Therapy can begin, and in some cases end, with a simple chat. All you might need is a good listener, someone who won’t judge, but understand and support you in your time of need. Others need a little more and through the power of human contact, confidence and trust can be regained, problems can be resolved
Counselling is the process of assisting and guiding people. It is a “talking therapy”, to resolve personal, social, or psychological problems and difficulties.
Whilst a generic term, it perfectly sums up a broad spectrum of spoken therapy that helps to manage stresses attributed to everyday despondency, anxiety, low self-esteem, lack of confidence, depression, relationship challenges, bereavement and loss. It can help you to regenerate your lust for life.
Counselling allows people to talk about their problems and feelings in a confidential and comfortable environment. With help and guidance, issues become clearer and so too, the steps that need to be taken to resolve them.
Having the capacity to think and feel emotions with clarity and self-awareness is an essential part of being human; but it’s not something that we are all innately able to do, or even generally taught how to do. As your counsellor, I can give you my thoughts and point of view, but more importantly, I will help and guide you to find your own solutions. Paving the way to your own recovery.
Most people find the idea of coming to therapy or counselling quite daunting. Some are deterred by the thought of talking with a stranger, or they are fearful of being judged. Your relationship with any counsellor will be built on trust. All your communication will be in a safe and confidential environment, which is an essential part of counselling. Once the initial tentative stage is over, most people find that having someone to talk to who is a stranger is, in actual fact, very liberating.
You could be at any stage of your life, there is no specific time or set of circumstances that could lead someone towards counselling or therapy. It’s often when we encounter a sense of overwhelming frustration, anxiety, a feeling of being trapped or unable to move forward that we find the courage to reach out for help.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, or EMDR, is a powerful psychotherapy technique used in the treatment of psychological trauma arising from a diverse range of traumatic life experiences. It is effectively used to treat PTSD and other mood/anxiety disorders such as Depression, Phobias and Panic Disorder.
EMDR sessions tend to work quickly and can have positive, long-term effects upon your well-being, helping you to move from emotional distress to a peaceful resolution of the issues or events involved.
We all learn our coping mechanisms at a very young age but not all the influences we are exposed to at that tender stage are good. Unlike some other therapies, CBT does not lead you back down the path to your past but rather keeps you in the present, positively breaking down problems into smaller portions that are easier to deal with and finding tangible and constructive ways to help you improve your state of mind on a day to day basis.
Our emotions often cast us off from our safe zones and no matter how present you might feel during talking treatments, you can still be left feeling adrift after each session. CBT gives you a powerful toolbox to carry with you and assist you everyday.
Touch triggers a cascade of healing chemical responses including a decrease in stress hormones and an increase in dopamine levels and serotonin (the happy hormone). Additionally, touch has been shown to increase the immune system’s cytotoxic capacity, thereby helping the body to maintain its defenses. Without human contact, we are more susceptible to anxiety, depression, hyperactivity, inattention, increased stress hormones and cortisol levels.
During my time as a CBT counsellor I have found myself in situations where I have felt my client would benefit from a hug. As an accredited Cuddle Therapist, I can remove the ethical constraint with extremely rewarding results.
I am a registered therapist with Cuddle Professionals International, having completed their certified diploma course and observe CPI’s Ethical Touch Protocols. As a Cuddle Therapist I have personally been featured in a variety of national newspapers, magazines and online media.
Cuddle Therapy is regularly featured in the media, from Good Housekeeping, The Sunday Times, Grazia, AskMen to ITV’s This Morning and BBC Radio stations, from Radio 4 to regional programmes, amongst others . To find out more about Cuddle Therapy, visit CPI’s website here.
Listen to some of the interviews I have had the peasure of giving on national radio
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