Stress management

Stress management therapy and counselling Edinburgh, Falkirk, Glasgow.

Stuart trained with ASM, (externally NVQ accredited and assessed diploma course and CNHC accreditation route via SSM).

ASM training focused on stress, which is the force which creates anxiety and psychosomatic disorders such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (NICE recommend hypnotherapy for IBS). Stuart qualified as a specialist Stress Management Consultant as part of his training (1993-6).

Stress Management Consultant

Stress Management Consultant

Post Graduate Fellow of the Association of Stress Management

Post Graduate Fellow: Association of Stress Management

What is stress?

Stress has been defined as when “the resources to cope are outstripped by demands placed on the person”. When this happens psychological effects occur such as anxiety and transitory depression. Long term intense stress can cause versions of PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). Intense stress can cause typical PTSD.

“I get the sweats and feel shaky”
“I’m feeling stressed”

“My breathing gets fast and I get chest tightness”
“I blush / flush and feel self conscious”
“I wish the ground would open up and swallow me”
“I can’t face seeing people”
“There’s no way I could go out”
“I feel so nervous I feel sick”
“I need a drink to talk to anyone, and sometimes then I get a bit nuts”
“I have problems controlling my anger”
“I feel tired all the time”
“I have problems sleeping”
“My relationships are suffering”
“My work life balance sucks”

How to you treat stress?

Analysis is used to identify underlying patterns and issues, perhaps developmental, perhaps post traumatic, perhaps relationship based. Then stress counselling allows emotional release, while health education coaching enables the development of more appropriate lifestyle patterns. Clinical hypnotherapy (recommended by Anxiety UK) directly reduces stress levels through guided relaxation, while also providing another psychotherapy resource for perceptual and behavioural change.

Eastern psychology methods such as mindfulness and meditation are also extremely useful. Naikan (art of gratitude) is also useful in re-balancing perception of every day experience, which can become negative and anxiety ridden. MBSR or mindfulness based stress reduction is one such model of mindfulness tools, which although rather limited, have been useful in generating extensive research data showing the effectiveness of MBSR and other mindfulness methods in stress reduction (see main mindfulness page for more informaton). Stuart’s initial training contained very similar methods to MBSR, and his second accreditation process with NACHP contained additional mindfulness and humanistic therapy evidence. indeed NACHP’s President, Dr M Yapko is a published expert on the use of mindfulness with clinical hypnosis in clinical practice.

What kind of symptoms might mean I have stress issues?

Classic symptomatic conditions resulting from stress include PTSD, OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), anxiety, some forms of depression, mood swings, anger or aggression, fear of the future, phobias or fears, IBS, some anxiety related skin conditions, stress related asthma, panic attacks, psychological blushing, fear of public speaking or performance, confidence issues, poor self esteem, addictions, escapism, disassociation, problems sleeping, psychosomatic pain, relationship problems and many more. Please note that some conditions can also be caused by medical issues other than those with a psychological origin. Your practitioner therefore may need you to have a check up with your medical doctor to ensure your safety.

Stress management qualification

Stuart trained with ASM, (externally NVQ accredited and assessed diploma course and CNHC accreditation route via SSM). Stuart is therefore trained in both general psychoanalysis and clinical hypnotherapy, and also in specific stress related therapy and stress counselling. Since graduation 1996 Stuart has CPD trained in other models of counselling, psychotherapy, coaching NLP and psychology including a MSc in Psychology and a BA(Hons) in Philosophy and Psychology.  he has also completed accreditation in Counselling, Psychotherapy and Hypnotherapy with the NACHP. Stuart has also trained in various models of mindfulness including MBSR (mindfulness based stress reduction).

Key words
Stress, anxiety, depression, OCD, obsessive thoughts, negative thoughts, negative behaviours, anxiety disorders, long term stress, PTSD, stress disorders, long term depression, long term anxiety, anxiety disorders, MBSR, MBCT, mindfulness, psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, CBASP, CBA, CBT, humanistic counselling, stress manager, stress management consultant, psychoeducation, mindfulness teacher, mindfulness training, Edinburgh, Falkirk, Dublin, Glasgow, Stirlingshire, Midlothian, Scotland, psychotherapist, counsellor, hypnotherapist, therapist.

Contact via the contact us page HERE

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