First, hallucinations. Perhaps somebody is hearing voices, sensing a smell or seeing something that just isn’t there? Or even experiencing a taste of something that has been nowhere near their mouth?

Second, people with psychosis are often delusional. They may develop some form of alternative persona or possibly show growing grandiosity. It is quite common for sufferers to feel persecuted. In any case, there will be a noticeable loss of contact with reality. Profound psychoses may also lead to catatonia.

The earlier psychosis is treated the better. Medication, through antipsychotic drugs, is available. This, in conjunction with calming psychotherapy, can have profoundly positive effects. Hypnosis and mindfulness can be particularly effective.

Either way, conversations can become strained and people feel excluded, causing emotions such as resentment, jealousy, favouritism and isolation.

Relationship therapy can help you explore patterns of interaction between couples and groups, improving the way you relate to people around you. Therapy will help uncover other people’s incentives and perspectives. It will help break embedded patterns of existing – potentially negative – behaviour and open new paths of communication. Relationship therapy can be effective with even highly complex relationship issues.

Almost everybody feels vulnerable at times, we all have moments when our self-esteem fails us. This is common when children move schools or adults move jobs, when relationships crumble or when we simply fall short of our own expectations.

This is common when children move schools or adults move jobs, when relationships crumble or when we simply fall short of our own expectations. Usually, these are short-term feelings. But when they aren’t, therapy can help.

Low self-esteem may be associated with depression (see Depression on this site). Some people suffer from unstable self-esteem, marked by fluctuations in positive and negative self-regard. Others have fragile high esteem, which is vulnerable to external threats and needs frequent reassurance (we have all seen celebrities in constant need of reassurance).

Self-esteem can be measured and treated. A therapist will help explore your own areas of strength and vulnerability, helping you to value your attributes. Working together, you and your therapist will reframe your view of yourself, your position within your social circles and your evaluations of the people around you.

Therapy is often most effective in dealing with sexual issues. In a private and confidential session, and once a trusting client/therapist relationship has been established, it is possible to explore the most intimate and embarrassing topics.

Given that full-time work usually accounts for one-third of our waking hours each week, we have a lot of time to either enjoy our jobs or be unhappy in them.

There are lots of reasons that cause people to be unhappy at work. It might be managerial bullying, incompetence, a toxic environment, long hours, difficult relationships or feeling isolated. The list is long and its impact can be severe. Unhappy workers tend to sleep less well, have more relationship issues, be on higher doses of medication and suffer more heart attacks than their happy peers.

Therapy has a special place in a work context. Sometimes therapy helps you cope with situations you cannot control. Ideally, therapy helps clarify thoughts and empower you to change your situation. In either case, better working life could be the result.