Tag: Psychotherapy

Anxiety, Health, Neurodiversity, Self Help, Wellbeing7 Comments

Deep Breathing

Change Therapy

Breathing exercises are a powerful way to manage Stress. One particular method that is becoming more popular worldwide is Deep Breathing. There are many benefits of practicing in this way of which I will explain shortly, so please stay with me. Do you ever stop what you are doing and think exclusively about breathing? It is an automatic function, where we breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide. Breathing is a conscious and a sub-conscious process. When you think about it, breathing is one of the most important and powerful resources you can tap into, as it is the … Continue reading Deep Breathing

Anxiety, Mental Health, Psychology, Wellbeing16 Comments

Procrastination

Change Therapy

Recently, I was contacted by an independent radio station in London, England to take part in their ‘live’ Breakfast Show, which periodically covers current topics of interest in Mental Health. The subject for the planned show was Procrastination, and the organisers invited a clinical psychologist, myself and another psychotherapist to take part in a Q&A session, allowing 10 minutes for each of us to take questions and answer using our previous experience when helping clients overcome procrastination. Personally, I found the experience to be exhilarating, with no nervous feelings at all. Knowing that my voice and opinions would be broadcast, … Continue reading Procrastination

Anxiety, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Nature, Neurodiversity, Wellbeing4 Comments

Relaxation Walk

Change Therapy

Recently, while working in collaboration with an Edinburgh charity, get2gether, to provide a relax in nature walk, we decided on a location a few miles from Edinburgh city centre, which is aptly named Saughton Rose Gardens. Even at the end of the season there were still a few roses in bloom; it was evident that the local community who tended this area, had done a remarkable job producing healthy plants and flowers amongst beautifully landscaped gardens. I was surprised to see a statue of Gandhi as we entered at the East gate. The beautifully managed gardens that met us as … Continue reading Relaxation Walk

Anxiety, Health, Horse Therapy, Mental Health, Neurodiversity, Wellbeing23 Comments

Horse Therapy

Change Therapy

Therapy can take many forms. People with disabilities who ride horses for therapeutic purposes do so to de-stress and to improve their well-being, confidence, muscle tone, and coordination.It serves as a workout to enhance motor and sensory abilities for posture, balance, and coordination.  Equine-assisted therapy (EAT) encompasses a range of treatments that involve activities with horses and other equines to promote positive human physical and mental health. (Wikipedia) The following true story highlights one such positive experience using Equine-assisted therapy, which I want to share with you. Do dreams come true? by AJ (seen above riding Oreo) From a young age I had … Continue reading Horse Therapy

Anxiety, general health, Health, Mental Health, Neurodiversity, Psychology10 Comments

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Change Therapy

This particular Talking therapy focusses on altering thought and behaviour patterns and is called Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT. Although it can be helpful for various mental and physical health issues, it is most frequently used to treat anxiety and depression. It is used by mental health specialists, such as Psychologists, Psychotherapists, and Counsellors, to treat or manage emotional problems and mental health illnesses. CBT is founded on a number of fundamental ideas, such as: Psychological problems can have several root causes. These include unhelpful or problematic thought patterns, learnt patterns of unhelpful behaviour, and problematic core beliefs, such as … Continue reading Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Anxiety, Health, Meditation, Mental Health, Self Help, Wellbeing1 Comment

Focused Meditation

Change Therapy

When we use a Focus Meditation, the object here is to concentrate on one object, for a short time, while immersing yourself in the experience. This helps give you a sense of calm, peace and for balance that can benefit your emotional well-being and your overall health This mediation invites you to tune into your environment by focusing on a simple object. You can use any object you wish. Perhaps an object close to you on your person, like a key, paper or phone?   A Focus Meditation is a great exercise to learn. Do you have 2 minutes to … Continue reading Focused Meditation

Health, Mental Health, Psychology, Self Help, Wellbeing4 Comments

Wellbeing Dimensions

Change Therapy

Have you noticed the increase in the use of the words ‘Wellbeing, Good Mental Health and Wellness’ in the community? If improving our health means that we can have a more content life while living longer, and having less pain, I am all for it. There are exceptions however, to the use of these words or similar to describe what we must do to achieve our goals. Apparently, as demonstrated by some well-known companies below, the use of Wellbeing is taken out of context to sell their products.  These companies and many more worldwide, are saying ‘If you do this … Continue reading Wellbeing Dimensions

