I am deeply influence by the Relational and Intersubjective approaches which emphasize the relationship between therapist and client. I invite the client to experience the here-and-now within the therapeutic relationship while exploring current problems and formulations concerning their origins. My stance is to maintain a mindful presence, being aware of both the client’s subjective sense of self as well as my own and the mutual influence we have on each other as therapist and client. I believe that the connection between people plays a valuable role in managing distress. There is increased evidence that it is not the form of therapy that determine the outcome, but the relationship that is formed between therapist and patient. Such a healing relationship respects the personhood and self-determination of the patient, while providing genuine empathy and warmth and offers a safe space in which a patient feels accepted and not judged.
Attachment and Neuroscience theories have scientifically proven that we all have different attachment styles and that our initial attachment relationships were pivotal in the formation of our own internalized way of relating to people. These internal structures of the self affect our sense of self and being-in the world developed through our interaction with our early environments. The basic idea is that a more nurturing safe environment contributes to a more integrated and stable sense of self; whereas failures in care (of having needs met) and traumas in our early relationships contribute to certain vulnerabilities which then form part of a self-structure or personality style.
Transference is a word used in psychology to describe our replaying of earlier attachment relationships within current relationships with various people in our lives. For example, your boss may remind you of your father and you respond unconsciously from this position; consequently, a variation of the conflict (for instance a power struggle) that existed between you and your father may repeat itself in the present context.
The mentalizing approach reminds us that our mental states are only a representation of reality and therefore cautions us not to believe everything we think. We so often make automatic assumptions about ourselves and relationships or view the feeling we have as a fact of reality. This approach developed from attachment research and refers to the process of making sense of our own mental states as well as the inner worlds of others, a capacity developed during the infant years in the context of a secure and safe child-caregiver relationship. The focus is on ”thinking about” (mentalizing) sensations and feelings to give meaning to them in the context of your life, as appose to them being unmanageable forces.
There is increasing research demonstrating the usefulness of “mindfulness” in dealing with depression and in coping with any distressing emotional state. This is the practise of remaining in the present moment, treating thoughts as fleeting mental events rather than determinants of your continual emotional state. The practise of mindfulness requires that you meet whatever feelings or thoughts turn up inside you - whether pleasant or unpleasant - with openness, acceptance and gentleness. It is not positive thinking, but rather an integration of all emotions, sensations and cognitions involved in experiences, even though some of them may be highly uncomfortable. I would strongly recommended “The Mindful Way through Depression – Freeing yourself from chronic unhappiness” by Mark Williams, John Teasdale, Zindle Segal and Jon Kanat-Zimm, as an excellent self-help book which comes with a CD containing guided meditation exercises.
Jung’s Archetypal psychology has a viewpoint that there are recognisable patterns in human behaviour in the same way there is patterns in other species. These archetypes are the focal point of myths and fairytales and are often rich descriptions of typical human behaviour and may be helpful to understand how this may play out in our personal lives.
Attachment and Neuroscience theories have scientifically proven that we all have different attachment styles and that our initial attachment relationships were pivotal in the formation of our own internalized way of relating to people. These internal structures of the self affect our sense of self and being-in the world developed through our interaction with our early environments. The basic idea is that a more nurturing safe environment contributes to a more integrated and stable sense of self; whereas failures in care (of having needs met) and traumas in our early relationships contribute to certain vulnerabilities which then form part of a self-structure or personality style.
Transference is a word used in psychology to describe our replaying of earlier attachment relationships within current relationships with various people in our lives. For example, your boss may remind you of your father and you respond unconsciously from this position; consequently, a variation of the conflict (for instance a power struggle) that existed between you and your father may repeat itself in the present context.
The mentalizing approach reminds us that our mental states are only a representation of reality and therefore cautions us not to believe everything we think. We so often make automatic assumptions about ourselves and relationships or view the feeling we have as a fact of reality. This approach developed from attachment research and refers to the process of making sense of our own mental states as well as the inner worlds of others, a capacity developed during the infant years in the context of a secure and safe child-caregiver relationship. The focus is on ”thinking about” (mentalizing) sensations and feelings to give meaning to them in the context of your life, as appose to them being unmanageable forces.
There is increasing research demonstrating the usefulness of “mindfulness” in dealing with depression and in coping with any distressing emotional state. This is the practise of remaining in the present moment, treating thoughts as fleeting mental events rather than determinants of your continual emotional state. The practise of mindfulness requires that you meet whatever feelings or thoughts turn up inside you - whether pleasant or unpleasant - with openness, acceptance and gentleness. It is not positive thinking, but rather an integration of all emotions, sensations and cognitions involved in experiences, even though some of them may be highly uncomfortable. I would strongly recommended “The Mindful Way through Depression – Freeing yourself from chronic unhappiness” by Mark Williams, John Teasdale, Zindle Segal and Jon Kanat-Zimm, as an excellent self-help book which comes with a CD containing guided meditation exercises.
Jung’s Archetypal psychology has a viewpoint that there are recognisable patterns in human behaviour in the same way there is patterns in other species. These archetypes are the focal point of myths and fairytales and are often rich descriptions of typical human behaviour and may be helpful to understand how this may play out in our personal lives.
