Have you ever felt left out, overlooked or wondered why you don't quite fit in?

Have you ever discovered that friends have made plans without you and found yourself wondering why you weren't included? Have you experienced the loneliness of being surrounded by people but feeling that nobody really sees or understands you? Or found yourself changing how you behave, what you say or even what you believe because you want to feel accepted?

Belonging is one of our most fundamental human needs, yet the experience of not belonging can affect us far more deeply than we might realise. It can influence our confidence, our relationships, the way we see ourselves and the decisions we make about who we spend time with.

Why do adults form cliques? Why does being excluded hurt so much? Why do friendships change as we get older? Why do we compare ourselves to others, tolerate relationships that leave us feeling invisible or find it difficult to say no because we're afraid of rejection?

These are some of the questions we'll explore in The Psychology of Belonging, a free four-week educational and reflective series developed by Maura Carey, Psychotherapist, Clinical Supervisor, Educator and Doctoral Researcher at Cherry Blossom Therapy.

The series begins Monday, 2nd November 2026, and runs until Sunday, 29th November 2026.

Subscribers will receive three psychologically informed articles each week, delivered directly to their inbox every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, followed by a guided personal reflection every Sunday.

Across the four weeks, we'll explore the psychology of exclusion, social groups, adult friendships, loneliness, people-pleasing, authenticity, boundaries and self-acceptance. The articles will draw on psychological research while using everyday experiences that many of us will recognise within our friendships, families, workplaces and communities.

This is an opportunity to understand why certain experiences affect us, reflect on the relationships in our lives and consider what genuine belonging means to us.

The series is entirely free, private and self-directed. There are no group meetings, no discussions and no expectation to share personal experiences. Participants can read and reflect privately, in their own time.

Four weeks. Twelve educational articles. Four guided reflections. A deeper understanding of belonging.

Registration closes Friday, 30th October 2026.

Places are not limited, but registration will close before the series begins so that everyone can start together and receive the full four-week programme.

Register free for The Psychology of Belonging