Hypnotherapy - Therapy of the month

Solution Focused Hypnotherapy – Deborah Pearce

Debbie works with clients who are looking for a more enjoyable experience of life.  This may mean working with clients to reduce anxiety, or to help clients get a better night's sleep or to help clients become more confident. It may mean getting rid of unhelpful fears or phobias, or taming your 'inner critic'.

Debbie practises Solution Focused Hypnotherapy, which means that rather than focusing on problems Debbie encourages you to identify solutions that will work for you. Debbie’s approach utilises Solution Focused Brief Therapy techniques, encouraging the client to adopt a more positive outlook on life. Call Debbie on 01404 813388 or 07939 840788 or email dpearcehypno@gmail.com

How can hypnotherapy help?

STRESS

It’s not always easy to remove the source of the pressure or challenges that you face. It may be that you are stressed because of work pressures or illness in the family. Hypnotherapy can help you, though, by helping you to cope so much better. Remember, it’s not the situation you find yourself in that is causing you stress, it’s your response to it. By using Solution Focused techniques, we can help you to formulate a better way of coping with your situation. We help you to visualise your preferred future so that your sub-conscious mind has a positive template to work with. By responding to external pressures in a calmer, more positive way, stress-related symptoms often improve. Life can, indeed, be fun.

SLEEP

Anxiety is a common cause of insomnia, and of course worrying that you’re not sleeping only makes the problem worse. It’s not long before a vicious cycle sets in and the harder you try the more elusive sleep becomes. It can be really debilitating and can seriously impair a person’s ability to function normally or enjoy life.

Hypnotherapy can help insomnia sufferers by addressing the underlying anxiety, often caused by work, relationship, health or financial worries. Ruminating on problems serves to amplify their significance and even small issues can get out of proportion in the middle of a sleepless night.

WEIGHT MANAGEMENT

Now, hypnotherapy isn't a magic wand. You won't be able to lose weight unless you change what you eat or take more exercise, preferably both. Solution Focused Hypnotherapy can help you find the motivation for making the necessary changes. It is a modern research-based combination of psychotherapy techniques and hypnosis, aimed at encouraging you to focus on how you want things to be. We avoid problem-talk and instead help you to visualise your preferred future. There's a huge difference between saying 'I don't want to binge on a whole packet of doughnuts' and 'I am going to eat healthy and nutritious food'.

Hypnotherapy can help you address the underlying stresses that get in the way of you making appropriate choices around food and exercise. But it can only help if you make an effort to do something different, so be prepared for change. And be prepared for steady, sustainable weight loss, rather than a quick fix. By dealing with the underlying issues that get in the way of managing your weight, you'll feel motivated to make more helpful choices about food and exercise.

Please also contact Debbie for Anxiety, Motivation, Confidence, Phobias, Blood pressure, calmer Childbirth and much more.

deborahpearce.co.uk

Therapy of the Month - Counselling

Gillian Perrow is a trained Relate Group Leader, Family Counsellor and Therapeutic Mediator. She shares a Group Practice in Somerset with six other practitioners called Relationship Somerset. She runs her own practice from the Health & Wellbeing Centre, where she is also Director and Chair of the Trustees. She has been involved with  self-development of both herself and others for over 30 years.

Gillian is committed to Continuous Professional Development and she attends conferences and training days regularly, to keep up to date with new developments in the field. She is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and she adheres to their code of ethics. She is committed to working for the client’s best interest; practising confidentiality, having a transparent working contract and promoting the client’s right to make their own decisions.

Services Include:

Ø Couple Counselling

Ø Family Counselling

Ø Individual Counselling

   COUNSELLING CAN HELP WITH:

• More intimate and satisfying relationships
• Greater sense of self-worth and self-awareness
• Increased confidence and self esteem
• Feeling calmer and more relaxed
• Better communication skills
• Develop healthier patterns of relating to others

Whatever your problem, you really don’t need to feel alone.

CONTACT:

Gillian Perrow

Axminster Health & Wellbeing Centre
Hanover House
Chard Street
Axminster
EX13 5DZ

Phone: 01297 32530
Mob: 07877 721297

www.axminstercounselling.co.uk

How can Acupuncture help you?

Acupuncture can help with a wide range of physical and emotional health problems.  These include the following:-

Anxiety                                      Fatigue

Depression                                Hay Fever

Arthritis                                     Headaches

Asthma                                      Infertility

Back pain                                  Insomnia

Bladder problems                               Menopause

Digestive conditions                    Menstrual problems

                   Polycystic Ovaries

About Val

Val has been a therapist for 20 years.  She originally trained in Therapeutic Massage and built up a successful practice in South Wales.  She subsequently went on to train in Traditional Acupuncture at the College of Traditional Acupuncture in Leamington Spa.  Following this she moved to the South West and set up her practice.   She is a member of the British Acupuncture Council and has clinics in Sidmouth, Exmouth and Axminster.