Health, Inspirational, Wellbeing11 Comments

February

Change Therapy

It feels like such a long time ago, preparing for the Festive period, in December 2023. All the planning of family events and purchasing gifts for loved ones and friends. We went to the theatre and attended outdoor parties where everyone would be in a joyful mood and there was a never-ending supply of festive food on offer wherever we went.  December was such a happy month, and expensive, but it was the Festive season after all! We looked forward to a New Year approaching, 2024, wondering what it would bring. After the celebrations of Hogmanay and eating the left-overs … Continue reading February

Anxiety, Health, Mindfulness, Psychology, Self Help, WellbeingLeave a comment

Calming anxiety quickly

Change Therapy

Anxiety. A word that I hear more and more of as each week passes by. Some people have common anxieties about the cost of living or the plethora of viruses circulating in the community. Some have anxieties concerning their own lives and how they can deal with things troubling them. There are self-help books, websites and experts all over the place that promise to help you deal with your anxiety, but what if you do not have ready access to a book, website or a professional to talk you through what to do in the moment that anxious thoughts appear … Continue reading Calming anxiety quickly

Anxiety, general health, Health, Psychology, Uncategorized, Wellbeing3 Comments

A fresh perspective

Change Therapy

Recently, a client came to me with a problem; one that was causing all sorts of unrest in their life. They struggled to sleep at night for worrying, and this had animpact on their waking hours, as they were tired and irritable, and they foundthemselves becoming consumed with trying to find an answer to the ‘problem’. Many people, including myself, have had this type of experience before, and it is not apleasant place to be in, therefore I was able to empathise to a degree on the emotions involved. What I believe works for the all of my clients, is … Continue reading A fresh perspective

Anxiety, general health, Health, Mindfulness, Self Help, Wellbeing3 Comments

Mindfulness of Anger

Change Therapy

Anger is an unpleasant feeling. It is like a blazing flame that burns up our self-control and causes us to say and do things that we regret later. When someone is angry, we can see that they are in a form of hell, a cycle of never-ending rage. Anger and hatred are the materials in which hell is made. A mind without anger is cool, fresh and rational. The absence of anger is the basis of real happiness; the basis of love and compassion. When our anger us placed under the spotlight of Mindfulness, it immediately begins to lose some … Continue reading Mindfulness of Anger

Inspirational, Psychology6 Comments

Life, Lemons and Lemonade

Change Therapy

Someone once said, “If life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” This is solid advice for every one of us to keep in mind at some point in our lives. Simply put, make the best out of a situation; see how it can be turned around and most importantly, learn from it. Life will constantly throw difficult challenges your way that would make you fall hard to the ground, but you should always get back up, dust yourself off, and keep moving forward with a smile on your face. Know that these challenges are a test of your endurance, of how … Continue reading Life, Lemons and Lemonade

Inspirational, Meditation, Mindfulness, Wellbeing8 Comments

The Complete Picture

Change Therapy

A man had four sons. He wanted them to learn to judge things carefully, so he sent each of them on a quest to look at an apple tree far away. The first son left in the Winter. The second son left in the Spring. The third son left in the Summer. The fourth son left in the Autumn. After they all returned home , he asked his sons to describe what they had experienced. The first son said that the apple tree was ugly and twisted. The second son said the apple tree was covered with buds and full … Continue reading The Complete Picture

Autism specific, Neurological, Wellbeing3 Comments

Autism and Meltdowns

Change Therapy

Most parents are familiar with a child’s temper tantrum and the disruptive, angry outbursts where the child demands attention, including getting their own way. In contrast, when a child or adult on the Autistic Spectrum has a Meltdown, they are reacting to emotional overload, and their brain struggles to make sense of a situation or behaviour. Ultimately, a Meltdown is a loss of control brought about by changes to the routine or expected behaviours, resulting in the senses being over stimulated all at once. Explosion of emotions! The Meltdown responses displayed by the Autistic person may include verbal expressions, of … Continue reading Autism and Meltdowns

general health, Health, Wellbeing1 Comment

Non-Surgery

Change Therapy

Western medicine emphasizes surgery far too much. Doctors want to take out things that are not wanted. When we have something irregular in our body, too often they advise us to have an operation. The same seems true in psychotherapy. Most therapists want to help us throw out what is unwanted and keep only what is wanted. But what is left may not be very much. If we try to throw away what we don’t want, we may throw away most of  ourselves. Here at Change Therapy, I will help you transform your life and find a way to remain … Continue reading Non-Surgery