The treatment of depression has been in the news more than normal this past few weeks as a result of some high profile suicides. A new study has found that medication and talking therapy have failed to show any difference to placebo when treating depression. Read further information about the study and the story here. The clinical research […]
I have been enjoying my psychiatric observational placement and have had a rich environment in which to observe an NHS mental health care setting. I have been shadowing the consultant psychiatrist in outpatient clinics and in (locked) ward rounds as well as attending team meetings of a community mental health team (CMHT). I have also attended a Mental
I have now started my psychiatric observational placement and I have been fortunate to secure a place at an NHS Mental Health Trust where medical students are also on placement. I have been sitting in on clinic sessions at a university hospital with consultant psychiatrists covering new assessments, outpatient follow up appointments as well as team meetings
We have been working on our receptive skills for the main part of the year thus far, how we hold the work of clients. It is important to remember that it is critical to cultivate a degree of restraint in order to be able to reflect back appropriately. Trainee therapists quickly realise that you don’t need
The importance of challenge in the therapeutic relationship Read More »
The different initiations in a relationship was part of the alchemy of relationships weekend. What happens when you first fall in love? You see something of the ideal or you project your ideal. So what is the ideal, what are you projecting? Your own higher self is being projected onto that person. You are idolising
Different initiations in a relationship Read More »
Are you in a balanced relationship? Attraction between two people can be seen through the lens of the elements (air, fire, water and earth) although the shadow can emerge following the get together (which emerges around our limitations). For instance, you might be a balanced fire type, in that you are confident and direct but perhaps get attracted to
The alchemy of Relationships Read More »
John Bowlby (26 February 1907 – 2 September 1990) was a notable British psychologist, psychiatrist and psychoanalyst. He became a psychoanalyst in 1937 and during the War he served in the Royal Army Medical Corps. With his wife (Ursula Longstaff) he had 4 children. Following the War Bowlby became Director of the Tavistock Clinic in
Attachment theory and John Bowlby Read More »
Meditation is not just for new age spiritualists or oddballs but should be seen as a practice for everyone, even for children. It is easy and simple and can be done anywhere. Meditation is a powerful antidote to the threats posed by addictions. There are many great resources on the Internet and from books on
The benefits of meditation when dealing with addiction and alchemy of transformation Read More »
This week’s lectures continued with the object relations theories and early child birth developmental issues. Specifically we were hearing about the ideas of Donald Woods Winnicott (7 April 1896–28 January 1971) who was an English paediatrician and psychoanalyst. Winnicott was especially influential in the field of object relations theory. He is best known for his ideas on the
Winnicott, unthinkable anxieties & primary maternal pre-occupation Read More »
The experiential nature of the training at CCPE was full of interesting topics such as the seminars on the planes of consciousness. My challenge was was to ascertain what is a meaningful definition of soul for me? That question is essentially a big part of the transpersonal journey. Neuroscientists may typically have a materialistic and
The planes of consciousness Read More »