Psychological Therapies
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Mindfulness Based Therapy (MBT)
Mindfulness based therapy aim to get past our tendency to be so busy that we are not really aware or present in the here and now of our everyday lives. It helps to reconnect us with ourselves and has been found to lower depression, stress and anxiety levels. It can help us to become more aware of ourselves both mentally and physically. It is a way of noticing what is happening right now in our present and in so doing it can help us reduce negative habits of thinking and behaviour which have become automatic. It includes use of meditation and meditational movement. It is often used in conjunction with other more structured therapies and can be helpful for pain and addictions. The Mental Health Foundation (www.mentalhealth.org.uk) reports that Mindfulness based stress reduction can improve sleep, reduce anxiety and doctor visits and that the results are found to continue to last after treatment has stopped.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapyuses a combination of behavioural and mindfulness techniques to help the client work on acceptance of thoughts and feelings as opposed to the more traditional Cognitive Therapy approach of challenging the thoughts and attempting to change them. ACT looks at a mindful acceptance of our internal experiences as they are while looking for a new route forward in life through changes in actions. The main area of interest is in understanding the function of thoughts and actions. The therapy will help to explore how the current pattern of thoughts and reactions is working for or against the client in their life. Value assessments are used to look at the areas of commitment and importance and these are tested out to help recognise what can and cannot be changed. Mindful examination is used to look at where the client’s energy is currently expended and where it may be put to use more productively.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is usually quite a short term therapy which helps the client look at their patterns of thinking and behaviour. It has a problem solving orientation and is centred on finding a solution in the present as opposed to looking back into childhood. It involves a structured approach with homework assignments between sessions to help the client reach a specific goal. CBT is commonly used to treat a wide range of disorders including but not limited to depression, anxiety, stress, pain management and post-traumatic stress disorder.
It requires the patient’s commitment to the therapy process can only be successful if the patient actively takes part during the sessions and also works on their problems between sessions. This can be challenging but best outcomes will occur with effort.
Schema Therapy (ST)
Schema Therapy is a longer term therapy usually at least 12 months but more frequently between 2 and 3 years. It is most commonly used with chronic psychological issues. It works on the premise that there are childhood origins to the psychological problems and uses an integrative approach to therapy by combining aspects of cognitive, behavioural, psychodynamic, attachment and Gestalt models. As with CBT cognitions and behaviours are considered to be important but the use of experiential techniques such as visualisation, monitoring of emotional change and the therapy relationship itself are all central aspects of the treatment. Although long term in approach, the research evidence finds it to be both clinically and cost effective in term of health costs. This results from findings that a significant proportion of clients are able to reach a point of recovery which with such entrenched psychological issues was not possible with other available therapies. (see research section Giesen-Bloo et al., 2006; Masley et al., 2012).
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence based psychotherapy that enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences including but not limited to PTSD (Post -traumatic stress disorder) As recommended by the NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence ) guidelines EMDR sessions for trauma are provided as double length sessions to allow adequate time for processing. Repeated studies show that by using EMDR therapy people can experience the benefits of psychotherapy that once took years to make a difference.
It is widely assumed that severe emotional pain requires a long time to heal. EMDR therapy shows that the mind can in fact heal from psychological trauma much as the body recovers from physical trauma. When you cut your hand, your body works to close the wound. If a foreign object or repeated injury irritates the wound, it festers and causes pain. Once the block is removed, healing resumes. EMDR therapy demonstrates that a similar sequence of events occurs with mental processes. The brain’s information processing system naturally moves toward mental health. If the system is blocked or imbalanced by the impact of a disturbing event, the emotional wound festers and can cause intense suffering. Once the block is removed, healing resumes. Using the detailed protocols and procedures learned in EMDR therapy training sessions, clinicians help clients activate their natural healing processes.
There has been so much research on EMDR therapy that it is now recognized as an effective form of treatment for trauma and other disturbing experiences by organizations such as the American Psychiatric Association, the World Health Organization and the Department of Defense. Given the worldwide recognition as an effective treatment of trauma, you can easily see how EMDR therapy would be effective in treating the “everyday” memories that are the reason people have low self-esteem, feelings of powerlessness, and all the myriad problems that bring them in for therapy. Over 100,000 clinicians throughout the world use the therapy. Millions of people have been treated successfully over the past 25 years. (Information from NICE and the EMDR Institute)
Psychotherapy
Most people think of psychotherapy as talking therapy. Clinical Psychologists are trained in a variety of talking therapies which are used based on research evidence that they are effective treatments. All psychological approaches provided by our team are evidence based and will provide skills which can be used over a lifetime.
Counselling
Having someone to listen without judgement is a powerful experience as we explore the challenges which life throws at us. Counselling provides that open and accepting listening environment. It is not a therapy as it does not teach psychological approaches to deal with problems but does provide a useful space to explore any issues out with the immediate environment of those who know us.
Behaviour Change
Sometimes we know that we have a behaviour which is holding us back in some way. This can be anything from eating or drinking more than is good for our body to avoiding confrontation at all costs. Whatever the behaviour it may be causing you to miss opportunities for yourself or to argue with a loved one who cares but feels unable to help.
Research shows that finding the motivation to change and sticking with it is much more successful when you have support. If you feel you have something you would like to explore please contact us to see how we can help.
Motivational Based Therapy (a.k.a. Motivational Interviewing)
Motivational Based Therapy is most commonly used with issues of substance misuse although it has many useful applications with other psychological disorders. It centres around the use of non-confrontational, collaborative goal setting with the client by accessing their key areas of motivation. These areas of client motivation then form the basis of any behaviour change. There is recognition that people may perceive themselves to be at different stages in their readiness to make change depending on their situation and internal drivers.
Life Coaching
For the times in life when you feel you deserve more but you are just not quite sure where to begin in achieving the necessary changes Life Coaching can help. You do not need to have a mental health problem to make good use of a trained therapist who has extensive experience in helping people find their best self. We can help you explore what you really want out of life and to channel your abilities without best outcomes moving forward.
When you feel there is simply more to life than what your life currently contains it is often time to rethink how you are approaching things. You deserve to get the most out of your life situation and often those around you are so used to you being the way you are they find it difficult to help you make changes. Talk to us and see how we can help you achieve your dreams.
