ERP explained ERP, (Exposure and Response Therapy) is an important part of any OCD treatment. It involves working with your therapist to ‘expose’ yourself to the thing you really don’t what to do (obsessional thought or belief about something ) and then NOT performing the behaviour (Complusion) you would normally do to bring a sense …
Covid-19 is here. Well, its all changed since I last blogged. I’m sending anyone reading this a virtual shake-hand or how about a hug eh ? I’ve been reading a lot of advice about looking after your anxieties and mental health in these uncertain times, and wanted to respond with a series of steps/ideas one …
These are strange times. Anxiety is all about the unknown and the ‘what’ifs’, the things we can’t control. We feel under threat, in danger and our system is on high alert ! One of CBT’s skills I teach is thought challenging; looking at the thought in a more rational way and then reframing. Ok, what …
At Last mental health advertisement in sport, namely Formula1 ! I love a bit of Grand Prix like many people, but not an avid fan. Although I may choose to catch-up on ‘Bake-off’ rather than join my boyfriend for 2 hours of speed, analysis and David Coulthard’s too snug trousers, F1 is fun, exciting and …
I’m not techy and if honest a bit weary of tech, and seem to have a special gift of breaking it ! So, I was understandably sceptical and also curious to be approached by Limbic to pilot their emotion-detection wearable device as a way to enhance CBT and the client/therapist experience. This is a world …
This week marks Mental Health Awareness week with a focus on Body Image. I’m sure there’s very few of us who haven’t struggled with this to a greater or lesser extent, myself included. Having been a bit bigger than my peers in my 20s, without the pressure of social media I struggled to get fashionable …
Last Thursday I was thrilled to attend a dinner at The Artists Residence London, in aid of CALM (Campaign against living Miserably) a leading movement against male suicide. The Connor Brothers, http://www.theconnorbrothers.com, are fictional twins, but in real life great friends who produce fabulous pulp fiction images with words that resonate at several levels. Mental …
Once in a while a ground-breaking TV programme comes along about mental health. ‘Pure O’ as its sometimes called, part of the Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) family on Channel 4 is just brilliant. Pure O is categorised by unwanted intrusive thoughts which are distressing. Their content can vary from blasphemous, highly sexual or murderous, and …
BBC The Truth about Menopause Wasn’t this a fabulous programme ?! Sadly I find myself in the ‘woman of a certain age’ bracket (surely too young) to be experiencing peri-menopausal symptoms. Despite my therapy brain trying to rationalise and calm, it’s amazing how a drop in Oestrogen can bring out the irrational and emotional …
I try to be mindful, and try, and try ! Walking along Hove seafront most mornings I’m struck by how many people are either looking at their phone or plugged into their music or having a conversation. I don’t know about you but I’m really bad as multi-tasking. My intention when I might make a …
