Psychological therapy (also referred to as psychotherapy or ‘talking therapies’) are forms of treatment that involve talking to a trained therapist in order to help someone overcome their difficulties.
There are different types of therapy for different kinds of problems and there are published studies that have evaluated their effectiveness for certain problems, and therefore are several guidelines that make recommendations as a result of this research (see the National Institute for Health & Clinical Excellence; NICE). This is referred to as ‘evidence-based treatment’. However, it is also important to note that the effectiveness of a type of therapy is influenced by a number of factors, including the working relationship with the therapist (strong predictor of outcome), the person’s expectations and attitude towards the therapy, and their belief in their ability to make change. As well as offering evidence-based treatments, the range of therapy approaches available at Inter-Mind are intended to give people more choice of the type of therapy that also feel would be more suitable to them. This will be discussed during and after the assessment.
I am trained and experienced in the following treatments, which are provided to clients in Nottingham, Derby and Leicester and surrounding areas.
Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT)
As its name suggests, CAT it brings together understandings from cognitive psychotherapies (such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) and from psychoanalytic approaches into one integrated, user-friendly, time-limited and effective therapy.
CAT makes links with early experiences and how we’ve internalised aspects of those to shape the way we are in the relationships and other situations.
CAT helps identify repeating patterns of self-defeating thoughts, feelings and behaviours, often in relationships with others (and with ourselves).
It is a collaborative framework for looking at the way you think, feel and act; it is tailored to your individual needs and to your own manageable goals for change.
CAT therapy usually takes place over 8, 16 0r 24 sessions, plus follow-up.
FIND OUT MORE
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
This is usually a short-term, structured therapy, whereby client and therapist work collaboratively to change difficult feelings and behaviours, by changing underlying thought patterns. In some cases, it can be used for longer-term work.
CBT has a strong evidence-base, and is recommended by NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) as the treatment of choice for a wide range of difficulties.
FIND OUT MORE
Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing (EMDR)
This is a therapy focused on alleviating symptoms and distress that result from traumatic or disturbing life experiences.
Sometimes there are blocks in the system of processing life experiences, and EMDR uses eye movements and related techniques to unblock the memories and allow them to be processed.
EMDR has a sound and growing evidence base for a variety of difficulties and is recommended by NICE and the World Health Organisation for treatment of post-trauma symptoms.
FIND OUT MORE
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) principles
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a therapy designed to help people change patterns of behavior that are not helpful, such as self-harm, suicidal thinking, and substance abuse.[1]
This approach works towards helping people increase their emotional and cognitive regulation by learning about the triggers that lead to reactive states and helping to assess which coping skills to apply in the sequence of events, thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to help avoid undesired reactions.
DBT assumes that people are doing the best they can but are either lacking the skills or influenced by positive or negative reinforcement that interfere with their ability to function appropriately.
DBT combines standard cognitive-behavioral techniques for emotion regulation and reality-testing with concepts of distress tolerance, acceptance, and mindful awareness largely derived from Buddhist meditative practice.
FIND OUT MORE
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT for short, is a relatively new therapy that has as its main goal ‘to create a rich and meaningful life, while accepting the pain that inevitably goes with it’ (see Harris, 2006). It does not set out to reduce ‘symptoms’, but rather aims to achieve this as a by-product of emphasising the importance of values, forgiveness, acceptance, compassion, living in the present moment, and accessing what is sometimes referred to as the ‘observing self’. ACT has an impressive, and increasing, evidence-base for being an effective treatment of a range of difficulties.
Clinical Hypnosis (Hypnotherapy)
Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy is a therapy that uses hypnosis to treat a variety of medical and psychological problems. It may be useful where other more conventional methods of treatment have not produced the desired result. When carried out by a trained and qualified hypnotherapist, it is natural and safe, with no harmful side effects.
Hypnosis is simply a different state of consciousness that most people can enter into. In fact, we often find ourselves in these states every day, such as when intensely watching a TV programme, reading a book or day dreaming. In hypnotherapy, problematic behavioural patterns and limiting beliefs can be corrected (or ‘re-programmed’) at the level of your subconscious mind. It is a natural state of mind and is perhaps best defined as “guided meditation”. It is simply a slower brainwave state, characterized by intense physical and mental relaxation.
Through the process of hypnotherapy, you may also be taught the methods of self-hypnosis, and other related strategies, to support you between sessions. Hypnotherapy is often used in combination with other psychological techniques and strategies.
There are a number of common misconceptions about hypnotherapy. You are fully in control at all times when under hypnosis. If you want to, you can bring yourself out of the hypnotic state at any time. Hypnosis only works on people that want to be hypnotized.
The British Psychological Society (BPS), in 2001, stated “Hypnosis is a valid subject for scientific study and research and a proven therapeutic medium”.
The report also concluded: “Enough studies have now accumulated to suggest that the inclusion of hypnotic procedures may be beneficial in the management and treatment of a wide range of conditions and problems encountered in the practice of medicine, psychiatry and psychotherapy.” (BPS, 2001)
More recently, it has been recommended that hypnotherapy “should be adopted more widely” as a psychological treatment (Dr P. Naish, 2011).
Information about treatment choice and effectiveness can also be found via the links below:
General wellbeing and ‘performance’
Whilst therapy was developed to relieve distress from psychological problems such as depression and anxiety, its use is not restricted to working with mental health problems. It can also help people learn more about themselves, improve relationships, assist in personal development and increase personal awareness.
Increasing numbers of people are seeking therapeutic support to improve general well-being, life satisfaction, contentment, and performance in certain situations (e.g. work, sport). There is an increasing shift in people now beginning to prioritise emotional health in a similar way to how we may optimise our physical health. Also, our understanding of the ‘mind-body’ link is improving all of the time. Those seeking therapy for personal growth may wish to better understand emotions and patterns of behaviour with the aim of being more effective or less stressed at work. Often ending or starting a new relationship may be the prompt for seeking therapy, with clients keen to better understand patterns of relating so they are best equipped to negotiate this important life transition. Emotional health affects every aspect of our daily lives so gaining enhanced personal insight and equipping oneself with practical psychological skills is often seen as a valuable and worthwhile investment.