Val treats most physical and emotional health problems, such as back pain and sciatica, sports injuries, IBS, insomnia, headaches and migraines.  She has undertaken additional training in:-

• Acupuncture for addictions such as smoking and weight loss
• Fertility and IVF support
• Pregnancy management and childbirth
• Facial Revitalisation Acupuncture (FRA)
• Women’s health issues e.g.menstrual/menopausal support

Background

Val originally trained in Psychiatric Nursing and worked in a large hospital in Sheffield, for a number of years.  She subsequently trained in massage, during this time she suffered from RSI and tried Acupuncture. This completely cured her RSI and being so impressed she decided to train in Acupuncture.  She has been an Acupuncturist for the last 18 years and is passionate about her work and has found her vocation in life.

Val Davis can be contacted on 01395 578050 or

On 07870 881596

Or check out her website: www.devonacupuncture.org.uk

Spring forward this season with Shiatsu.

February 11, 2016

|

Marco Cavallaro

In the UK the cold and darkness of winter urge us to slow down.

Winter is Yin in nature; it is inactive, cold, and damp and therefore a more sedentary winter time can leave us feeling physically stiff, frustrated and prone to migraines, IBS and depression. This spring prepare yourself for returning to a more relaxed, active and happy lifestyle with Shiatsu.

During the winter months it is more difficult to wake in the mornings and struggle in to work, and the overwhelming desire is to curl up on the sofa in the evenings to watch the wealth of winter dramas while indulging in high fat foods. Now the evenings are getting lighter and the spring bulbs are in bloom we begin to feel like facing the world again but the lethargy of the winter months may be hard to shift.

Officially, spring begins in the West on the 21st of March on the Spring Equinox. In contrast the Chinese feel it begins at Chinese New Year (Monday 8th February 2016), when the light is returning and the early signs of new growth begin. In both systems, the basic energy is the same; a feeling of new beginnings and a fresh start. Surprisingly often we do not feel the anticipated happiness expected at this time of year. Often, people feel frustrated, anxious and depressed as the energy builds in a body slowly waking from the hibernation of winter.

Shiatsu treats the liver and gall bladder meridians at this time of year to support the Wood element in regaining balance in the body. These are strongly linked to muscle function and tendon elasticity and when they are depleted stiffness and muscle aches occur. A Shiatsu treatment at this time will leave you feeling physically balanced and revitalised, ready to spring forward into the new season with rejuvenated muscle function and a positive frame of mind.

The Wishing Well Axminster Cancer Support - Could it help you or a loved one?

“Wishing Well” – Axminster’s cancer support group

“Wishing Well” is a support group for people affected by cancer, and for their carers.

The group is hosted by Axminster Health and Wellbeing Centre, Chard Street, Axminster on Thursday afternoons from 2.30 until 4.30pm and is open to all affected by cancer including families and carers.

We provide a safe, supportive and informative space where people experiencing cancer, including people who have recovered from cancer, can get together and share experiences and support one another.

We believe Axminster Health and Wellbeing Centre is the perfect place to host this group, we are centrally located in the town and near to a car park.

 

We offer refreshments on arrival and a spacious and comfortable meeting room.

The Centre is also the venue for complementary therapy treatments.

Our complementary therapy practitioners are very supportive of ‘Wishing Well’ and many are happy to offer people attending Wishing Well the opportunity to receive treatments.

Complementary therapy treatments for Wishing Well have been made possible due to a bursary fund for cancer support which was awarded in part by Macmillan and in part by Devon Community Foundation.

Currently Wishing Well has 26 registered members and the group has enjoyed a range of talks and workshops on subjects including Nutrition, Yoga, Art and Breath.

We are always looking to expand what we offer so please get in touch if you are willing to run a workshop or deliver a talk on a health, wellbeing, exercise or art/ craft activity.

Feedback from our speakers/ workshop leaders and from our attendees suggests that ‘Wishing Well’ is a much needed and appreciated group.

‘I first went to Wishing Well whilst still on chemotherapy and found it a relief to be able to talk to other cancer sufferers without having to explain myself. We can all support each other with our varying experiences.

Attending talks and learning more about complimentary therapies and cancer specific dietary advice has been most helpful.

Through Wishing Well I was able to attend a mindfulness course which has proved very helpful during difficult times.

Knowing there is a local cancer support group in Axminster is very reassuring’.

