Approaches to therapy
There are literally thousands of approaches to therapy at the present time. This page will cover just a few relevant to the “Box 3″ questions that arise in our work together.
Autogenic Training
Autogenic training is a European method for achieving relaxation based upon passive concentration and body awareness of specific sensations. Autogenic training is a relaxation technique developed by the German psychiatrist Johannes Schultz coming into common use before the Second World War. Its effectiveness has been shown in relieving many stress-related disorders including anxiety, tension, insomnia, and examination stress. Persons with chronic medical conditions ranging from migraine, colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, diabetes, high blood pressure, to thyroid disease and many other conditions have also been shown to benefit from the practice of autogenic training.
In simple terms, autogenic training is designed to reverse the “fight or flight” stress response with its release of epinephrine and norepinephrine in the body. Since it is slightly more complex to learn than some meditative techniques, most people find that taking a course is the easiest way to learn the technique.
Some of this work will be familiar as autogenics uses a number of breathing strategies but practice is more systematic and complex than some of the systems I have introduced to you. For further information, in the UK context, see:
http://www.relax-yourself.co.uk/autogenics.aspx
Biofeedback to reduce stress
Some people will have been introduced to the software I use and my portable system of heart variance monitoring. Further details about this are available from a UK source at:
Mindfulness therapy
Mindfulness is being studied systematically at:
http://www.bangor.ac.uk/imscar/mindfulness/
with in-depth training available in Oxford, see:
More practice-based short courses can be found in London at, among other places, at:
I undertook my own introduction to this model in East Anglia and there is information available at:
www.mindfulness-east-anglia.co.uk
or directly, by email, to:
kathleen@mindfulness-east-anglia.co.uk
Assertiveness Training
Further information on this approach to modifying our behaviour can be found on:
www.totalsuccess.co.uk/assertivenesstraining.htm
This includes a development of one of the ‘safe experiments’ (Feeling Facts) that I may well have asked you to try out.
The value of this approach, and others listed here, is that the training is often carried out in groups so the ‘safe experiments’ can be improved by getting help from other people of like mind.
There are links to more formal therapy organisations such as Relate and the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy available on this Site, located under Other Web Sites. Individuals wishing to seek psychotherapy through this company can contact Dr Christina Mason on her mobile at:
07931-507531