The OPENFORWARDS Self-Help Hub
Free Resources to help you reduce anxiety, create calm and improve communication
Personalised Private Therapy to help you feel calmer, stronger and more capable in the face of life’s challenges
Free Resources to help you reduce anxiety, create calm and improve communication
When I started my business, I visited an exhibition in London that was aimed at helping people in my profession succeed. Before a marketing workshop, I necked one of the strongest coffees ever brewed. Unfortunately, 15 minutes later, I started to get a little twitchy. Picture the scene. This was an oversubscribed event, and there weren’t …

Do you feel like you have a short fuse—snapping in conversations, boiling in traffic, or going from “fine” to “not fine” in seconds? Anger is a natural emotion. It shows up when something matters: respect, fairness, safety, being heard. The problem isn’t anger itself. The problem is when anger becomes the only gear you have—when …

How to Talk to Your Family About Starting Therapy Starting therapy is a bold and caring step. It takes courage to face what’s painful and to choose a path that looks after your wellbeing. But sometimes, the hardest part isn’t booking the first session — it’s telling your family. You might worry they’ll misunderstand, make …

Understanding what works — and what really makes the difference. Feeling stuck with OCD? You’re not alone. If you’re living with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), you’ve probably tried hard to stop your thoughts or control your anxiety — and found that it only makes things worse. You might be wondering what the best evidence-based treatments for …

Therapy is often portrayed as a reliable and helpful approach. However, as many clients are aware, it’s not always that simple. In this article, I aim to give you the whole truth and nothing but the truth about why therapy doesn’t always work: naming the limitations (on both sides), acknowledging the risks, and opening a …

Starting therapy for anxiety is a bit like signing up to the gym in January. You want results quickly, but after a few weeks you may wonder: “Is this even working?” If you feel stuck or discouraged, you’re not alone. Many people ask, “Why isn’t therapy helping my anxiety?” The truth is, therapy can work, …

The Top 10 Therapy Practices in Birmingham (And Why We Think Openforwards Belongs On That List) If you’re looking for therapy in Birmingham, you’re not short of options. The city is home to dozens of highly qualified and experienced therapists, each offering a range of approaches, including CBT, ACT, EMDR, and psychodynamic therapy. But with …
When I was in my teens, I used to get a heavy, bloated sensation in my stomach. It often happened when I was on a bus or train, usually around other people. It was uncomfortable, and I’d go quiet as I fixated on it. In my head, I was trying to work out why it …

Want to understand the differences between Counselling and CBT? Looking to choose, but not sure which is best for you? Read our article to help you decide.

Effective OCD Treatment to Break the OCD Cycle From years of helping OCD sufferers, I know how overwhelming and isolating OCD can feel. The constant, intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviours can make you feel like a prisoner in your own mind. I’ve gotta say, feeling like you’re all alone in this is common, but trust …
