Working Together with Talk Therapy
I am trained in and work with various styles of Talk Therapy. Mainly Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, MBCT (Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy) and NLP (NeuroLinguistic Programming) in addition to being a trained Counsellor.
My reasons for using various methods is simply because we are all different. We are all individuals with our own personal situations, problems, circumstances, up bringings and life experiences, so I believe that no singular method of Psychotherapy can work for everyone and I offer a more tailor-made service that will be perfectly and effectively suited to you, as the unique person you are. Therapy is definitely not a 'One Size Fits All' and by using a multi-modal approach, you can guarantee the very best results for you.
It is essential to keep in mind that therapy is not a magic pill or a quick fix: therapy is a healing process that necessitates participation and investment from the patient and caretaker alike.
But in the end, making small changes to self-defeating behavior and coping with feelings of sadness, fear, and pain can bring life-altering results.
Please read below if you would like more information on the individual styles of therapy I work with
CBT - Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is a form of psychotherapy that emphasises the important role of ‘thinking’ in how we feel and how that affects what we do.
Focusing on how you think about the things going on in your life (your thoughts, images, beliefs and attitudes, your past experiences and how these things relate to your current problems) our work then looks at ways you can change negative patterns of thinking or behaviour and process them in a more constructive way.
Your thoughts, feelings, physical sensations and actions are interconnected, often trapping you in a negative spiral. CBT helps you stop these negative cycles, breaking down factors that are making you feel depressed or anxious so that they become more manageable. It shows you how to change these negative patterns to improve the way you think and feel.
During our 60 minute therapy sessions, we work together toward finding strategies that will achieve your specific goals. I will help you learn to observe your thoughts and beliefs and then to identify and understand their link to your thoughts, feelings and behaviour.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is widely used within the NHS and the private sector. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends CBT for the treatment of depression and anxiety
NLP - Neuro Linguistic Programming
What is NLP?
NLP is the practice of understanding how people organise their thinking, feeling, language and behaviour to produce the results they do. NLP provides people with a methodology to model outstanding performances achieved by geniuses and leaders in their field. NLP is also used for personal development and for success in business
A key element of NLP is that we form our unique internal mental maps of the world as a product of the way we filter and perceive information absorbed through our five senses from the world around us.
Neuro
Each individual has established their own unique mental filtering system for processing the millions of bits of data being absorbed through the senses. Our first mental map of the world is constituted of internal images, sounds, tactile awareness, internal sensations, tastes and smells that form as result of the neurological filtering process. The first mental map is called ‘First Access’ in NLP.
Linguistic
We then assign personal meaning to the information being received from the world outside. We form our second mental map by assigning language to the internal images, sounds and feelings, tastes and smells, thus forming everyday conscious awareness. The second mental map is called the Linguistic Map (sometimes known as Linguistic Representation)
Programming
The behavioural response that occurs as a result of neurological filtering processes and the subsequent linguistic map.
“Out of your vulnerabilities will come your strength”
Sigmund Freud
MBCT - Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is a type of psychotherapy that involves a combination of cognitive therapy, meditation, and the cultivation of a present-oriented, non-judgmental attitude called "mindfulness"
Building upon the principles of cognitive therapy by using techniques such as mindfulness meditation to teach people to consciously pay attention to their thoughts and feelings without placing any judgments upon them.
There are a number of mindfulness techniques and exercises that are utilized as a part of MBCT. Some of these include:
Meditation: People may practice guided or self-directed meditation that helps them gain a greater awareness of their body, thoughts, and breathing.
Body scan exercise: This involves lying down and bringing awareness and attention to different areas of the body. People usually begin at their toes and move up through the body until they reach the top of the head.
Mindfulness practices: Mindfulness involves become more aware of the present moment. It's something that can be practiced during meditation, but people can also incorporate these activities into the things they do every day.
Mindfulness stretching: This activity involves stretching mindfully to help bring awareness to both the body and mind.
Yoga: MBCT may also encourage people to practice different yoga poses that can help facilitate mindful stretching of the body.
