Short, gentle pages about difficult feelings

About these pages

Sometimes a feeling is so big it is hard to see past it, like being lost among trees. These pages are small clearings: quiet places to stop, look around, and understand what is happening inside you.

Each page takes one idea from psychology or psychiatry and explains it in plain words, often with something to try, tap or tick as you go.

Who writes them

I’m Dr Saal Seneviratne, a Consultant Psychiatrist registered with the General Medical Council (GMC No. 3194625). I have worked in psychiatry for over 30 years and am an accredited EMDR practitioner. I lead The Burlington Clinic at 10 Harley Street, London, where I see adults with treatment-resistant depression, trauma, anxiety and OCD.

I write these pages because the ideas that help people most in the consulting room are often locked away in dense books and journals. They deserve to be shared more widely, and more kindly.

Dr Saal Seneviratne

Why some pages are written for a 10-year-old or a 16-year-old

Many pages come in versions for about age 10 and about age 16. They aren’t only for children. When something painful happens, part of us carries on growing up and part of us can stay close to the age we were. Those younger parts often hear simple, warm words best. Choose whichever version feels right on the day. There’s no wrong choice.

How the pages are made

  • Grounded in evidence. Where a page makes a claim, it says where the idea comes from, and many pages list their sources. Some pages explain ideas from psychoanalysis that are better seen as useful ways of thinking than as proven facts, and the pages say so.
  • Reviewed. Each page shows when it was last reviewed.
  • Private. Nothing you tick, type or click on these pages is sent anywhere. It stays on your own device.
  • Free. There are no adverts and nothing to sign up for.

What these pages are not

They are here to help you understand, not to diagnose or treat. They don’t replace care from a doctor, therapist or other professional.

If you are in danger right now, call 999. In the UK you can also call Samaritans any time, free, on 116 123, or text SHOUT to 85258. Children and young people can call Childline free on 0800 1111.

The Burlington Clinic

A Clearing in the Forest is connected with The Burlington Clinic, a specialist psychiatry practice at 10 Harley Street, London. The pages are free for anyone to use, and you don’t need to be a patient.

These pages are here to help you understand, not to replace care from a doctor, therapist or other professional.

If you are in danger right now, call 999. In the UK you can talk to Samaritans any time, free, on 116 123.

A Clearing in the Forest is connected with The Burlington Clinic, a specialist psychiatry practice at 10 Harley Street, London, led by Dr Saal Seneviratne.