Cowan Jenssen explains how we can deal with this
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07Jul

Envy and Betrayal in post-Brexit Politics

Sue Cowan-Jenssen

Brexit, friendship, society

Therapists

What does Michael Gove's betrayal of Boris Johnson tells us about the toxic quality of envy? Sue Cowan-Jenssen examines the evidence
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22Apr

The Psychology of Social Media Malice

Sue Cowan-Jenssen

abuse, empathy, psychology, society

Therapists

Therapist Sue Cowan-Jenssen explores the psychology behind how social media cuts us off from feeling empathy and creates a harmful cycle of shame
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31Mar

When Your Mood Doesn't Match the Weather

Sue Cowan-Jenssen

depression, self, suicide, wellbeing

Therapists

For those with severe depression, the better weather in spring and summer doesn't necessarily mean a boost in mood; it can in fact make things worse
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22Dec

The Psychology of Gratitude

Sue Cowan-Jenssen

children, gratitude, parenting, psychology, therapy

Therapists

Therapist Sue Cowan-Jenssen explores the psychology of gratitude, and why true gratitude matters, especially at Christmas.
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16Nov

The Psychology of Uncertainty

Sue Cowan-Jenssen

anxiety, psychology, self, society

Therapists

The attacks that left 129 people dead in Paris in the past few days have left many of us unsettled and worried about our own personal safety. Therapist Sue Cowan-Jenssen explains our responses.
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06Oct

Why Do we Feel Like Such Failures?

Sue Cowan-Jenssen

health, psychology, self, society, therapy

Therapists

Why do we blame ourselves for things outside of our control? Therapist Sue Cowan-Jenssen explains and suggests self-compassion as a cure to feeling like a failure
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22Sep

Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word

Sue Cowan-Jenssen

couple, divorce, emotions, empathy, family, father, love, mother, self, therapy

Therapists

Therapist Sue Cowan-Jenssen explores why saying sorry is so difficult and the positive power of a deeply felt apology.
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03Aug

The Psychology of Turning a Blind Eye

Sue Cowan-Jenssen

abuse, family, psychology, self, society

Therapists

Why do we turn a blind eye? Therapist Sue Cowan-Jenssen explores the psychology of ignoring things we know aren't right.
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14Jul

It's Time to Detach Shame from Depression

Sue Cowan-Jenssen

counselling, depression, self, society, therapy, wellbeing

Therapists

Therapist Sue Cowan-Jenssen questions why there is still so much toxic shame and stigma surrounding depression.
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06Jul

The Long Term Effects of Child Sex Abuse

Sue Cowan-Jenssen

abuse, anxiety, childhood, CSA, depression, therapy

Therapists

Therapist Sue Cowan-Jenssen explores the common long term effects of child sex abuse: how the majority of survivors sadly share feelings of shame and guilt.
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18Jun

The Psychology of Rachel Dolezal's Changing Identity

Sue Cowan-Jenssen

depression, identity, loneliness, psychology, self, society, therapy

Therapists

Therapist Sue Cowan-Jenssen looks at the psychological motivations which might spur someone like Rachel Dolezal, or anyone for that matter, to create a false identity.
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16Mar

Being an Adult Child of Divorce

Sue Cowan-Jenssen

counselling, divorce, family, loneliness, stress, therapy

Therapists

What's it like when your parents divorce when you yourself are grown up and out of the house?
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17Oct

Trolling: What Does it Say About Us?

Sue Cowan-Jenssen

society

Soul

Sue Cowan-Jenssen examines our tendency to hide behind trolling on the internet and how this behaviour can limit our own personal happiness and success.
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17Sep

Why Do Young British Men Become Jihadis?

Sue Cowan-Jenssen

psychology, society

Therapists

The reasons why any young person leaves their home, family and friends to go and fight in a foreign country will always be complex to unravel.  It does seem incomprehensible that someone who has been raised and educated in the UK with no history of violence would be willing to get involved in acts of unspeakable brutality and yet we are told that hundreds have made that choice. There are clearly powerful global forces in play and we need the input from political theory, theology, history, social science and of course psychology to make some sense of it.  Yet, as a...
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25Jun

Why is There So Much Anxiety?

Sue Cowan-Jenssen

anxiety, counselling, stress, therapy

Therapists

Modern life seems to feature more anxiety as people struggle with fear of exclusion, reports therapist Sue Cowan-Jenssen In my work as a therapist I have come to understand that, often, underlying our deepest anxieties are...
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13Mar

Enduring Heartache

Sue Cowan-Jenssen

couple, divorce, marriage

Therapists

Getting over heartbreak, whether divorce or a breakup, is difficult and must always take time says therapist Sue Cowan-Jenssen
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