http://www.questinstitute.co.uk/1498/darins-in-the-daily-mirror/ This article by Trevor Silvester tells the story of Darin whose life has changed using Cognitive Hypnotherapy for weight loss. It’s truly inspirational! So often I meet people who believe the opposite that you have to be extraordinary to make significant changes in your life;you don’t! It’s just a trick that the unconscious plays on … Read more →

http://positivepsychologynews.com/news/sherri-fisher/2012020320666 This article from positive psychology news shows how positive emotions can be helpful in moderation only. Over optimism can result in risky behaviours and decisions. So often when working with clients with anxiety or depression or just really unhelpful habits and behaviours, the negativity inherent in these traits serves a purpose. Clients who come … Read more →

It’s coming into February, my busiest time of year. It’s cold, we might get snow and the extra boost that Christmas and the New Year brought is wearing off. How can you use this time of year to pause for reflection and take a broader look at your life. This questionnaire is from the Human Givens … Read more →

The Children’s Society have just launched a new report into the well being of children :http://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/what-we-do/research/well-being/promoting-positive-well-being-children    This report identifies the six priorities for children’s well-being which are: – The conditions to learn and develop – A positive view of themselves and an identity that is respected – Have enough of what matters – Positive relationships with family and … Read more →

Anthony Worrall Thompson, a famous UK chef, was recently caught for shoplifting. My 12 year old daughter told me this joke about it. It’s so easy to poke fun at someone so famous who makes such a stupid mistake. Many famous celebrities have been there before him – so what’s going on? As human beings, with our … Read more →

Stop chasing happiness in 2012…….because you already have it. This isn’t my usual New Year blog for one simple reason: this Christmas was very different to any I’ve ever experienced before. On 30th December with my husband and 3 children in the car on the way up north to see my family, our car caught … Read more →

The Art of Giving at Christmas Time                                                                                                                                    It’s that time of year again as we are on the countdown to Christmas. How do you approach this time of year? Is it with excitement and anticipation or with a sense of obligation or doom and gloom?  Is it a pleasurable time with family and friends or … Read more →

http://positivepsychologynews.com/news/amanda-horne/2011120619967 This interesting article explains the difference between mindfulness and change based techniques. One is about training attention in the mind, the other is about changing what’s happening in the mind. Both can achieve the same results; the skill is that the practitioner adapts their skills to what is appropriate for the client. Cognitive hypnotherapy … Read more →

A spelling mistake in a school boy’s essay which in may ways reflects some of the problems my clients present with! For all the sophistication of the intellectual mind which allows us to think, speak do all the amazing things that distinguish us from apes, the older part of the brain(  the monkey brain) plays … Read more →

I’ve just come to the end of working with a weight loss client after 4 sessions. She was expecting to be able to lose weight – 2 stones - develop different eating habits and exercise more. I offered her a choice at the start of our work together. Do you want to learn new habits or … Read more →