Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is one of the most widely accepted therapies, and for good reason. It can deliver highly effective results, relatively quickly and is backed up by a mountain of evidence. The theory of CBT is based on the three way interrelationship between cognitions (thoughts and beliefs), feelings and behaviours, often referred to as the ‘cognitive triangle’. It centres on the idea that it is not life’s events themselves that cause us problems, but rather the way in which we interpret them. In other words, the way in which we think about the world impacts our behaviour – and ultimately how we feel.

Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy (CBH) combines Clinical Hypnotherapy with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and seamlessly integrates the social, cognitive and behavioural psychology and psychotherapy with a modern approach to hypnosis. In combination, changes are generally quicker and more powerful.

Hypnosis draws on the power of your own mind and imagination in helping you find the solutions to your issues. You probably already know how powerful your mind is - we can invent, create, experience and destroy things with thoughts alone.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT - pronounced as the word ‘act’) is an evidence-based psychotherapy that aims to empower people to be more willing to accept discomfort and pain of any sort – which it sees as unavoidable - in order to live a fuller, more meaningful life. It differs from traditional cognitive behavioural therapy in that, instead of teaching people to control their thoughts, feelings and actions, ACT teaches us to notice, accept, embrace and act in line with our values.

While reducing psychological symptoms and emotional pain is part of the therapeutic process, the primary goal in ACT is to help you accept the realities of life and create a richer sense of purpose, meaning and satisfaction.

Transforming our relationship with our thoughts and emotions, rather than trying to change them or wishing them away, is the key to healing and realizing our true potential. We learn to see them as harmless - albeit uncomfortable - and let them come and go without interfering. As such, the goal of therapy is to learn how to deal with painful experiences and help clarify what is truly important and meaningful to us so we can more fully engage in doing what truly matters to us.

Your breath is your brain’s remote control!

Everyday we take more than 17,000 breaths but chances are, which is probably not something to which you've given much thought. Breathing is one of a very few functions in the body that run perfectly well independently, but where we can also take conscious control. This is one of my primary aims when working with you, as breathwork is much more than just a topical wellbeing trend (*). The breath is a bridge between the mind and the body and the way we breathe influences many different aspects of our physical and mental health.

All of our thoughts and feelings interact with our bodies via breath. Whether we're feeling stressed, sluggish or anxious, our breathing has the power to centre us and make us feel better. When we harness breathwork, we can use our bodies to tell our minds to slow down. This is particularly helpful when we're feeling overwhelmed or worrying or when our minds are racing. From a physical aspect, focus on the breath can cause the harmful effects of cortisol to be lowered (also known as the stress hormone) and heart rate, blood pressure and inflammation markers adjusted, to name just a few potential benefits. On top of that, it also gives you a sense of control, it is free and you always carry it with you.

Coherent breathing is the main of several breathing techniques I work with (5 to 6 breaths a minute - also called the universal breath). It provides one of the best and easiest ways to make a profound difference to your health and happiness by increasing heart rate variability (HRV) and balancing the stress-response systems.

When our breath becomes more coherent, our heart rate variability becomes more coherent, helping every system in our body become more coherent. With everything working more optimally we build greater strength and resilience, enabling us to recover and rebound from challenging events.

Research is still in its infancy regarding the full effects of coherent breathing; however, there is lots of promising news. We know that this type of breathing can be helpful for insomnia, anxiety, depressive symptoms, stress, immune system response, menopausal symptoms, migraines, alertness, concentration, vitality, post-traumatic stress disorder, and attention deficit disorder.

(*) Slow breathing techniques at rates of 5-6 breaths per minute have actually been known for centuries and are found in Yoga, Qigong and Buddhist meditation as well as in many lullabies and prayers.

Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) is an anxiety-reduction technique first introduced by American physician Edmund Jacobson in the 1930s. The technique involves alternating tension and relaxation in all of the body's major muscle groups in turn. When your body is physically relaxed, it calms your mind and you cannot feel anxious. Clients often find that the symptoms of long-standing ailments are drastically reduced as a side-effect.

The Rewind technique is a comfortable and effective treatment that can greatly reduce, and even remove, traumatic or phobic symptoms quickly through relaxation and guided imagery, all without even having to talk about the details of the traumatic incident(s) in question.

Information from a non-traumatic event will normally be transferred from short-term memory (also known as working memory) to long-term memory through a very old part of the brain called the hippocampus. However, during a traumatic experience, because the body’s survival mechanism is activated, the presence of stress hormones within the body inhibits the hippocampus from processing the information in the usual way. Therefore, the memory of the traumatic event becomes trapped or stuck in short-term memory, and a person will feel like they are involuntarily re-living the traumatic event in the form of flashbacks, nightmares, repetitive and distressing images, or physical sensations.

Whilst in deep relaxation the Rewind technique can help significantly reduce, or in some cases remove, PTSD symptoms and this often in just one or two sessions.

If you have any questions about the Rewind Technique, or you want to explore how I can help, click here to get in touch.

Reiki (pronounced ray-key) is an ancient Japanese technique used to balance out body, mind and emotions. It is well recognised as a route to reducing stress and promoting relaxation, which in turn benefits our sleep, immune system and general health and wellbeing.

Reiki is based on the idea that we have a 'life force energy' (known as ki, chi, qi or prana) that flows within our bodies and is centred around our chakras. When this energy is low or blocked in our chakras, it makes us more likely to become unwell.

It is a non-intrusive treatment performed with clients remaining fully clothed. My hands will be gently resting on and/or slightly raised above your body and you will feel deeply relaxed.