Author: Dr Hannah Osborne, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and EMDR UK Accreditated practitioner providing therapy & EMDR in Berkhamsted, Tring & Hertfordshire
These are some of the questions I’m most often asked about being a psychologist — both in and out of the therapy room.
Even though therapy is talked about more openly now, there’s still a lot of uncertainty about what psychologists actually do (and sometimes what we don’t). So, here are some honest answers.
Author: Dr Hannah Osborne, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and EMDR UK Accreditated practitioner providing therapy & EMDR in Berkhamsted, Tring & Hertfordshire
Chronic fatigue is often misunderstood.
People may hear the term and think of tiredness — something that rest should fix. But for those living with chronic fatigue, the experience is very different.
It is not simply being tired. It is a complex, often debilitating condition that affects both body and mind.
As a Clinical Psychologist I often meet individuals who feel not only exhausted, but also unseen, misunderstood, dismissed and unsure how to move forward.
Read more: Chronic Fatigue: Understanding the Condition — and Why Psychology Still Matters
Author: Dr Hannah Osborne, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and EMDR UK Accredited practitioner providing therapy & EMDR in Berkhamsted, Tring & Hertfordshire
Anxiety is one of the most common reasons people seek therapy. Many people experience periods where worry, physical tension, or a sense of unease begin to take up more space in daily life. You might notice your mind racing with “what if” thoughts, your body feeling on edge, or moments where anxiety suddenly spikes.
If this sounds familiar, you are far from alone. Anxiety is a normal human response designed to keep us safe. However, when the system becomes overactive, it can start to interfere with work, relationships, sleep, and overall wellbeing.
Author: Dr Hannah Osborne, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and EMDR UK Accreditated practitioner providing therapy & EMDR in Berkhamsted, Tring & Hertfordshire
Many people experience thoughts like:
“I’m not good enough.”
“I’m a fraud.”
“People don’t really like me.”
“I should be coping better than this.”
These thoughts can feel uncomfortable, convincing, and sometimes deeply personal. When they show up repeatedly, it can be easy to assume they must say something meaningful or accurate about who we are.
However, one of the things people often discover in therapy is just how common these experiences are. Thoughts about not being good enough, not fitting in, or being judged by others are incredibly widespread. They show up across different ages, professions, and life stages.
In many ways, they are part of being human.
Read more: I'm not good enough: Understanding self critical thoughts and low self esteem
Author: Dr Hannah Osborne, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and EMDR UK Accreditated practitioner providing therapy & EMDR in Berkhamsted, Tring & Hertfordshire
If you’re searching for therapy in Berkhamsted, Tring or Hertfordshire, you may notice many different titles: therapist, coach, counsellor, psychotherapist, psychologist.
It can feel confusing.
Understanding the differences helps you make an informed decision about your care.
Read more: Why see a registered Clinical Psychologist? The difference between different titles
Author: Dr Hannah Osborne, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and EMDR UK Accreditated practitioner providing therapy & EMDR in Berkhamsted, Tring & Hertfordshire
GLP-1 medications have changed the conversation around weight.
Drugs such as Semaglutide (marketed as Wegovy and Ozempic) and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) work by mimicking hormones involved in appetite and satiety. For many people, they significantly reduce hunger, cravings and what is often described as “food noise.”
For some, this feels transformative.
But even with medical support, psychology still matters.
As a Clinical Psychologist providing therapy in Berkhamsted, Tring and across Hertfordshire, I often meet people who are losing weight — yet still feeling stuck emotionally.
Because weight is never just about appetite.
Read more: Beyond the Injections: Why Psychology Still Matters with GLP-1 Weight Loss Treatments
Author: Dr Hannah Osborne, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and EMDR UK Accreditated practitioner providing therapy & EMDR in Berkhamsted, Tring & Hertfordshire
If you’re considering EMDR therapy in Tring, Berkhamsted or Hertfordshire, it’s completely natural to wonder:
What actually happens in a session?
Will I have to talk about everything in detail?
How will I know if it’s working?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) can sound technical from the outside. But the lived experience of it is often much quieter — more gradual — than people expect.
This blog offers a gentle reflection on what EMDR can feel like, and how progress often unfolds.
Author: Dr Hannah Osborne, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and EMDR UK Accreditated practitioner providing therapy & EMDR in Berkhamsted, Tring & Hertfordshire
Chronic pain can be one of the most complex and distressing conditions to live with. Whether linked to injury, surgery, illness, fibromyalgia, arthritis, migraines, or persistent musculoskeletal pain, ongoing discomfort affects not only the body but also mood, sleep, identity and quality of life.
Many people living with long-term pain describe feeling caught in cycles of flare-ups, fear of movement, frustration, and exhaustion. Over time, pain can begin to shape daily decisions and narrow life in subtle but significant ways.
Alongside medical care and physiotherapy, psychological therapies are increasingly recognised as an important part of pain management. One approach gaining clinical attention is Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR).
For those seeking EMDR therapy in Hertfordshire, or specifically exploring EMDR for pain in Hertfordshire, it may be helpful to understand how this therapy works and what the research suggests.
Author: Dr Hannah Osborne, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and EMDR UK Accreditated practitioner providing therapy & EMDR in Berkhamsted, Tring & Hertfordshire
Living with autoimmune or chronic inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis (MS), or fibromyalgia presents ongoing physical challenges. Alongside pain, inflammation and fatigue, many individuals experience psychological distress — including anxiety, low mood, grief, and uncertainty about the future.
While medical treatment remains central to managing autoimmune disease, there is increasing recognition within healthcare that psychological interventions can play an important adjunctive role. One therapy that has gained growing clinical interest is Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR).
For those considering EMDR therapy in Hertfordshire, it may be helpful to understand how this evidence-based approach can support individuals living with chronic illness.
Author: Dr Hannah Osborne, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and EMDR UK Accreditated practitioner providing therapy & EMDR in Berkhamsted, Tring & Hertfordshire
As the year softens into winter, many of us notice a familiar tug: a tiredness that sits deeper than sleep, a sense of burnout that no amount of productivity can soothe, and a quiet longing to stop—just for a moment—and breathe.
In therapy rooms, especially with clients navigating trauma, busyness often becomes a shield. Movement equals safety. Stillness feels unfamiliar, even risky. Yet winter, in its ancient wisdom, offers a tender counterpoint: an invitation to rest, restore, and slowly return to ourselves.
I have been reading Wintering by Katherine May, a beautiful book about the seasons and rest. Thank you Katherine.
Today, I want to explore this seasonal shift.
Osborne Psychology provides EMDR, therapy and ADHD assessment in Tring and Berkhamsted, supporting individuals and families across Hertfordshire with compassionate, evidence-based psychological care.
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