Psychology, mental health and resources to help you understand what you are experiencing
Articles written by the health psychologists at Ocnos Psychology Clinic about anxiety, mood, relationships, sexuality, affirmative therapy, psychological assessment and neuropsychology.
Clear and responsible information to help you put your experiences into words and consider when professional support may be useful.
Latest articles from the Ocnos psychology blog
Discover the latest publications from our team. Use the pagination after the ninth article to browse earlier posts.
When to Seek Sex Therapy: Signs, Common Questions and How It Can Help
Sex therapy can be helpful when difficulties with desire, anxiety, pain, intimacy or communication begin to affect wellbeing. This article explains when to seek help, which signs matter, and how therapy can support individuals and couples.
How to Check if a Psychologist Is Registered Before Starting Therapy
Before starting therapy, it is important to make sure the psychologist you choose is properly registered. In this guide, we explain what professional registration means, why it matters, and how you can verify a psychologist’s registration easily before beginning therapy.
Couples Therapy: How to Improve Communication and Break the Cycle of Conflict
Couples therapy can help partners understand why the same conflicts keep repeating and how communication patterns affect their relationship. In this article we explain how couples therapy works, which relationship difficulties are most common in therapy, and what psychological strategies can help improve communication and rebuild connection.
Psychological Trauma: How It’s Assessed and Treated in Therapy
Psychological trauma is not only about what happened, but about the impact it left behind. It can affect the nervous system, emotions, relationships and sense of self, sometimes long after the original experience has passed. In this article, Rocío Rodríguez Boza, Registered Health Psychologist (COPAO AN 13748), explains what psychological trauma is, how it develops, common symptoms, and how trauma therapy works from an integrative, evidence-based perspective. You will also learn what to expect in the first sessions and when it may be time to seek support. If you live in Campo de Gibraltar or prefer online therapy, this guide offers a clear and compassionate understanding of trauma and recovery.
What is the most severe type of depression? Severe, psychotic and high-risk depression explained
There is no single diagnosis called “the worst depression”. A severe depressive episode sits at the severe end of standard depression classifications, while psychotic symptoms, immediate suicide risk, profound self-neglect or inability to eat and drink can make a presentation especially urgent. This guide explains how clinicians judge severity, what different labels mean and how severe depression is treated.
Dyslexia in Campo de Gibraltar: what it is, diagnosis and treatment
Dyslexia is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects reading and writing, but not intelligence. In this article, we explain how to recognise the signs at different ages, its emotional impact, how it is assessed, and what evaluation and intervention options are available in Campo de Gibraltar for children, adolescents and adults.
IFS Therapy (Internal Family Systems): Understanding Inner Conflict and Finding Calm
The aim of IFS is not to eliminate parts, but to listen to them, understand them and integrate them, so they stop fighting and can collaborate more harmoniously. This integration happens around what the model calls the “Self”: your core capacity to be calm, curious, compassionate and connected when the internal noise drops.
In simple terms: IFS helps you stop feeling as if you’re being pulled around by inner voices — and helps you recover a steadier internal place from which to relate to yourself and what you’re going through.
Eating Behaviour and Functional Analysis: Why the Problem Isn’t “Lack of Willpower”
Picture a scene that may feel painfully familiar. It is late, the day has been long, and you have been chaining tasks together: work, responsibilities, dozens of small and big decisions. At last the house is quiet. You sit down. For the first time in hours, you are not responding to anyone.
And then a thought shows up: “I could eat something.” It is not quite physical hunger. It is more that, just by imagining food, something inside loosens. As if eating marked the end of the day — permission to stop holding everything up.
How to support an adult child with depression: what helps, what harms and when to seek professional help
Supporting an adult son or daughter with depression can feel frightening and confusing. This guide explains what parents can realistically do, what usually makes things worse, how to respect autonomy without stepping back completely and when urgent or professional help is needed.
Find articles about what is concerning you
Go directly to the main areas of the blog if you are looking for information about a particular difficulty, symptom or psychological process.
Anxiety and stress
Worry, fear, repetitive thoughts, physical tension, emotional blockage and avoidance.
Read articles about anxietyDepression and mood
Sadness, apathy, emotional exhaustion, guilt, emptiness and loss of interest.
Read articles about depressionRelationships, couples and attachment
Communication, conflict, emotional dependence, break-ups and ways of relating.
Read articles about relationshipsSexuality and sexual wellbeing
Desire, sexual anxiety, sexual difficulties, intimacy and communication between partners.
Read articles about sexualityAffirmative therapy
Identity, emotional safety, family relationships, minority stress and LGBTQ+ support.
Read about affirmative therapyPsychological assessment
Tests, reports, clinical guidance, learning difficulties and high abilities.
Read about psychological assessmentNeuropsychology
Attention, memory, behaviour, learning, neurodevelopment and executive functions.
Read neuropsychology articlesOcnos news
Talks, activities, collaborations and the clinic’s involvement in the community.
Read Ocnos newsPsychological information written with clinical care and warmth
The Ocnos blog is designed to help you understand psychological experiences without relying on rushed diagnoses, alarmist messages or oversimplified explanations.
Our articles can provide guidance, but they do not replace an individual assessment when distress persists, interferes with daily life or causes concern.
Meet the professionals who write the Ocnos blog
Each professional brings their clinical experience, training and perspective to the psychological topics covered in the blog.
Héctor Lozano Jiménez
Writes about anxiety, stress, adolescence, life changes, high abilities and taking the first steps towards therapy.
Rocío Rodríguez Boza
Writes about emotional regulation, relationships, attachment, affirmative therapy, childhood, adolescence and family life.
María de los Ángeles Sanz Ruiz
Writes about behaviour, personal history, relationships, emotional regulation, neuropsychology and life context.
Not sure where to start?
If one of our articles reflects what you are going through, you can briefly tell us what is concerning you. We will help you consider what type of support may be suitable and which member of the team may be the best fit.
Frequently asked questions about the Ocnos blog
These are some common questions about our articles and the responsible use of psychological information.
Who writes the Ocnos Psychology Clinic blog?
The blog is written by the team of psychologists at Ocnos Psychology Clinic. The articles are intended to provide responsible psychological information, clinical guidance and accessible explanations.
Do the articles replace psychological therapy?
No. They may help you understand a difficulty, put your experiences into words or recognise when to seek help, but they do not replace an individual psychological assessment or a course of therapy.
Can I book an appointment if I identify with an article?
Yes. If an article describes something that is affecting or concerning you, you can book an appointment or contact us for initial guidance. We can help you consider which professional may be the best fit.
What topics does the Ocnos psychology blog cover?
The blog includes articles about anxiety, depression, stress, relationships, attachment, couples therapy, sexuality, affirmative therapy, neuropsychology, psychological assessment, childhood, adolescence and mental health.
Can I search for a particular topic within the blog?
Yes. At the end of this page, you will find a search box that allows you to locate publications using terms such as anxiety, relationships, depression, neuropsychology, sexuality or emotional regulation.
Are you looking for a particular topic?
Enter a word or phrase to find articles related to the difficulty or topic that interests you.