THERAPY
Below are some descriptions of the types of therapy I am trained in. All of these therapies have a strong evidence base and all are listed in the NICE guidelines for treatment of various mental health disorders. While these are effective stand alone therapies I generally find it most helpful to combine these responsively to the client I am working with.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
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Central to CBT is the theory that our reaction to any given situation is heavily impacted by our way of thinking and that one persons perception of a situation can be very different from another. In CBT we look to evaluate thoughts and consider alterative perspectives that may be more accurate, realistic or helpful. Experimenting with new responses to difficult situations is also a key part of the therapy, so that new conclusions may be reached. It is a common misconception that there is little consideration of the past in CBT, this is not the case - past events are explored to understand how unhelpful thinking patterns and beliefs have developed and been maintained.
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
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In ACT the focus is on developing psychological flexibility ie the ability to respond to difficult situations, thoughts and feelings in a range of ways, and to have a sense of control over these responses. The central aim in ACT is to improve fulfillment and satisfaction in life and it is considered that this is achieved when we live life in accordance with our own personal value system. The acceptance piece of ACT is about learning to acknowledge and allow difficult thoughts and feelings as part of the human experience, and the commitment piece is about learning ways to act in line with our values even in the presence of difficult inner experiences. Developing mindfulness, grounding and self compassion skills are central to ACT.
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Eye Movement Densensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR)
From an EMDR perspective many common mental health difficulties are considered to be a result of unresolved trauma. For the purposes of therapy trauma is defined as any negative life experience that has a lasting impact. Trauma is considered to be unresolved when there continues to be a strong emotional or physiological response when the memory is brought to mind. In EMDR bilateral stimulation, such as tapping or side to side eye movements, are used to activate the brains natural processing abilities. This type of therapy may sound quite strange! However there is a strong evidence base to support EMDR's efficacy and as a result it is listed as a recommended treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in the NICE guidelines.
Much research has been done into the mechanism by which EMDR works; one explanation is that the bilateral stimulation mimics the natural side to side eye movements that we make during the deep REM stage of our sleep. During deep REM our brain processes events and these memories are filed away. Trauma memories have not been filed away properly, so it is thought that EMDR activates this process and allows the memories to become resolved and therefore have less impact on day to day life.
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Enhanced CBT (CBT-E)
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CBT-E is one of the leading treatment models for eating disorders. The model is 'trans-diagnostic', this means it has been designed to treat a range of eating disorder presentations including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating. The treatment lasts between 20-40 sessions and follows a set structure, however within this structure the treatment is highly individualised. In the initial stages of treatment regular eating is established, after this issues such as dietary restraint, emotional regulation and body image are focused on. The latter stages of treatment focus on handling setbacks and creating a robust plan for maintaining treatment gains and building on progress made.
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Please note - due to the medical risks of being at a low weight I am currently unable to work with clients who have a BMI of below 17.5. In this case please seek support through your GP who will be able to refer you to local NHS Eating Disorder Services, which will be best placed to meet your needs.
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Intuitive Eating
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Intuitive eating is a frame work of eating that allows individuals to find freedom with food while honouring their body and mind. There are ten key principles:
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1. Reject diet culture
2. Honour your hunger
3. Make peace with food
4. Find the satisfaction factor
5. Feel your fullness
6. Challenge the food police
7. Cope with your emotions with kindness
8. Respect your body
9. Movement - feel the difference
10. Honour your health with gentle nutrition
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Intuitive eating is useful for anyone that struggles in their relationship with food and wishes to have more ease in this aspect of their life. It can be hugely helpful for those who are in recovery from an eating disorder.
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