Counselling Articles & News

Stress is one of the most common mental health issues in the UK.
In small amounts, stress can be productive, however, high or enduring stress levels can impact on our relationships, work performance, and lead to panic attacks and/or depression. Stress can also contribute to physical symptoms such as skin disorders, IBS, headaches, and other bodily aches and pains.

Counselling and psychotherapy can be instrumental in tackling the root cause of stress and working on ways of managing it.  Stress Counselling treatment is designed to help you explore the causes of stress, including those created by work, family, and past experiences. It may be important to understand what you are doing to maintain high stress levels – for example some behaviours serve to exacerbate stress. Counsellors will work with you to develop stress-reduction techniques and to promote psychologically healthier patterns of living.

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Relationships can be a great source of fulfillment. When they are problematic we feel pain, disappointment, guilt, rejection or loneliness. If you are suffering because of Relationship problems Counselling or Psychotherapy can help to show you healthier patterns of relating.

Counselling and Psychotherapy provides a safe and objective arena to discuss your particular concerns. The relationship with your therapist wil be an important backdrop for good therapuetic work to take place. You will gain self-insight into patterns of relating and work towards making more informed choices and more positive bonds with others. 

Relationship Counsellors work with Individuals, Couples and Families across a range of relationship concerns such as: break-ups, divorce, affairs, sexual difficulties, jealousy, commitment issues, poor communication, power imbalances, domestic violence, wedding/premarital counselling.

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Anxiety can be a normal response to threatening situations. But often anxious feelings produce unpleaseant side-effects of sweating, tension, panic and avoidance-behaviour. If left untreated, anxiety can cause wider difficulties in relationships, at work, and in general mood levels. Psychotherapy and counselling can help by exploring the root causes of anxiety and the factors that maintain anxiety problems.

Counselling and psychotherapy can be instrumental in tackling the root cause of anxiety and working on ways of managing it. Anxiety Counselors help you explore the causes of stress, including those created by work, family, and past experiences. It may be important to understand what you are doing to maintain high stress levels – for example some behaviours serve to exacerbate stress. Counsellors will work with you to develop stress-reduction techniques and to promote psychologically healthier patterns of living.

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Bereavement is the feeling of grief when we lose someone or something close to us. Death and loss are an inevitable part of life; shock, numbness, anger and sadness form part of the natural grieivng process. However, if left unprocessed, such losses can leave us with emotional scars and long term difficulties including mental health issues.

What are the Stages of Bereavement, Grief and Loss?

The first usual response to a bereavement is one of Shock and Disbelief.
Denial, normally follows, as the bereaving find it difficult to accept the reality of the loss. It is normal to experience Anger and even Guilt. A period of Depression can follow which can include symptoms such as sleeplessness, irritability, loss of motivation, social withdrawal, changes in appetite and physical pains. At some stage the bereaved move to a postion of Acceptance.

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Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is premised on the idea that thoughts, moods, behaviours and physical sensations are interconnected. Changes in our thoughts and behaviours can have an impact upon our mood. The essence of cognitive work is to examine underlying thoughts and beliefs behind the emotional disturbances and to generate alternative, more balanced thoughts. This in turn will generate more positive feelings. Cognitive therapists aim to examine and challenge your thoughts and your behaviour to help improve how you feel. To this effect, they are trained to use a number of tools including Daily Thought Records and Behavioural Experiments.

CBT is  an evidence-based therapy treatment for conditions such as depression, stress, anxiety, trauma, eating issues, low self-esteem, anger management, relationship difficulties, work and career issues and phobias / obsessive compulsive disorder.

Anger, though it is a natural emotion, may express itself in undesirable ways. Anger and high adrenaline triggers physiological reactions such as raised heart-beat, higher temperature and palpitations. Mounting anger can cause us to behave aggressively and inappropriately. This can negatively impact our relationships, both personal and professional. We cannot control anger-provoking situations, but we can manage our attitudes to them.

Anger Management Counselling can help with all anger issues from mild irritation to explosive rage. It can help you to understand the causes of anger and help to set it in context. Anger-management therapists work with you to manage your anger levels and to minimize angry confrontation or self-harm.

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Sexual problems come in different guises, are widespread, and can be distressing. Most sexual problems are not medically based, and in such cases individuals may look to psychological sex therapies.

Psycho-sexual counselling (sex therapy) works on the underlying causes of sexual difficulties, which are often based on stress, performance anxiety, intimacy issues, depression, boredom or problems in the relationship.

Sex Therapists will help you discover the sources of the problem, gain insight and develop techniques for overcoming sexual difficulties. Common sexual problems including loss of sexual desire, erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, painful intercourse, anorgasmia, sex addiction and pornography addiction.

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Depression affects one in six of us. Common symptoms include lack of motivation, difficulties in concentration, pessimism, sleep disturbances, irritability, crying, suicidal thoughts, social withdrawal, changes in appetite, loss of sex drive and lack of enthusiasm/pleasure. Depression often has knock-on effects in personal and professional relationships.

What is Depression Counselling & Psychotherapy?
Depression Counselling Treatment will be tailored to your individual symptoms. Typically, Counsellors help you explore the root causes of depression and low mood. They may also incorporate cognitive behavioural therapy techniques which focus on lifting the maintaining cycles of depression and low mood.

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