Happiness can feel like a destination, a prize to win. But is happiness a goal to reach or a lifelong companion? I suggest answering this question, requires looking beyond simple definitions, , exploring its cultural meanings, and psychological underpinnings. As such, this blog unpacks happiness and suggests additional relationships we could have with this emotion.

This blog describes a developmental journey. One of living with frustration. Accumulating the coping strategies of masochism, sadism, sexual fantasy, voyeurism and mutual relationships. Inspired by psychoanalytic thinkers (Phillips, 2013, Benjamin, 2017 & Erikson 2022.) A developmental journey that begins in our infant experience.

Erotic idealisations are inevitable in therapeutic practice. Erotic idealisations can be both helpful and unhelpful. Good enough psychological therapy involves these sorts of interactions. The professional boundaries of psychological therapy encourage these sort of interactions.