4 Wellbeing
The section below gives a more detailed description of some of the techniques used by our therapists to
help overcome conditions, illness, or states of mind. Please click the accodions below for more information.
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR is a type of psychotherapy that helps people work through and process disturbing thoughts, feelings, and memories. It is commonly used in the treatment of Panic Attacks, Post-traumatic Stress, and Phobias. It is one of the most significant breakthroughs in the treatment of anxiety-related problems.
EMDR is based on the idea that emotional pain and trauma require time to heal the same way physical pain and trauma do. In situations where our information processing system is blocked or imbalanced, it is much harder for our emotional wounds to heal which often leads to intense psychological suffering. EMDR works to engage the natural healing process, remove these blocks, and encourage healing.
CBT is a psycho-social intervention that has been shown to be effective in treating a number of mental health conditions but is primarily used to combat symptoms of anxiety and depression. There is a focus on how you think about yourself, the world, and other people (cognitive), as well as how your actions affect your thoughts and feelings (behaviour).
CBT can help people make sense of overwhelming problems and emotions by breaking them down into smaller, more digestible parts. This makes it easier to objectively see how they are connected and how they affect you and those around you.
CBT-focussed techniques include:
- Self-awareness, Goal-setting, Relaxation training, Guided imagery, Focussed breathing, Behavioural rehearsal and modelling, Adaptive self-talk
EFT is a form of alternative psychotherapy that works to manipulate the body’s energy fields by pressuring, tapping, or rubbing acupuncture points while a specific traumatic memory is focussed on in order to alleviate a psychological problem.
The theoretical basis underlying EFT suggests that negative emotions can cause disturbances in the body’s energy system.
ACT is a type of psychotherapy that incorporates acceptance and mindfulness strategies with commitment and behaviour-change strategies to increase psychological flexibility.
This intervention is an empirically supported therapy shown to work successfully to treat a wide range of psychological concerns. ACT is a treatment that actively teaches and engages you to learn and improve skills that will enhance your quality of life.
IFS is based on the theory that people cannot be understood in isolation, but should rather be seen has comprised of several “parts”, or sub-personalities, that each play a role in their behaviour, feelings, and actions. In understanding how different parts of a person function together as a system, and how this system interacts externally, IFS applies techniques and strategies to identify the roots of conflict and concern, and encourage healing in each individual part to achieve greater overall well-being.
Animal Assisted Therapy is an alternative therapy that encourages clients to work with animals in sessions. Animals have been shown to promote human well-being in several ways, so by including animal interaction in the therapeutic process, clients are better able to:
- Develop social skills, Understand and improve behaviour, Regulate mood, Manage anxiety
Mindfulness is a mental state achieved by a focus of awareness on the present moment, and acknowledgement and acceptance of feeling, thought, and physical experience.
Mindfulness therapy combines Cognitive Behaviour Therapy techniques with mindfulness-meditative methods to teach people to openly and consciously attend to their feelings and thoughts without judgement.
Yoga Therapy is an approach to psychological treatment that aims to empower individuals to improve their health and wellbeing by applying Yoga teachings and practices. It works to reduce symptoms of:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Stress
- Sleep disturbance
- Chronic and acute pain
A cognitive and educational assessments are comprehensive assessments that involve the collation of information from family, teaches, academic achievement, and performance on a standardised I.Q. assessment.
The focus of a cognitive and educational assessment is to provide an overview and in-depth understanding of an individuals’:
- Thinking and reasoning skills
- Intellectual functioning
- Academic strengths / weaknesses
A report is written at the conclusion of the assessment that outlines relevant learning strategies and recommendations based on the findings. These assessments are often used to help parents and teachers better understand a child or adolescent’s intellectual abilities, and provide an overview of which academic and/or social aspects they struggle with and how best to support them in their development.
Psychological testing involves a number of cognitive assessments conducted by a trained psychologist that provide information about how a person thinks, feels, behaves, and reacts. Generally, assessments will include a series of interviews, observations, consultations, and formal testing that involves administration, scoring, and interpretation.
A report is written at the conclusion of the assessment that discusses the main findings and place them in perspective to create a complete picture of a person’s behaviour and abilities. Psychological reports can be used as a basis for making treatment, educational, or developmental plans.