Tag Archives: counsellor

Expanding range of Eastern and Western modals of therapy

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An ever increasing diversity of models modalities of psychoanalysis

As a psychotherapist, psychoanalyst and hypnotherapist with over 25 years experience, I am of course bound to pick up more modals and methods over time simply because therapists have to do 25 hours or so continuous professional training each year.  For me though, it is about far more. Right from the start of my career I was trained in being multi-modal: being competent in more than one modal alone or in combination. So for me continuing to add modals at competence level or above is a natural thing to do.

Eastern and Western Modals, and in between

Although I started off very much with western based modals with Level 5 Diploma (Graduate level) training in Cognitive Behavioural, Hypnosis based, humanistic and Psychoanalytic, by the time I completed by second set of accreditation (post graduate) with the NACHP I was fascinated by using mindfulness and Eastern Psychology in psychotherapy.

Since then I have revived my long time interest in eastern psychology, Buddhism and Taoism (which goes back to my teens!) and completed a variety of competence and CPD courses in forms of eastern psychology, Buddhism, mindfulness and Zen based mindfulness.

I have also studied Hygge as a northern European alternative, and am currently (Nov 2018) studying Chabbad based Jewish mindfulness.

Fitting the “faith” models into clinical psychotherapy

In the west we had the process of enlightenment, which included something called reductionism. This meant reducing topic areas down into labels.  It is also referred to with similar related terms of Atomism and Positivism.  Before this happened mental health was part of Theology and Philosophy. Later it became psychology.

In other parts of the world, especially the far East, this process never occurred and therefore within Taoism, Kabbalah, Buddhism and other faiths there are also entire psychological theories which do not require faith adherence to use in therapy.

Lets be clear here: you do not have to have any faith at all to benefit from psychology principles taken from Eastern faiths.

Using different models in a clinically effective way

I believe in being holistic, caring and not over medicalised. Treating a label like “depression” is only treating how the person’s overall problem is showing up. It is like giving a head ache pill for a head ache without asking why it happened.

However when working with clients it makes sense to use methods that together BOTH treat the label, AND help the long term well being of the client. Therefore I base my work around research evidenced and NICE recommended core therapies (to address the labels) with psychodynamic and humanistic deeper processes to address the person!

Ironically when I started using mindfulness and other methods they were considered rather alternative, but now they are some of the best research evidenced methods around today.

 

Key words
Mindfulness, faith, multi modal psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, counselling. eastern psychology, western psychology, philosophy of the mind, depression, anxiety, mental health, personal development, disorders, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Falkirk, Scotland, Skype, psychotherapist, psychoanalyst, counsellor

 

NACHP

National Association of Counsellors Hypnotherapists and Psychotherapists. Accredited clinical psychotherapist. Counselling Hypnotherapy Psychotherapy
Psychoanalysis
CBT

National Council of Psychotherapists. Psychotherapy, Counselling, Psychoanalysis, Life Coaching, Hypnotherapy, Psychology, Mental Health

 

Back in Glasgow

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Psychotherapy in Glasgow

Glad to announce that after an absence of running clinic in Glasgow for a couple of years due to other commitments, Stuart is now back from the 15th June 2017.

Psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, counselling, hypnotherapy, mindfulness in Glasgow

A full range of therapy models and integrative multi modal therapy work is available again in Glasgow.

Glasgow City Centre Therapy

Therapy is provided from the Consulting Rooms in Glasgow City Centre, near the Queen Street rail station.

 

Key words

Glasgow, psychotherapy, psychotherapist, hypnotherapy, hypnotherapist, counselling, counsellor, hypnosis, hypnotist, mindfulness, MBSR, MBCT, CBT, CBASP, depression, anxiety, psychoanalysis, psychoanalyst, NLP, analysis, psychoanalyst, bipolar, eating disorders, holistic therapy.

Contact via the contact us page HERE

Ongoing Mindfulness and philosophy service expansion

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Development of existing service continues….

Both Stuart and his colleague and Scotlandtherapy partner Denise are dedicated to ongoing learning and development, and therefore complete additional university based and practical Ongoing Professional Development training each and every year. This is all on top of existing professional qualification training.

