Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a form of behavioural therapy which helps us deal with some of the harsh realities of life so that we can live it in a rich and fulfilling way. It’s particularly useful for those who are struggling with situations which may not change such as long term health conditions […]
- Depression
- ...
Bereavement, Grief, Mourning and Loss
So I went on a training day about bereavement and loss, because many of the people I treat have experienced one of these, and for some of them it is this loss which stops them from moving forward. I felt I needed the training because I haven’t gone through that much loss myself and I […]
- CBT
- ...
Asking Powerful Questions
Asking the right thing, at the right time, and listening to that answer is one of the most important skills any of us can ever learn. But it’s an art, not a science so here I’ve tried to look at how we can ask better questions which will in turn help therapists (and anyone trying […]
- Anxiety
- ...
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder – what is it and how to treat it
What is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)? PTSD is when, following a traumatic incident, individuals experience distressing symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares and intrusive thoughts about the incident. This can mean that they re-experience the event, they might avoid any memories of the event or even small triggers which bring on memories of the event […]
- CBT
- ...
Why Depression Happens
In this article I’d like to explain a way of looking at and understanding depression which has just been published and which I feel pulls together a lot of what we know about depression from the fields of genetics, neurochemistry, neuroscience, behavioural psychology and social psychology. I think that, if you can understand where depression […]
Reflections on a case study treating an older adult with anxiety
Here I put forward a case report describing the assessment and treatment of April (pseudonym). April is an 80-year old, retired female, living alone with multiple physical health co-morbidities, referred by her doctor for symptoms of anxiety. DSM-V (2013) suggests a provisional diagnosis of Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is appropriate if the client has experienced […]
The best Cognitive Behavioural Therapy apps / CBT apps
There’s lots of evidence that Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is effective at treating anxiety, depression, phobias, hypochondria, PTSD and eating disorders. Trouble is…whilst it’s free on the NHS, the waiting lists are huge; where I work, clients have to wait up to 6 months for treatment in some cases! Of course you can pay, but […]
How to Relax – Progressive Muscular Relaxation
People with anxiety difficulties are often so tense throughout the day that they don’t even recognize what being relaxed feels like. Progressive Muscle Relaxation is a scientifically proven way to help you relax and to teach your body how to recognise the signs of stress, tension and anxiety. Do it regularly (try once a […]
I’m in the press!
So the Mail On Sunday were kind enough to feature some of my psychology research in their paper! They haven’t reported the findings in detail (well, they are a tabloid) but it’s nice to be recognised. The study looked at whether there was a link between the number of affectionate text messages sent to you […]
Sleep tips
So many of us can have difficulty sleeping. But how do I help myself fall asleep? What can I do to stop myself waking up in the night? What can I do to avoid disrupted sleep? Here are some tips that are widely recognised as the best ‘sleep hygiene tips’ by doctors, psychologists and therapists, […]