On Friday, everybody in the UK awoke to a new world. The dust has yet to settle and the repercussions of the vote to be enacted; we live in interesting times.Whilst I have a view on whether we should or should not leave the EU, this blog is not about that. It is about how as a population we have … [Read more...]
Therapy – a client’s perspective
An introductionHello. I’m Alice Ayres. Up until now on this blog, it’s always been the therapists speaking. This is the first of a series of blog posts in which I will be presenting a view from the other chair, the view of the client. I hope it will be useful to those considering or currently … [Read more...]
Steps to a calmer mind
Overthinking and overdoing can lead us to feeling stressed and anxious, disrupt our sleep and even lead to depression. We have previously written about the role of psychotherapy in emotional regulation. However, we all need a daily practice with simple steps to quieten the mind and feel more present … [Read more...]
Does psychotherapy cure addiction?
Does psychotherapy cure addiction?The answer to this question depends very much on whether addiction is seen as a disease in the medical sense of the word, and secondly, on whether it is indeed the goal of therapy to cure.In response to these questions, I would suggest that rather than being … [Read more...]
Counselling and Psychotherapy – Differences
Two of the most frequent questions we get asked is are there any differences between counselling and psychotherapy and which do I need?Well, one way of thinking about the difference is that counselling is more about having someone walk alongside you during a difficult time. Sometimes this is … [Read more...]
On Affect Regulation
The term ‘affect regulation’ is one that I have written about previously and one that is increasingly used in the world of applied psychology and neuroscience. It can be a very useful term for bringing together psychology, biology and in explaining why good psychotherapy works, so read on! What is … [Read more...]
Remembering in order to forget
It is not unusual for prospective or current clients in psychotherapy to ask, “What is the point of me remembering that and feeling sad, upset, angry (insert whichever uncomfortable emotion comes to mind)?” And even when not posed directly, the question plays in the unconscious through resistance in … [Read more...]
Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy
Eric Berne, the founder of Transactional Analysis (TA) described it as ‘a theory of personality and asystematic psychotherapy for personal growth and change’.In Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy, we adopt the philosophical principles that:- People are fundamentally OK, even if they … [Read more...]
My approach to psychotherapy
Every psychotherapist has a view on what therapy is and how they practice. As I write this blog, I am drawn to my bookshelf filled with tomes by both historical and modern clinicians, detailing precisely how to practice this art that is psychotherapy.Having recently commissioned a set of … [Read more...]
Top tips for breaking a bad habit
We all have bad habits. Some are fairly innocuous and others, at the extreme, can develop into behavioural addictions.Many of us try our hardest to break bad habits, but end up failing miserably. There is a particular time of year – New Year’s – when many of us set out to ‘turn over a new … [Read more...]
What is attachment and why does it matter?
Attachment theory is something I draw on a lot in my practice. However, unlike psycho-analytic theory, the concepts are relatively simple. Simply put, attachment theory describes how we respond to relationships.There are broadly four different styles (or, as I prefer to think of them – … [Read more...]
Anger Management: Often Mismanaged
Anger management is a common term used in working with clients with anger issues. Even Hollywood has capitalised on the term as a title for a movie, which unsurprisingly was directed at a largely male audience.At Brighton and Hove Psychotherapy we offer work on ‘anger management’, however, what … [Read more...]
What doesn’t kill us makes us weaker: Developmental trauma and attachment styles
There is a lot of wisdom in sayings that have been part of our language and culture for as long as we can remember. For example, being ‘on the back foot’, meaning to be at a disadvantage or on the defensive, is a perfect expression of how our relationship to our body influences how we relate to … [Read more...]
Trauma and Recovery
Judith Herman (1992), writes:“Psychological trauma is an affliction of the powerless. At the moment of trauma, the victim is rendered helpless by overwhelming force. Traumatic events overwhelm the ordinary systems of care that give people a sense of control, connection, and meaning”Although … [Read more...]
New Year Reflections
Like many of us, at the end of each year I like to take some time to reflect on the past year and also look to the year ahead for changes and improvements I'd like to make in the personal and professional areas of my life. The beginning of a new calendar year can be a good opportunity for a … [Read more...]