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November 20th, 2008 by Paul Mallott (BA) Counselling Psychology

What is Counselling

Clients come to counselling because they may have a crisis, troubles, doubts, difficulties, frustrations & concerns. These are labeled as "Problems", problems that cause emotional turmoil to which the client is unable to come to terms with or deal with on their own. By coming to a counsellor you can get the help you need to manage these problems more effectively.

In order not to be frightened or overwhelmed, we need to have an understanding of why we are in such a state and what we can do ourselves to come to terms with these issues.

The waters of life are not always calm or easy to negotiate by oneself. The counsellor is there to gradually loosen and open up the client, enabling them to recognize any blind spots they may have missed and to help them become more effective in dealing with issues.

This is achieved by the development of trust between you the client and the counsellor. Over a period of time in safe, comfortable surroundings ...

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November 19th, 2008 by Manu Bazzano

The thorny and complex issue of how to be a man – never mind a therapist too – affects the I-Thou relationship and hence congruence itself

Life before and after feminism

I grew up in Southern Italy and, like every boy, have experienced the special bond of male friendship and brotherhood: the tussle and struggle, the playground’s competition and nastiness, as well as camaraderie and warmth. That instinctive sense of companionship was later focused into the student movement of the 1970s, into the shared aspiration to change the world: street demonstrations, occasional clashes with the police, spurred by urgent feelings and sincere, if vague, aspirations.
Psychotherapy has often patronised the brotherhood of boys: gang behaviour, peer pressure, rites of passage – these are some of the condescending terms used in describing the phenomenon. A term that in my view does justice to the brotherhood of young men is Adler’s Gemeinschaftsgefuhl, or communal feeling1. He was not referring exclusively to boys but to the general, perhaps innate tendency within human beings to overcome rudimentary egoistic t ...

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November 14th, 2008 by Jayne Cox

Good news?

The world seems to be feeling very unconfident at present. It’s as if there’s been a massive intake of breath and no one wants to breath out. That can be very frightening.

For months and months we’ve been bombarded with ‘bad news’, before anything even happens we are warned, prepared and then left in fear. So what can any of us do?

Well for one we can limit our exposure, it’s like a virus and it is spread by contact. The means of spreading this virus is the airwaves, sound coming from the TV and the radio. It’s powerful stuff, let’s face it if it can sell us some new brand of washing powder it can certainly sell fear! Then there’s the negative person, all doom and gloom. They love to tell us all the world’s woes, so perhaps we can be busy next time they call to meet up?

Finally the newspaper, perhaps we can walk past the newsstand, pick up a nice magazine instead of the newspaper at the newsagent, or just buy a Sunday paper instead. Limit t ...

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November 13th, 2008 by Gillian Marchant MBACP

Worry and Stress in an Economic Slow Down

In this current economic climate of crunched credit and rising unemployment, worry and stress levels are on the increase. The BBC news reports that there has been a sharp rise in the number of people and companies being declared insolvent. Government figures for England and Wales show that individual insolvencies went up by 8.8% in the third quarter of the year to reach 27,098.

According to a BUPA survey, more than a third of the population find work their biggest worry. Another recent poll of UK workers found that 84% have trouble sleeping on Sundays because they are worrying about the working week ahead.

An internet search revealed that there are 1227 books on worry. 24 DVDs and 3,700,000 CDs!

Almost everybody worries and it can be a useful response to life, preventing us from being reckless and stimulating us to take control of a difficult situation. However some people worry a lot more than others, and sometimes to the point where ...

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November 11th, 2008 by Lesley Abraham

SFBT Historical Perspective

This essay will critically review the evolution of Brief Therapy paying particular attention to the influences that brought about the formation of Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) Therefore attention will be given to the practice of Milton Erickson and the work of the Mental Research Institute. Extensive reading indicates that attention needs to be given to defining the concept of brief therapy as a common understanding of the term remains elusive. An historical overview of developments will be provided but it must be noted that SFBT evolved in America and therefore political and economic influences need to be considered within a geographical framework. The essay will also consider the role of SFBT within the context of the move towards post modernism and social constructionist theory as opposed to the structural stance of scientific truth. Finally thought will be given to current developments within brief therapy and its relevance to the British climate.

