Danielle’s Diary of beginning therapy

Danielle’s Diary of beginning therapy

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A blog describing one person's experience of the first six sessions of counselling. First step - Making an appointment. Just made my first appt with the counsellor. She seemed OK on the phone. We didn’t really talk about my issues, more the practicalities. Next Tuesday 11am. Still not sure… may change my mind. First arrival So…didn’t change my mind …arrived and managed to find the waiting room the counsellor told me about. Turned up a bit early as I was nervous about whether I’d get here on time, (did take a wrong turn). Feeling anxious but don’t want to let it show. Not sure what to expect. I want help, but really hope therapist is OK, otherwise I’ll clam up. Session 1 Therapist collected me and seemed pleasant enough. We…
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Depression Blog

Depression Blog

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DEPRESSION CAN BUGGER UP YOUR LIFE ! Depression is weird as it's often a result of a past experience that we've either forgotten about or avoid like the plague! So the first step is to track down the cause, with a therapist who is the emotional equivalent of a Red Indian tracker. Therapy helps us uncover the cause and deal with it. More details. Freddy Flintoff, the England, cricket captain found himself self medicating by drinking too heavily during the cricket world cup, as he had no idea why he was feeling so down. He wanted to sit by himself while the others wanted to celebrate their successes. `I just needed the doctor to tell me what was wrong, but nobody told me it was depression.` Winston Churchill used to…
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How to Cope With Bereavement & Loss

How to Cope With Bereavement & Loss

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The loss of someone you love or something that was important to you can be very upsetting and sometimes feel overwhelming. A natural grieving process is important for any kind bereavement and will remain unfinished until addressed. Some of us have difficulty staying in touch with upsettling emotions around bereavement and can then try and suppress the painful feelings. The grieving process will remain unfinished and the uncomfortable feelings can then surface at other times with intensity and often much confusion, causing difficulty in relationships at home and work. Counselling can be used to help with this process.     Grieving is a natural process we go through in response to bereavement or losses of many kinds, eg. death, loss of a job, relationship breakdown, life events again and any…
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Counselling for Depression

Counselling for Depression

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Where does Depression come from? Depression is extremely common and is thought to affect one in ten of us in our lifetime. Whilst the despair that depression can cause cannot be underestimated, it is important to understand that anyone can be affected and that most people respond well to treatment. Depression may be triggered by recent or past traumas or significant life changes such as relationship breakdowns or a bereavement. Usually something that has been difficult to deal with or just avoided. Can Depression be treated? If you suffer with depression it may feel like you will feel this way forever, however with support and treatment most people are able to make a full recovery. At BCPC, we have a number of therapists experienced in treating depression. Who else has…
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Inspiring Poem

Inspiring Poem

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Below is the `Guy in a Glass’ poem that challenges us about how we live our life. It was read to the English rugby team in Australia last June before they beat the hosts & won the series for the FIRST TIME EVER.  The poem was seen as being an inspiring contribution to that. This was because it connected with the emotions of the players rather than a more thoughtful, intellectual approach that is often used. Being able to access our feelings can sometimes be difficult but counselling can support you to access them and find answers that defy a more thinking & analytic approach!     `Guy in The Glass` by Peter Dale Wimbrow Sr     `guy` can be man or woman.. When you get what you want in your struggle…
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What Is Anxiety?

What Is Anxiety?

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Anxiety is something that keeps us alert to challenges we may face – and is both necessary and normal. However, excessive anxiety may require external support to reduce it. Read the full article A simple explanation of anxiety. The mind tells the body to prepare to face a crisis and the body releases adrenalin causing the heart to beat faster, pumping oxygen round to increase energy, sweating to prevent overheating & needing the toilet. The body is now vigilant for a fight or flight situation which is helpful when faced with a real danger or threat. However when this reaction is triggered when you are out shopping or in a social situation, past fears and worries can trigger the same reaction - and the body can then be left accumulating headaches, tiredness…
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Intro To Couples Counselling

Intro To Couples Counselling

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When our closest, most intimate relationship begins to break down or feels rocky, we can feel bereft, shocked, unable to trust and worn out. However we can fall back into patterns that seem to make things worse even though we desperately want them to be better. Couples counselling can help you to explore better ways of relating to each other, and help to interrupt the blame cycle that many relationships end up going round and round in. That treadmill can leave us feeling misunderstood, unappreciated, hurt, angry, a failure and wanting someone to agree with us that the other person is in the wrong. Both people get to feel worse and worse until someone capitulates or walks out. Neither usually offers a good resolution. Client Comments My partner’s always criticising…
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Struggling with addiction?

Struggling with addiction?

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Is your addiction taking over your life? Addictions often begin as ways of coping and develop into habits.  Addiction is the persistent use of a substance or behaviour in spite of the negative consequences it gives rise to.  When a behaviour becomes habitual we do it automatically and without conscious control. These habits can often be very damaging to our health and relationships.  Read the full article Click here to see the some comments that other clients have said about their addiction. If you would like some addiction therapy to help improve your life contact us here. Knowledge is Power  The more you know about your addiction the better! It gives you some power over it.  Keeping a diary to detail the pattern of your addictive behaviour, your mood and activities…
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How to Manage Your Anger

How to Manage Your Anger

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If you experience intense anger it can be difficult to manage and this can lead to problems in your life. Firstly, anger is not bad. It is an important emotion that has allowed us to protect ourselves and those we  care about. However problems do occur if it isn’t understood and managed in the right way.  Read the full article Are you looking for... ways to cope with the intensity of your anger? There are different techniques to minimise the damaging elements of your anger. ways to manage the intensity of your anger better? Working with a counsellor to understand more about your anger so you can control it and protect those close to you.   ways to eliminate the intensity of your anger? Counsellors or therapists here at the…
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Child Sexual Abuse Inquiry

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This letter was sent to the Home Secretary last week from the Survivors Alliance. who are a group of organisations supporting survivors of abuse, together with supportive professionals. They and many others, are very disturbed by the way the current Inquiry into organised child sexual abuse is being handled by the home office. 28th January, 2015 Rt Hon Theresa May MP Home Secretary Home Office 2 Marsham Street LONDON SW1P 4DF Dear Home Secretary As you will be aware, the Survivors Alliance has consistently expressed its support for an inquiry into institutional and organised abuse.  We have therefore drawn together a wide range of groups, from those working with people with learning disabilities, agencies working with survivors from public schools, care leavers, and individual professionals and survivors.  We are all…
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