We all have them, to some extent - parts of us, deeper down, cloaked with our version of the belief that... "I am not lovable".

These parts, like bruised reeds, are bent and burdened by wounds of rejection, neglect, violence, trauma, received during times when there wasn't sufficient love and support that we needed.

To deal with the emotional pain of these wounds, other parts of us try to distance it from ourselves and others, in various ways.

When the pain inevitably leaks through, parts with more extreme strategies take over - rage, addictions, self-harm... All our parts are just trying to help us deal with emotional pain in the ways they know how.

There is hope. Our wounded parts can be healed, thereby releasing other parts from their controlling and destructive roles - no longer needed to deal with the emotional pain.

My background is in scientific research and am excited by the rapidly developing knowledge of the human mind, brought to us by advancements in research methods. I continually strive to integrate this deepening knowledge, and evolving counselling methods, with my Christian faith.