I am looking for other therapists to interview about their use of metaphor. I'm delighted that The University of Manchester have validated my doctorate research into the use of metaphor in counselling. I believe that this is a rich and mostly unexplored area and would be interested to hear from you if you are counsellor in practice who has stories of the powerful use (or not) of metaphor in your work with clients. I have written before of my interest in metaphor, psychological landscapes and the work of David Grove for trauma resolution.

I am presenting two workshops on this topic: the first is at The Manchester Institute for Psychotherapy on the 3rd July and then Leeds Counselling Training in January next year. Please contact me if you wish to attend either of these events.

I will be back blogging shortly on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which I find fascinating, freeing and potent.

Jonathan Lloyd

Calm Minds - counselling & hypnotherapy in Bramhall,Stockport.

I have increasingly thought that hypnotherapy can be a useful therapy for all of my clients, including my clients on the Autistic Spectrum ; why not? Clients on the spectrum have all the same issues around weight loss for example as the rest of us. They usually have a heightened anxiety level (which doesn't help with weight loss) and relaxation techniques such as self hypnosis or breathing can be of great help. General issues around exam nerves, driving tests can be dealt with, along with deeper seated issues such as bullying and "inner-child" resolution.

As with any therapy, hypnosis isn't a cure all, and it doesn't suit everyone. However, allied with counselling and talking things through it can be an extremely useful therapeutic tool.

Classic hypnosis can be engaged through progressive relaxation and deepening techniques, also the alpha state can be engaged in the therapy room without any formal trance inductions. This natural state, is a relaxed state where healing can take place. Often imaginative, creative and emotional connection can occur in the alpha state.

A great state for any of us to enter, particularly those of us who struggle to generally relax. Interestingly clients who are often in their "flight or flight" are the ones who relax quickly and deeply when given the permission to do so.

If you would like to know more about therapy and autism, that is counselling or hypnotherapy, please contact me at my Bramhall, Cheshire office.

Jonathan Lloyd

I am delivering a talk on the 10th February in the centre of Stockport (7.30 pm).The title is working with people on the Autistic Spectrum and their carers. I will be talking about the results of my 2008/9 MA on how fathers with autistic children cope along with how I work as a counsellor and (occasionally hypnotherapist) with clients on the spectrum.

If you would like to attend the event, please contact me asap as numbers are restricted.

Jonathan Lloyd

It is that time of year again, after a period of rest and indulging, looking down the barrel of a long stretch to Easter, when all kinds of issues can pop up. Relationships have possibly been strained (or healed) with this time spent together. Weight is also an issue at this time of year, after the parties and the good excuses for lack of exercise. I really enjoy helping people with weight issues. I firmly believe that the combination of hypnotherapy and counselling is the best approach. Eating can be a very emotional affair with roots sometimes as far back as childhood, "mindless eating" relates to our Child Ego State.

Hypnosis and counselling can be used effectively to help with such inner child issues, and I will often use John Bradshaw's Inner Child Therapy as a framework to work through with clients. Often, a confidence boost is required in the initial stages ; working on breaking habits attached to food, or even aversion to certain food types (chocolate/cakes etc?) can be helpful.

I am also becoming increasingly interested in the use of metaphor in therapy. David Grove's metaphor model can be extremely cathartic for those who have suffered a trauma of any kind. My doctorate work is now following this fascinating subject, I look forward to sharing my research results in the future.

I recently attended a wellbeing day at a school in Plymouth. Working alongside my colleague Chris Dawson talking about managing stress with 82 teachers and teaching staff was a joyful experience, and informative to me too. The subject of stress continues to interest me, I was intrigued to hear that the "normal" level of stress in 2012 would have resulted in the hospitalisation of someone in the 1950s! Stress really is the modern day epidemic and affects all of us. Chris and I are embarking on writing a book on the subject of stress and wellbeing, drawing on our work with clients and schools over the last 4 years. We have a working title - The Cat Sits in the Sun...             

Exciting times!!

If you would like to know more about my private practice of counselling/hypnotherapy in Bramhall, Cheshire, please call or email to arrange an initial chat.

Jonathan Lloyd

As the clocks go back I am left reflecting why my counselling client appointment requests increase in the winter?

There may be some obvious reasons, dark nights, bad weather, less time out and about, less sunlight.

There is a long leap from the summer holidays to Christmas with a short October break for some. Stress caused by chronic ongoing unwanted demand can leave some of us feeling down, depressed, anxious or even ill. It can often affect our relationships, leaving us on a short fuse, ready to dump the day’s anger on the safest (loved) one. How many of us are guilty of that?

