It is developed through the practice of specific methods of meditation and bodywork and has been shown to bring about a sense of increased calmness, improving our ability to cope with the challenges which life inevitably throws at us from time to time. For information on our Mindfulness courses, click here.
CBT focuses on the thoughts and behaviours that keep problems going. CBT helps by teaching you skills to consider if your thoughts are logical, helpful or true, and to see if your behaviour is helpful or not. CBT is a problem solving collaborative therapy that equips the individual with skills they can use for the rest of their lives. CBT is the most broadly researched therapy and is proven to be highly effective with anxiety and mood related problems.
EMDR works on the principle that the mind can often heal itself naturally in the same way as the body does. Much of the information we take in during each day is processed whilst we are asleep but sometimes, in certain situations such as when we are under a lot of stress or when we feel under physical or emotional threat, this information does not get processed in the normal way. When this happens memories and feelings are stored in a different part of the memory system of the brain in a ‘raw emotional form’ and are not ‘filed away’ and put in the past. Because of this, painful or emotional feelings that relate to these memories are easily triggered by situations which remind us of what happened and evoke the same feelings, as though it is happening all over again. EMDR therapy helps to reprocess painful memories which have been properly stored by recreating the natural process of REM sleep. This is done by bilaterally stimulating the brain using eye movements, sounds or pulses. The bilateral stimulation lasts for about a minute (called a ‘set’) after which there is a pause when the therapist asks about any experiences that have been noticed during this time. These experiences may include changes in thoughts, images, emotions and body sensations. Repeated sets of bilateral stimulation during a therapy session updates old memories according to new perspectives and beliefs. For instance, a traumatic or distressing incident experienced as a child may have created a negative belief from a child’s perspective which can be seen very differently as an adult if the incident is reprocessed using EMDR. People report that memories feel different, that they are in the past now and that they no longer have the emotional charge they carried before. During a session of EMDR the patient remains alert, awake and in control at all times. It is NOT like being hypnotised. It is not a talking therapy like most traditional psychological treatment and tends to be quicker than many other forms of therapy. A normal session of EMDR processing takes between 60 and 90 minutes. It normally forms part of a longer-term therapy plan but in particular cases (such as phobias) it can require as few as 4 – 6 sessions to achieve treatment goals. For more complex issues a minimum of 12 sessions would be recommended. After the initial assessment which is a standard fee of £80, EMDR treatment is charged at £70-£80 per session regardless of whether it lasts 60 or 90 minutes. This can be paid either at each session or in monthly instalments.
You do not need to be referred by a medical professional for therapy but you may wish to discuss things with your GP or other professional who can make a referral on your behalf if you prefer. Silver Street Clinic is a private therapy service and does not receive funding from the NHS or any other public body. We do, however, take referrals from Employer Assisted Programmes (EAPs) and some private health care insurance providers. We also some have agreements with some charitable organisations who will fund or subsidise treatment costs for identified populations such as military veterans.