The growi ...

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November 10th, 2008 by Yasmin Jefferies, MBACP(accrd) UKRCP (regd)

Seven tips + shortcuts to getting the most out of therapy

1. Ask yourself what you want

• What is my problem? What do I need help with?
• How much money can I spend on therapy? Think about the cost per session, the regularity and the number in total.
• How much time do I have? Think about the session time, the travelling time, other commitments.
Shortcut: Preparing yourself will help you commit to and focus on the therapy

2. Find the right therapy for you

You can find short descriptions of various therapies by looking on this website. Ultimately you need to find a way of working through your problems that make sense to you. Trust yourself - you have a choice.
Shortcut: Ask the therapist to explain how their therapy works. The more you understand the better you will be able to work with the therapist.

3. Find an effective & ethical therapist

Therapy is no different from any other profession some people are goo ...

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November 5th, 2008 by Jayne Cox

Challenge the negative mind

We all know what it's like to have a negative thought and I wonder can you imagine what it's like to have this internal battle with negative thoughts daily and seemingly without end.

This is the mindset of an eating disorder sufferer, it's frightening, exhausting and makes rational thinking seem impossible. Which 'voice' do you listen to and which one do you believe?

Challenging the negative mind is a powerful and effective way to help change this pattern of thinking and also allows you take control over your thoughts

Preparation...

You may have increased feelings of guilt, anger and moodiness as you challenge your negative thoughts and behaviours. It's a good idea that loved ones, carers and friends are aware of this and that you also take some responsibility for your actions. The battle with negative thoughts, behaviours and 'demands' may appear to increase as you challenge, remember this is short lived and I'd encourage you ...

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November 5th, 2008 by Howard Delmonte DipCth/MBACP( Accred) /FMA

The impact of sexuality in the family

This is an article that explores the impact of diverse sexuality on the family and the self. How coming to terms with different sexual orientation can contribute to mental distress if it is not understood and given appropriate support.

SEARCHING FOR ‘SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW’. LIVING AND SURVIVING IN THE FAMILY.

The emotive searching and longing in that Judy Garland song has such a universal appeal to it that it seems to tug at somewhere very deep in most hearts and souls.

It suggests a yearning and need to belong to a place, a community somewhere where we will be understood, loved and accepted. These are basic needs that most people require in order to survive and be mentally healthy. People need to belong, have value and not to hide who they are, but to be able to acknowledge and celebrate their individuality.

However, for some lesbian, gay and bisexual adults and adolescents, growing up in a family which may have ...

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November 5th, 2008

Rainbow

In many ways, the colours of the rainbow reflect the many approaches to counselling available. Each "colour" has it's own beauty but touches each other with the conditions we all practise by: empathy, congruence and valuing each client as an individual. As counsellors, we all trust in the process that our clients will reach their pot of gold and look back on their rainbow as a positive and life changing experience.

The beauty of such a rainbow is that even during a storm, the colours can shine through, providing hope and clarity through the dull sky.

Uniquely, the rainbow of counselling can touch individuals and counsellors in a way which we carry with us forever and in such a climate where individuals experience pain, as counsellors, we can offer clients the opportunity to experience their own rainbow.

I guess I beg the question: What colour are you? ...

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November 5th, 2008 by Richard Cruz MBACP (Accred).

A relational integrative view of this momentous day ... Barack Obama

The images last night of a father, mother and their two children would have had a completely different resonance had they fitted the stereotype; today's reality that a black American family will occupy the White House, its very name quintessentially symbolic of an age old supremacy, is indeed a celebration for America, the world and for humanity.

What does this mean in terms of the individual and collective projection? It is as if the whole world is sighing in relief that finally the parent of the Western world has come to it's senses; real power, growth and freedom is borne of integration and that divisions that split (40 years ago racial segregation still existed in the US) merely accentuate defenses and vulnerability both internally and are projectively identified externally. That sense of paranoia and fear has permeated much of the world and its people as we know it and all in the name of omnipotence, the unruly child within the irresponsible adult. The counselling ...

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