If we feel stressed or down due to increased workload, the bad weather and lack of light can affect us even more. Our control seems to be external. In other words our happiness depends more on what is happening ‘out there’ rather than us taking control. If the weather is bad than that makes us feel sad, if people aren’t nice to us at work we feel down. This external locus of control can be the cause of stress and make stress worse, a vicious circle downwards.

If you would like to find out how to take more control of your happiness and feel less down the winter than last, through counselling or hypnosis, please call me at Calm Minds in Bramhall.

Jonathan Lloyd
Oct 2011

This is a question I have been asked recently, and I have some ideas about this subject. Occasionally hypnotherapy clients come to me to quit smoking and I tell them that they are not ready. Sometimes there are more important things to deal with than stopping smoking at that time. Our subconscious seems to have a way of prioritising items on it’s “To Do List”. For example a client came to see me recently who had high levels of negative stress in his life. We had to deal with this first, before the smoking cessation session. If we hadn’t there would have been a good chance the smoking session wouldn’t have worked. I want the therapy to be as effective as it can be for each and every client. I am pleased to say that we worked on his issues (about four sessions of hypnotherapy and counselling) and he did subsequently stop smoking.

Some clients may require help getting to the level where they are ready to quit, and others may need some ongoing support. Although I believe the vast majority stop at the first attempt (it is hard to be accurate on the statistics as I do not monitor clients for confidentiality reasons). If there is one reason for clients starting the habit again is usually peer pressure at a moment low defences (alcohol in the main). There is no problem in repeating the hypnotherapy treatment, and it can often be even more potent the second time. It is important not to admit defeat at this point; it is just your subconscious starting the habit over again, which can be stopped through hypnosis.

If you would like to know more about stopping smoking our any other habit, please give me a call at Calm Minds in Bramhall.

Jonathan Lloyd
Oct 2011

It has been a while since my last blog; time seems to fly by at this busy time of year. Bad news in the media, stress and anxiety don’t seem to be reducing though.

I am busy with my private clients here at Calm Minds in Bramhall, I am also engaged with some lecturing on Counselling at Stockport College and the new Diploma in Hypnotherapy starts on the 5th November at Tameside General Hospital. If you are interested in training to become a qualified hypnotherapist you can find out more on our sister site – www.ncoch.co.uk.

My doctoral studies continue and my interest is flowing down the altered states in therapy route. This will be an interesting yet challenging area and involves the cross over between hypnosis and counselling where there is a language and culture clash. I believe that the work around metaphor (David Grove) bridges the two modes of therapy and I am delivering a talk on this subject at the Manchester Institute of Psychotherapy, Chorlton next Friday the 4th November at 6.30. Please feel free to come along, there is a nominal charge of £7 on the door, visit www.mcpt.co.uk for more information.

I will be posting some more blogs shortly on counselling post smoking cessation and how winter can affect our mood.

Jonathan Lloyd
26th October 2011

Robert de Board in his wonderful adaptation of Kenneth Graham’s novel reveals the work of Transactional Analysis (TA) therapy through the life of Toad. Toad is ‘counselled’ by Heron, a wise old bird, who is utilising Berne’s wonderful TA model.

Toad had a strict upbringing, his Father was a disciplinarian and the teachers at his boarding school were cruel and controlling. This left Toad feeling vulnerable, small and unable to express his anger when he came across certain individuals. The surly and grumpy Badger was one of those who could press Toad’s buttons. Heron was able to help Toad recognise that when he encountered Badger his ‘Adapted Child’ was triggered and then he reverted to feelings and coping strategies that he had as a child. He felt helpless and muted when Badger came to visit and often drank too much afterwards to escape the confusing and frustrating feelings.

Many counselling and hypnotherapy clients that I see at Calm Minds are often swamped by the feelings triggered by Controlling Parent figures. These might be bosses at work, work itself, or groups of people. When exposed to these individuals (or indeed concepts) we automatically regress to our Child Ego State. How we learned to cope as a child is often mirrored out as an adult. We sulk, withdraw, rant, rage or freeze and this often makes the other person even more controlling or critical. How often have you felt in these situations? You may revert to humour or desperately want to fit in with your ‘superiors’. Like Toad, I believe we all feel like this in certain circumstances, but for some the feelings can be overwhelming.

If you would like to find out more about our various Ego States or would like to talk through these issues with a counsellor, please contact us here at Calm Minds. We offer many types of therapy, including hypnotherapy and integrative counselling - influenced by Transactional Analysis (just like Heron - but without the beak!)

Jonathan Lloyd

Reference
De Board, R. (1998). Counselling for Toads. A psychological adventure. London: Routledge.