Chris Edwards

‘I enjoyed the art session because it was good to speak to other women living with cancer. Having cancer and coping with treatment can feel isolating even if you have lots of friends and family around’

 Ruby Cole

'Wishing Well at Axminster Health and Wellbeing Centre provides valuable support and a source of accurate information for clients. I valued meeting everyone at the talks I have given at this lovely meeting place and hope the nutrition advice was helpful.'

 Liz Bray - registered nutritional therapist at Axminster Health and Wellbeing Centre www.body-balance.co.uk

Pregnancy Massage and its benefits.

During pregnancy your body goes through great physical and emotional change. You may have a sore back, swollen ankles or feel a little apprehensive about the change a new baby will bring. 
Here are some ways that pregnancy massage may help you with one or indeed all of these challenges....

Physical benefits of the treatment can include:
Reduced swelling in areas such as ankles and feet by stimulation of the lymphatic and circulatory systems.

Pain reduction in areas of stress such as the shoulders, lower back, and legs by the use of specially tailored therapeutic massage techniques. 

Emotional benefits of the treatment can include:
The beginning of a positive bond between mum and baby by the production of the hormone oxytocin being stimulated during massage. 

Time out from your busy schedule to think about and concentrate on this new baby (this can be especially helpful if you already have children that often take up much of your time and attention). 

Emma is trained to the one of the highest levels of remedial massage available in the UK and even has a special couch where you are able to lie on your front (stomach and baby safely cradled) to relieve weight and pressure. If you would prefer a seated or side lying pregnancy treatment then this is also available. For more information or to book contact Emma on 07717310198. 

Couples Counselling - It started with words written.

Our journey began with words—words written down because talking was too tough:

I’m not happy.

You’re not happy.

I hate that you speak to me so disrespectfully and dismissively.

I hate that I respond in kind and I feel disappointed in myself every time I do so.

I feel angry—and I don’t want to feel angry.

I feel broken.

Enter Gillian.

With Gillian’s guidance, [Husband] and I have learned to communicate, to connect, to compromise and, in doing so, to reconstruct a relationship that we’d decided was done.

* * *

When we first met with Gillian, [Husband] and I had agreed to continue to cohabit for two more years—to provide a stable home life for our daughter while she completed college—and then, in all likelihood, to go our separate ways.  Two-and-a-half years on, we find ourselves committed to a marriage that may be stronger than it’s ever been.

There are many people who question the efficacy of relationship counselling or couples therapy and, granted, it can deliver results only if both parties are open and honest, and engage with the process.  To that end, I sometimes ask the (many) friends who tell me that they or their partners would ‘never go to counselling’ why they would visit a doctor if they were sick or had broken a bone, would take their car to the mechanic if something were rattling or the exhaust had fallen off, yet would never consider visiting a couples counsellor to help them to mend a fractured relationship?

The answer is sometimes that the impact of therapy can also be affected by the quality of the counsellor or therapist—and this is certainly true.  [Husband] and I had already experienced two constructive interventions and two that we’d found damaging by the time we found our way to Gillian; we were naturally wary of whether she’d prove the right ‘fit’ for us—even though she came highly recommended by a friend.

We needn’t have worried.  It may be that Gillian simply ‘gets’ us; I think it more likely that she gets the measure of most of her clients and adjusts her approach accordingly.  Either way, each of our sessions with Gillian—whom we see most often as a couple, but sometimes individually—has moved us ever farther from the hurt, angry, ‘broken’ place in which we were when she first met us, and ever deeper into the compassion, understanding and mutual support that [Husband] and I each want within our marriage.

That marriage remains a work-in-progress—and I would argue that it always should, since complacency and old (bad) habit can scupper the very best of intentions.  It’s also true that no relationship exists within a vacuum; hence the period during which we’ve been meeting with Gillian has seen [Husband] and I necessarily negotiating our way through issues including parenting a teenager entering adulthood, making difficult work decisions, and supporting the extended family through illness and incapacity.  In each of these regards, we’ve valued immeasurably the steer that Gillian has offered—and her gentle reminders to always keep ourselves and our relationship in sight.

* * *

Two-and-a-half years ago, had you told us that we would recover the love we’d lost—be able to speak to each other with compassion, understanding and respect—we may have found it hard to swallow such a tall tale.  Today, [Husband] and I may feel that we still have work to do before we believe that we’re ‘there’ (wherever and whatever ‘there’ may be)—but we both agree that, thanks to sensitive therapy, we’re walking that path hand in hand.

If you are looking for a couples/relationship counsellor contact Gillian Perrow on

01297 32530 / 07877721297

gillianperrow@btinternet.com

www.axminstercounselling.co​.uk