Mindfulness and Philosophy

Stuart in particular has completed additional trainings this year in MBCT (mindfulness based cognitive therapy), CBT (cognitive behaviour therapy) for depression and additional training in general mindfulness. He is booked to attend additional specialist training in the use of philosophical models in psychotherapy later in the year, which should nicely complement his nearly completed BA (Hons) in Psychology and philosophy of the mind. This is on pause at the moment since the last university model will not become available until late 2017.

Additional University based learning

Both Stuart and Denise has multiple university awards. Stuart has two University Certificates of Education (Undergraduate) from Lampeter and Edinburgh Universities, Bachelor degrees from City of Birmingham University and the Open University, and a Masters Degree from the Open University. He is about to begin a new degree alongside completing a Psychology and Philosophy of the Mind degree, this time in International Relations, specialising in the effect of ecology and politics on people, with specific regard to mental health issues and disability issues. This ties in with his work writing a regular political column for Self and Society professional journal and other publications and articles.

Denise has completed an undergraduate certificate of Education from Edinburgh University and two bachelor degrees from the Open University. She is about to embark on a third degree, focusing on Business, in particular human resources.

Keywords
Business studies, psychology, psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, mindfulness, MBCT, CBT, politics, human resources, mental health, disability issues, social studies, social policy, social environment, depression, anxiety, bipolar, environmental psychology, Edinburgh, Falkirk, psychotherapist, hypnotherapist, counsellor, psychoanalyst

Contact via the contact us page HERE

Swedish National Audit Office report on CBT

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Swedish National Office Report on CBT

In a study of the outcomes of using CBT as a primary and almost exclusive method of treating mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, the Swedish National Office has published a damning report. See here

Main findings of report on CBT

  •  The widespread adoption of the method had no effect whatsoever on the outcome of people disabled by depression and anxiety;
  • A significant number of people who were not disabled at the time they were treated with CBT became disabled thereby increasing the amount of time they spent on disability; and 
  • Nearly a quarter of people treated with CBT dropped out.
    From Swedish Audit Report. accessed HERE

Application and conclusions in the UK

CBT or cognitive behavioural therapy is the darling of the NHS, many charities and NICE. This is primarily because it claims to be evidence based.

CBT leads itself to being “evidenced based” through gathering self assessed feedback from clients. This is unreliable for a whole range of reasons, including:

  • Subjective self assessment does not permit one controlled stand across subjects. Introspective grading of experience is not possible.
  • Assessment reduces responses down to highly simplistic responses, often statistics and does not reflect human experience or allow for situational or environmental difference.
  • There is an influence on “wellbeing”, “getting well” or feeling “happy” when therapy is not always about these, we often feel “unhappy” for good reason”.
  • CBT often plays into the biomedical model of being “sick” and needing to feel happy despite this, rather than considering other explanations for symptoms such as psychodynamic, cognitive behavioural analysis, developmental or humanistic explanations or social and environmental causes / factors.
  • CBT is often highly simplistic. It has been termed “the art of the blindingly obvious” since it often leads subjects through exercises that reveal what they already new, providing little empowerment for change.

Illogical to use one method

Reducing provision down to one method is akin to only using one class of medical drugs, it simply does not make sense. Clients are complex and unique individuals going through a unique combination of social, biological, psychological, interpersonal and developmental processes, any of which alone may seem common or typical, but which form a vast array of potential combinations.  With that variety and complexity, thinking “one size fits all” is simply illogical.

Furthermore CBT is a simplistic method formed out of other methods, making it a method within an array of methods. For example it was developed in response to psychodynamic and humanistic thinking, and provoked revised psychodynamic, humanistic and cognitive behavioural analytic thinking. It makes no sense to home in on one incomplete stage of the ever changing face of psychological therapy and prioritise it at the expense of other methods.

Its just a tool (CBT)

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is just ONE tool in the toolbox of multi-skilled psychotherapists.  Many therapists use CBT when it is appropriate, but “if all you have is a hammer, all you see is nails”. Why would anyone throw away all the other tools.

Integrated work for the unique client

Stuart uses CBT where appropriate, along with the deeper and more complex Cognitive Behavioural Analysis methods (including CBASP for long term depression). Stuart also uses psychodynamic psychoanalysis, humanistic and philosophical psychotherapy, mindfulness and clinical hypnotherapy. The approach is integrated and employs a kind of critical psychotherapy, in other words questioning what the outcome “should” be, and working with the client to determine what their desired outcome is going to be. Therapy is then tailored, incorporating methods such as CBT, CBA, IPT and psycho-education with research evidence and NICE recommendation behind them.

