Philippa Perry

Philippa Perry: Feeling guilty about going on holiday? Of course. But you should go anyway

There is more suffering and crisis on a burning planet than is possible for one person to process. It’s better for you, and everyone who needs you, to take a break sometimes, writes our cultural agony aunt

Environment

Philippa Perry: Prime ministers change, but the problems stay the same. Here's my advice for Andy Burnham

In families, as in politics, blame for dysfunction is often pinned on one individual. But the issue is usually a shared inability to process conflict, writes the Nerve’s cultural agony aunt

Philippa Perry

Philippa Perry: The spirit behind Peter Murrell’s spending spree isn’t greed

It’s normal for avaricious people to want a pen, a car, a watch, writes the Nerve’s cultural agony aunt. But what does it mean when, like Nicola Sturgeon’s husband, you buy the same status symbol over and over again?

Philippa Perry

Philippa Perry: Sleep makes the world safer. That’s why it’s so alarming that Trump is up all night

I know what it’s like to make confused and impulsive judgments in the small hours. But I’m not the one threatening a nation before breakfast, writes the Nerve’s psychotherapist and agony aunt

Philippa Perry

Philippa Perry: How to cope with news of war in our social media age

Our suffering is nothing compared to those experiencing war, but our brains still process news of trauma as a threat. With a 24/7 media, it’s important to manage our attention and emotions for the long haul advises the Nerve's psychotherapist and agony aunt

Philippa Perry

Philippa Perry: Valentine's cards used to be anonymous and optional – now they’re a public audit of devotion

This so-called day of celebration of romance needs shrinking back to what it once was – or be ignored. Love will continue perfectly well without it

Philippa Perry

Philippa Perry: New Year, Old You - it's time to ditch those resolutions

It’s the end of December when, once again, thoughts turn to self-improvement - to be thinner, faster, more productive. But why are we always so ready to believe that we’re not good enough?

Philippa Perry

Philippa Perry: My 10 rules for a happier Christmas

Dreading the post-turkey singalong? Haunted by spirits of the past? It’s time to step back and think about how your rituals could become truly festive again, says the Nerve's cultural agony aunt

Culture

Dear frustrated climate activists: perhaps there's a better way of protesting?

Nerve ‘cultural agony aunt’ Philippa Perry digs into the issue of fruitless protest using lessons learnt in couples counselling training. It's all about accentuating the positive...

Philippa Perry

Americans, welcome to Britain and your strange new world

In the first of her monthly columns, our ‘cultural agony aunt’, psychotherapist and author Philippa Perry, on the challenges facing the growing numbers of US citizens moving to the UK

Philippa Perry