Hilda Burke

The statement that a dog is man’s best friend was allegedly first made by Frederick II, King of Prussia, who referred to one of his Italian greyhounds as his best friend. The term was likely popularised by its use in a poem by Ogden Nash. It has since become a colloquialism in reference to domestic dogs, highlighting their close relations, loyalty, and companionship with humans.

But putting our dogs to one side for a moment, it doesn’t matter how many good friends and family members we have around us, it can often really help to speak to a professional who is ‘neutral’. While our loved ones usually want the best for us they often do have their own agendas.

In addition, many of us carry secrets that we don’t feel comfortable sharing with those around us. This may be because we fear their reaction to discovering certain things about us that we’d rather keep hidden. In this case it can really help to speak to someone confidentially.