Human givens, derives from the understanding that, when essential emotional needs are met and our innate mental resources are used correctly, a human being will be emotionally and mentally healthy.

It is when emotional needs are not adequately met, or are unintentionally misused, that undesirable mental states such as; anxiety, anger, depression, addiction and psychosis develop. For instance, misuse of the imagination – to conjure up the worst possible or threatening scenarios – is a common feature of all these states.

 

What makes the human givens approach different from other therapy approaches is that it looks to see what is missing, or being misused, in clients’ lives, with the aim of helping them find ways to better meet their needs.

For instance, someone who is bereaved may seek to mask their sadness through drinking, and then try to mask the drinking by withdrawing from activities and friendships, resulting in depression; similarly, someone who is laid off work with a back injury may, wrongly, become frightened to take any exercise and, as a result, not only lose companionship at work but cease to take part in previously enjoyed physical activities, resulting in increased physical disability, isolation and depression. While the symptoms of depression in such scenarios are important as guides, it is the learning of coping skills and making specific life changes that will shift the depression.

 

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In  changing unhelpful thinking styles (cognitive) this will be just one part of a holistic process that involves, explaining the experience of anxiety and depression in a way that normalises it and takes the fear out of it –  helping clients take a different perspective on their situation (through the use of reframing, metaphor and storytelling); problem solving (helping clients recognise times when they are not experiencing problems, what is different about those times, and how they can build on that); teaching whatever skills are required through social skills, communication skills, assertiveness skills; and rehearsing making desired changes successfully (through guided imagery).

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The success of this fluidity of approach is evidenced by research findings that show it helps three out of four clients achieve significant improvement or cure, usually in between one and six sessions.1

 

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. I offer practical help that deals with mental and emotional distress in the here and now.

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• Reduce anxiety — generalised anxiety, panic attacks, fears, phobias, obsessions (OCD), lack of confidence or overwhelming stress and pressure can be treated effectively.

• break the cycle of depression —  chronic depression can often be lifted quickly and the meaning and joy returned to life.

• Resolve trauma — dissolve the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), however severe, safely and quickly.

• Manage anger — anger disorders damage health and relationships, it can cause enormous misery among relatives, colleagues and innocent bystanders.

• helping People be free from addiction - alcohol, drugs, gambling, sex, TV and computer games, eating disorders - providing they want to make the effort to stop.

• Improve relationships — relationship difficulties are often self-perpetuating because our beliefs and reactions to one another trigger patterns of behaviour which stop us solving them. 

 

When our emotional needs are not met, or when our resources are used incorrectly, we suffer considerable distress and so can those around us. To  help you through this I draw my training from a variety of up-to-date, proven techniques aimed at problem solving.