CBT

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a psychotherapeutic modality that aims to explore and understand the thoughts and feelings that influence behaviours and modify negative thoughts and emotions into positive behaviour. CBT is very well supported and evidenced by clinical research for its effectiveness.

Mindful Healing delivers a version of CBT called Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT). It is a practical and action-focused approach for dealing with feelings, thoughts and behaviours and changing the way you act, feel and think, both now and in the future.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is about practising to live life in the present moment; untangling the tension and complexity of everyday life that we all experience and enhancing our ability to actively participate in our life as it unfolds.

I can include Mindfulness coaching and techniques as part of integrative therapy, as part of your treatment plan. Mindfulness coaching can be combined with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to help people gain clearer perspectives on irrational and maladaptive behaviours and negative thoughts. Mindfulness has been demonstrated to lower stress and safeguard against depression, as well as manage other health concerns such as chronic pain, stress, fatigue, insomnia, eating disorders, and addictions.

EMDR

EMDR – Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing is an evidence-based psychotherapeutic approach that allows individuals to process the symptoms and emotional distress resulting from distressing or upsetting life experiences and trauma.

EMDR aids in the natural healing of the brain’s information processing system, allowing it to progress toward better mental health and wellbeing. EMDR is also used to help individuals with other issues such as anxiety, grief, phobias, panic disorders, pain, eating disorders, intrusive thoughts, health anxiety, sexual dysfunction and a wide range of other issues.

There are eight stages to EMDR, and sessions are focussed on procession and reprocessing experiences and discomforts until you no longer experience tension.

During EMDR sessions, you will be encouraged to recall some or all aspects of events, memories or phobias you experienced whilst focusing on exercises and techniques guided by me. These will help your brain to make sense of disturbing sensations and emotions while learning to store these in a better way, reducing your distress and ultimately overcoming them.

Medical Coaching

Although many medical conditions do not have curative outcomes, we can learn how to better manage and control their symptoms and all associated physical and mental effects and discomforts, which can include depression, anxiety, and extreme fear.

Medical Coaching is an area of therapy that can be very beneficial to patients with a range of illnesses and health issues for which there are limited or no treatments at all.

Medical Coaching offers evidence-based support and counselling aimed at improving the clinical and psychological wellbeing of patients. Based on my years of practice as a doctor in the UK, I can offer complementary psychological advice and support in addition to, but not a replacement for, their medical practitioners’ treatment and diagnosis.

Consultation, Assessment and Personal Therapy Plan

During the first session, which includes consultation, it is likely that I will ask you a lot of questions to find out as much as possible about you and your problem. I will aim to explain hypnotherapy and any other therapeutic techniques I feel may be helpful for you. This first session will allow you to meet me and ask me any questions you may have. During this initial appointment, I will guide you through a brief, gentle hypnotic experience, which is likely to be relaxation-focused rather than specifically therapeutic. If we both agree, we can then book further sessions as needed.

As a qualified and experienced doctor, I am well-placed to assess accurately whether Clinical Hypnosis is appropriate and safe for you and your problem/s – a complementary therapy is just that; a compliment to any treatment you may be having or have had from your own GP. I will then draw up a provisional, individualised therapy programme which I will share with you.

Sessions with me involve a tailored combination of hypnotherapy and possibly other evidence-based and effective psychotherapeutic and behavioural techniques aimed to benefit you both at a conscious and an unconscious level.

Ongoing, Flexible Therapy and Support

From week to week, I will reassess and adjust therapeutic approaches based on your progress. It is also possible that I may suggest some ‘homework’ between sessions to enhance your progress. Typically, a patient will need between two and four sessions, although some patients with more complex issues to explore choose to see me regularly for longer periods of time. It is not unusual for previous patients to return for a further session later, at times with new challenges or distress.

With your permission, it may be appropriate for me to write to, or communicate with your GP or other healthcare professionals, but please note that this will never happen without your express consent.