Emotional Neglect (CEN) Therapy

Across the UK & Europe

You might not even realise it’s emotional neglect

Many of my clients grew up with the idea that ‘nothing really bad happened’ or' ‘sure bad things happened, but plenty of people had it worse’. Trauma isn’t always that obvious (especially since it’s not really talked about). Families like these often really struggle with feelings. So if you have feelings the don’t know what to do with, you’re ignored or dismissed and you learn to shut these feeling off.

You feel:

• Empty, disconnected, or numb

• Unsure of what you even feel

• Like you need ‘too much’ from people

• Lonely, even when surrounded by people

• Like something is missing but you’re not sure what that something is

• Like you don’t belong

It’s confusing for people since they can’t point to anything significant. What leads people to emotional neglect is the idea that something inside you has always felt wrong. This can be down to emotional neglect, sometimes called childhood emotional neglect (CEN).

Symptoms of Emotional Neglect

• Not knowing what you’re feeling or feeling nothing

• Feeling bad about yourself

• Overwhelming feeling of guilt or shame

• Difficulty trusting people or knowing that you keep people at a distance

• Anxious or avoidant attachment in relationships

• People pleasing because you don’t want anyone to get angry with you

• Not knowing what you really want in your life

Although people often think of these as ‘personality traits’ many of these behaviours are learned and can therefore be unlearned and replaces with more helpful behaviours.

For more about Childhood Emotional Neglect, see my post here.

How therapy helps

We can’t change what happened to you but I can:

• Help you accept all your emotions

• Learn how to identify your emotions so you can explain them to others

• Set reasonable expectations of yourself and others

• Give you somewhere to practice being yourself

It’s not too late to change. People often tell me that they’re worried it’s too late, but with work you can make changes in your 40’s, 50’s, 60’s and beyond.

Work with me

I’m Sarah, a psychotherapist specialising in childhood trauma, emotional neglect, and CPTSD.

I work online with adults across the UK and Europe.

Sessions are £120 for 50 minutes. Most clients start with weekly therapy to make consistent progress. Twice per month could also work depending on your requirements.