Key Words
CBT Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Analysis, CBASP, Psychotherapy, Psychoanalysis, Psychodynamic therapy, Counselling, Psychology, Psychotherapist, Counsellor, Psychoanalyst, Analyst, Hypnotherapist, Mental health, Depression, Anxiety, Personality disorder, Edinburgh, Falkirk, Stirling

Contact via the contact us page HERE

 

The Narrative in psychoanalysis

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Using the narrative in psychoanalysis and psychotherapy

The narrative, or the story being followed and invested in by the client is a concept often associated more with humanistic psychology and positive psychology because of it’s connection with eastern psychology. However the narrative can link very well to psychoanalysis.

Who am I, what is my archetype?

The archetype is sometimes the ideal person or concept that we strive to be. In his Red Book, Jung refers to having to slay the blond warrior and allowing oneself to become the authentic person. More generally the archetypes that correspond in our unconscious minds to ourselves and other key players in our lives are crucial to the make up of the narrative we follow.

The Lacanian mirror

To paraphrase the Lacanian idea, essentially there are three versions of us –  the real us, who we are pretty much unaware of because we are not happy with it, the ideal us or “super-me” who is perfectionism embodied (and who corresponds in many ways to an archetype) and the mirror image who we see of ourselves in the eyes and reactions of others.  Our narrative becomes focused on trying the third “me” to look like the “super-me” and this becomes a main part of the narrative.

The negative Narrative

In CBT having a negative narrative is often referred to as catatrophising. We ask “what if” repeatedly until we end up with disaster. “what if I get an unexpected bill, then what if I go overdrawn, then what if the rent check bounces, then what if my home is repossessed and I am living on the street with addiction issues”.  What often happens is we approach a problem with the expectation that something bad will happen, then we become anxious and tense in anticipation, creating anticipatory anxiety.

Having a positive anticipation looks completely different.  As a respected colleague John Parkin suggests in his mindfulness based teachings, what if you approach the problem with the idea that it will be really easy and straightforward. The first answer is –  no anticipatory fear and anxiety to make you freeze up or become stressed. The second answer is that you will approach it in an optimum state of calm preparedness –  flexible and calm, ready for anything even if things are not 100% perfect.

Object relations, the Kleinian model of relationships and our interactions teaches us about many of the problems with feelings of rejection, abandonment and conflict. The lessons we learn through these experiences often influence how we perceive and anticipate events, especially when they involve interacting with people.

Creating your own narrative

Creating your own narrative, and having the realisation that you have every right to create your own narrative is a very empowering concept. The narrative needs to focus as much as possible on the “real me” which in Lacanian theory we tend to suppress, enabling the concept of “authenticity” as much as possible. This means that we have an authentic concept of ourselves, and life around us, but have the courage to write the script of how that interaction might turn out. Using this model, and other techniques alongside it, the client can learn to make positive and proactive choices, reject old conditioning from others, and become aware that they are “good enough” –  neither “flawed”, nor destined to strive for “perfectionism”.

Psychoanalysis in Edinburgh, Falkirk and Glasgow

Stuart trained in psychoanalysis and clinical hypnotherapy from 1993-1996 with over 200 assessed cases (over 1,000 client hours) and external assessment via the NVQ system. He graduated in 1996 with a diploma in analysis and hypnotherapy and an NVQ Level 4 Training and Development. Since graduation he has completed CPD training in a range of other models of psychotherapy, counselling, coaching, NLP and mental health, along with a MSc Psychology.

Couples therapy

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Couples therapy Edinburgh, Glasgow, Falkirk

Stuart provides psychoanalytic couples therapy to couples of any sexual preference in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Falkirk.

Style of couples therapy Edinburgh, Glasgow, Falkirk

Stuart focuses on psychoanalytic models, looking at perceptions, communication gaps and linguistics of the couple. This enables the identification of behavioural and perceptual patterns both of each individual, and of the dynamic between them.

This then translates into awareness and conscious choice. Exercises and “real life” homework are suggested to enable change to extend beyond the therapy clinic.