Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy attempts to create changes in how we feel, think and act (emotional, cognitive and behavioural changes) to overcome painful emotions such as depression and anxiety and to live our lives in accord with our essential values.

There is a wide variety of approaches to psychotherapy, and here I attempt to elucidate some of the principles behind my own approach to therapy.

Solution-Focused Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy begins with the question, how would you like to think, feel and act instead? Insight into the nature and history of emotions is often not enough to create change. We need to look at how specifically you need think and act differently, in the actual context of your life, in order to create the states of mind you desire.

Skills-Focused Therapy

Psychotherapy asks what skills and resources are needed to achieve your objectives. Often therapy is a matter of learning new skills such as how to breathe optimally, or flexibly adjust our mode of attention.

Holistic Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy respects that each person is a unique individual, with their own individual values, talents, problems - and solutions. Moreover, each of us is so much more than our conscious idea of ourselves. Psychotherapy connects us with deeper levels of intelligence. Psychological adaptability, one of the principle goals of psychotherapy, involves a harmony between mind and body, a fusion of cognitive, somatic and emotional intelligences.

Mindfulness Based Psychotherapy

Mindfulness is 'paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgementally'*. Mindfulness originated in the Buddhist meditation tradition, but in recent times has been rapidly gaining prominence in modern psychotherapy approaches, notably Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). It's a skill that is key to some of the most fundamental aims of psychotherapy: self-awareness and psychological flexibility. Mindfulness integrates well with biofeedback training.

Psychotherapy Links

United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)

UKCP is an umbrella training and accreditation body for the UK.

Glyn Blackett's York Psychotherapy Site

This site is a sister-site to this one, giving a fuller account of my approach to psychotherapy.