Counselling Articles

Mindfulness: “Paying attention in a particular way: in the present moment, on purpose and non- judgementally” – Jon Kabat-Zinn

Introduction to Mindfulness

Mindfulness has its roots in Eastern meditation practices which are thousands of years old. The influx of these great traditions into the West provided psychologists not only with an expanded view of the self and of human potential, but also with effective techniques for focussing the mind and managing negative thoughts, feelings and behaviours.

Mindlessness

Many people spend much of their lives in a state of ‘mindlessness’ in which attention is allowed to freely wander from the present, swept away by whatever thought is arising at that moment – often ruminations about the past or fantasies about the future. This can be counter-productive, since focussing attention on the past and future can lead to feelings of guilt/resentment or fear/anxiety. Ironically, people often try in vain to resolve these negative thoughts by giving them even more attention and going around in a vicious circle (obsessions), or even acting them out (compulsions). (more…)

The NHS estimates that there are over 10 million sleeping pills prescribed each year for individuals who are suffering from a sleep disorder. Currently, there are over 80 documented sleep disorders, with insomnia (poor quality or lack of sleep) being the most prevalent. Individuals who suffer from insomnia lack a sufficient amount of uninterrupted sleep necessary to wake feeling refreshed and well rested. However, if left untreated insomnia can increase your chance of developing serious health problems such as depression, anxiety, heart disease, and can even increase the risk of mortality in older individuals. Fortunately, there are many treatment options available for insomnia, and in most cases the treatment does not require medication, but involves addressing the underlying physical and psychological issues that are causing the sleep problem. (more…)

Do I Have a Gambling Problem?

The National Health Society estimates that there are as many as 250,000 individuals in the UK with a gambling addiction. When suffering from compulsive gambling it can feel impossible to control the impulse to gamble, and we continue despite the  problems it causes us and our loved ones. Like other forms of addiction, gambling can become all that we think about, or want to do, no matter what the consequences.

If you find yourself spending increasing amounts of time or money on betting, then you may have a gambling problem. If it is causing you to be secretive, if you are gambling when you do not have the money, if your friends and family are worried, or you are having problems controlling your impulses to bet, then it’s likely that your gambling has become an addiction. But you are not alone! (more…)

What is CBT?

CBT stands for cognitive behavioural therapy, which is an effective treatment for behavioural and emotional problems. It helps patients to identify and understand their fear, and then from this, learn to overcome their fear response.

How are Phobias formed?

Many phobias are believed to be a result of a process called classical conditioning.

For example: If every time a person sees a dog it either bites or barks loudly at that person, the person begins to feel anxious or scared. The dog becomes the object of the person’s fear, and the biting or barking is the cause of this fear. Then upon seeing a dog again, which results in the same negative experience, the person begins to form a phobia. This means that in the future, just seeing a dog that is not vicious in any way will still make the person feel emotions of fear. The development of this fear is called acquisition. (more…)