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My Blog
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Joy Wood: Posted on Saturday, November 24, 2012 7:26 PM
In recent times the television/media coverage of childhood abuse by Jimmy Saville etc will have raised challenging and distressing memories for many who have endured such experiences themselves. Personally, as a trained professional counsellor specialising in this area of childhood abuse and as a survivor myself I watched, listened and absorbed the resulting public responses and debates with much interest. I have found this most intriguing as I have been both pleased and concerned but distressed by what I have seen and heard as reported by the media. First of all pleased that at last the taboo subject of childhood sexual abuse and the impact it has on individual lives and their families is being taken much more seriously. Such a subject now actually being discussed and brought out into the open instead of being brushed under the carpet has come as a huge relief. For many living with the destructive power of "secrets", kept behind closed doors and locked doors, it will bring hope that at last they may feel they too can talk about the trauma of what has been done to them as children and the hope that the person who inflicted it on them, their abuser, may actually be punished for the wrong of what they done. So why do I feel concerned and distressed? Because I can still hear that many non-abused people just do not get it. They do not realise the shame, embarrassment, self doubt, low self esteem, lack of confidence, lack of trust, anger, resentment, damaged emotional wellbeing and personal development and damaged relationships due to trauma, abused people endure on a daily basis.The impact of childhood sexual, physical and psychological abuse has life long consequences unless the abused person is brave enough to disclose their experiences and is able to access and engage in therapy with specialist help and support. Thankfully, in my work, I know those who are able to do this can achieve happy fulfilling lives, personal success and empowerment. |
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John Sackett: Posted on Tuesday, July 31, 2012 7:05 PM
A recent article in the BACP magazine 'Therapy Today' dealt with increased danger of depression in those who are already suffering a long term illness. This is well documented and completely understandable given that their prospects of a long, meaningful and happy life have been taken away, often with the added burden of progressive disability, either physical or mental. Many people in this situation are looked after, often at home, by a spouse, son, daughter or other member of the family and while the medical professionals and social services do their part to look after the patient, the main carer is often left feeling isolated and out of their depth. As a therapist with an interest in pain management, I often see people who are desperate for some form of relief, whether from arthritis, cancer, rheumatism or any other debilitating disease and hypnotherapy can be a wonderful benefit in helping to control the pain, allowing more mobility and also to keep a positive attitude to their illness which helps with the psychological effects which can, in themselves be so damaging. I often feel, however, that it is the carer who needs help the most, the overlooked one in the background, whose life has been turned upside down by their partner's or parent's illness. They may have had to give up work to become the carer, given up their own social life and ambitions, lost contact with friends who they no longer have time for, they too have seen their future dreams turn to dust, often with very little outside support. In the case of terminal illness, these are the people that will be expected to 'soldier on' afterwards, coping not only with the loss of a loved one, but in many cases, feeling that their purpose in life has also gone. They have spent so long, sometimes years, caring for a loved one that when that loved one is gone there is an enormous gap to fill and it often becomes difficult to maintain the incentive to look after themselves. So let's hear it for the army of carers out there, the unpaid cooks, cleaners and launderers, who selflessly give so much emotional, psychological and physical support. The people who really need help, but seldom ask for it. If you know someone in this position, take the time to ask how they are, what they need, and how you can help. Just maintaining that contact and letting them know you are there can be so important. Professional help is, of course, available and if you would like to comment on, or talk about any issues raised here our contact details are on the website. |
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Joy Wood: Posted on Saturday, July 07, 2012 1:28 PM
June 26th.....Working therapeutically with M.E. & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.  Working as a private practioner is a real priviledge as it enables us to be in contact with people from all sorts of backgrounds, cultures and beliefs. In order to respond appropriatley to individuals concerns and distress we are also continually attending CPD (Continuing Personal Development) training and workshops which is also for our own professional growth and advancement. Engaging in regular supervision ensures we are competent to work with a wide variety of issues. In addition to this and equally importantly, we are also constantly learning from our individual clients themselves.......this can be both a most insightful and humbling experience. In recent times I have had the privilege of working with a particulary courageous and lovely woman.The effects can never be understated. I have learnt from her experiences that the ignorance which exsists around the illness of M.E is shocking and I am so pleased that she chose me to be her therapist and in doing so, educate me about a most misunderstood condition, M.E......how did I learn?.....simply by listening!......we can all do that ....you dont have to be a professional, a counsellor/therapist, to do this...partners, family, friends, collegues, neighbours, aquaintances.....listen....and you can then all do your part in their healing...because as I have learnt, by not doing so you can actually exacerbate their condition due to the lack of compassion, care and understanding....surley as human beings this is the 'business' we are all in............ Here my client has kindly written about her personal and therapeutic experiences and has given her permission to publish it M.E. + Agorophobia and Panic Attacks MrsY Garrard, Bournemouth "Thank you Joy, for helping me to turn my life around. For 5 years I have had serious M.E. following the removal of a brain tumour. I had 5 nervous breakdowns that kept putting me back to bed for a year and then 3 years mainly housebound with constant headaches, dizziness and pain everywhere. I had dreadful agorophobia and panic attacks if I tried to go outside. The isolation and loneliness was depressing as friends and family just got on with their lives and the medical profession could offer no help at all. Since that first nervous phone call things have really changed, it turned out I had a whole lot of issues from way back that were never dealt with, I never had anyone to turn to. You have helped me come to terms with a whole lot of personal past pressures in a relaxed and caring atmosphere. Sometimes counselling got difficult so it was followed by a hypnotherapy for calming and relaxing and best of all inner peace. Over time, I now have a life, cheerful and positive with more energy. At last I can seek out more interesting and fun courses outside the house. There is a positive future and at last, fun too. What a turnaround - unbelievable! Why did I wait so long to talk to somebody, I am very fortunate to have met you, Joy. Thank you again for your patience with a deep understanding and kindness." June 2012 |
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National Hypnotherapy Society newsletter: Posted on Saturday, July 07, 2012 1:15 PM
NHS recognise hypnotherapy can cure insomnia Sleep hypnotherapy treatments could soon become the norm as a study has revealed that as many as one in ten people rely on sleeping pills. Experts have suggested that a good night’s sleep can be as important to a person’s wellbeing as exercise and a balanced diet. Lack of sleep can also lead to many other physical and emotional problems if left unaddressed, and according to Franco Cappuccio from the University of Warwick, sleeping less than five hours per night on a regular basis dramatically increases your chances of developing many chronic diseases. The study, by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) has shown that one in eight people sleep less than six hours a night, with three in five taking up to thirty minutes to fall asleep. Hypnotherapy could soon be accepted as the standard treatment, with scientists claiming that the ‘quick fix’ sleeping pills are not the answer for the long term, many of them having potentially harmful side effects or being addictive as well as being very costly to the NHS. A course ofhypnotherapy usually involves ways of encouraging better sleep patterns through relaxation and also relieving any stress or anxiety, factors seen to be integral to aiding regular sleep. Independent sleep researcher, Neil Stanley says that social pressure, work and trying to fit too much into a day are largely to blame. “A lot of people reach for medication as a quick fix,” he said, “rather than looking at the lifestyle and environmental issues that may be causing their sleep problems. There is no medicine that gives you a natural sleep, they give you a drug induced sleep.” |
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Daily Telegragh: Posted on Saturday, July 07, 2012 1:11 PM
Angry? Don’t count to 10 Daily Telegraph, Wed 4 July Counting to 10 doesn’t help anger subside and could actually make people more aggressive, a study claims. Instead, imagining what the scene looks like from across the room – a method called self-distancing – can help keep your temper under control, according to psychologists.  They say counting to ten does little to reduce feelings of anger and could even reinforce them, this is known as ‘self-immersion’ said the study by Ohio State University for the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology.Self-distancing ,on the other hand, helps a person to look at the situation as if they were an “observer rather than a participant” encouraging them to calm down. Students took part in an experiment in which they were provoked into anger and then dealt with it in different ways. Those who used self-distancing were much more likely to see their anger subside quickly. Professor Brad Bushman, a co-author of the research, added: “if you focus too much on how you are feeling, it usually backfires, but self-distancing really works, even right after provocation – it is a powerful intervention tool that anyone can use when they are angry.” |
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Posted on Saturday, July 07, 2012 1:06 PM
Life and death An Australian nurse has written a book about her work in palliative care and lists the top five regrets of the dying: 1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me. 2. I wish I hadn’t worked so hard. 3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings. 4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends. 5. I wish that I had let myself be happier. |
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National Counselling Society newsletter: Posted on Saturday, July 07, 2012 1:01 PM
Former World Champion Swimmer says counselling cleared her head.  Former 200 metre backstroke world champion Katy Sexton has described how counselling helped her clear the ‘fog’ of depression from her head. The athlete told a local newspaper that she really struggled when her form dipped following her high-profile 2003 title win. Katy explained that she lost her funding and lost her direction in life until receiving therapy for depression. “I think it’s self-pressure. For me, when you are at the height of your sport it’s great, but when things start to go wrong, when you have a bad year, there’s nothing to support you, you are just left to fend on your own,” She says that speaking to a professional counsellor can help to put a different perspective on things and clear your thoughts. |
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