Hypnosis 'can ease bowel illness'
Hypnosis could ease symptoms.
Hypnotherapy could help people with severe irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), researchers say.
Doctors should consider using this and other "psychological" treatments such as antidepressants to help sufferers, King's College London experts say in the British Medical Journal.
However, a shortage of therapists could hinder this, they add.
Experts said there was growing evidence that IBS cases have psychological as well as biological elements.
Other therapies
IBS is a common and painful medical condition that has a wide range of symptoms, including regular abdominal pain, diarrhoea and constipation.
Conventional medicines prescribed for IBS often ease symptoms partially, or not at all.
Using a psychological treatment does not mean that the disease is 'all in the mind'
Dr Ian Forgacs, Kings College London
Many scientists now believe that the cause in many cases is a combination of mental and physical factors, and that the drugs commonly used to tackle it may be aiming at the wrong target.
Patients with IBS are more likely to be diagnosed with depression.
Dr Ian Forgacs, a consultant gastroenterologist from Kings College, says that doctors are often reluctant to prescribe anti-depressants, especially in patients who, apart from their IBS, show no outward signs of being depressed.
He urged them to consider other forms of psychological therapy, including hypnotherapy, as an alternative in some cases.
"Patients with irritable bowel syndrome should be made aware of the existence of these treatments so that they can make informed choices," he said.
"Specifically, they should be made aware that using a psychological treatment does not mean that the disease is 'all in the mind'."
He found that one of the most effective treatments for IBS in research studies were so-called "talking therapies", such as cognitive behavioural therapy, particularly for people whose symptoms were causing them the most distress.
And severe cases of IBS could be improved by using hypnotherapy to target the links between the brain and the gut.
Hypnosis sessions concentrated on encouraging relaxation, then visualising the gut as a fast flowing river which is then imagined to be flowing more slowly and smoothly.
Skill shortage
Dr Forgacs said that one obstacle to providing psychological therapies was a lack of the right specialists in some areas.
"Irritable bowel syndrome is undeniably very common, and many patients are probably denied help by lack of access to therapists with the appropriate psychological skills," he said.
Dr Nick Read, a psychologist and adviser to the IBS Network, said he felt that the majority of IBS patients had a psychologists element to their condition.
He said: "There's now a lot of evidence that psychological therapies can be effective, but a lot of doctors remain sceptical, and carry on treating with drugs which have side-effects, and which basically don't work.
"I work with patients with IBS trying to understand what, for each patient, lies behind the illness."
Now then ... a shortage of clients?!
Tom Barber - Sandra Westland - CCTS Team.
Saturday, 7 June 2008
Hypnosis News! - Hayfever
Hypnosis News!
Last Updated: Tuesday, 26 April, 2005, 23:50 GMT 00:50 UK
Hypnosis could banish hay-fever
Hay-fever symptoms can be severeHay fever sufferers could benefit from using self-hypnosis, researchers say.
A Swiss team at Basle University taught 66 people with hay-fever the art of hypnosis and found it helped them alleviate symptoms such as runny nose.
The volunteers also took their regular anti-hay-fever drugs, but the effect of hypnosis appeared to be additive and reduce the doses they needed to take.
The findings appear in the medical journal Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics.
Self-hypnosis
The study took place over two years and included two hay fever seasons.
During the first year, some of the volunteers with hay-fever were taught and asked to regularly practise hypnosis as well as take their usual allergy medicine.
The hypnosis training consisted of one two-hour session with an experienced trainer.
The remaining volunteers had no other treatment apart from their normal allergy medication.
After a year, the researchers found the volunteers who had been using self-hypnosis had reported fewer symptoms related to hay-fever than their fellow volunteers.
Runny noses
During the second year, the researchers taught the remaining "untrained" volunteers how to use hypnosis. By the end of this year, these volunteers also reported improvement in their hay-fever symptoms.
Although the improvement in symptoms was not statistically significant and, therefore, could have been down to chance alone, the researchers also found that the volunteers had cut down on the amount of hay-fever medication they used after learning self-hypnosis.
While our findings are not a definite answer, this simple intervention is worth investigating further
Lead researcher Professor Wolf Langewitz
Professor Wolf Langewitz and his team also tested the volunteers in the laboratory to see what effect the hypnosis was having on the body.
Using a machine that measured how forcefully a person could exhale through their nose, the researchers found that the hypnosis was helping to improve nasal airflow, even when the volunteers were exposed to things that triggered their hay-fever, such as pollen and grass.
Professor Langewitz said: "While our findings are not a definite answer, this simple intervention is worth investigating further.
"It is cheap and only takes a couple of hours to teach."
How it might work
He suspects that hypnosis might work by altering blood flow and helping alleviate congestion in the nose that can occur with hay-fever.
Dr Peter Whorwell from Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester, who uses hypnotherapy to treat people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome, said some of his own patients who also had hay-fever had commented to him that their noses were less runny after hypnotherapy sessions.
He said: "It is known that you can alter blood flow with hypnosis.
"Hypnosis has been used for a variety of medical conditions, including asthma, eczema and migraines.
"It's definitely an area that is worth researching."
A spokeswoman from Allergy UK said they had heard anecdotal reports of hay-fever sufferers using hypnotherapy. However, they said they were unable to recommend any approaches that had not be extensively investigated and backed by strong scientific evidence.
Dr Adrian Morris, a GP in Surrey with a special interest in allergic disorders, said although hypnotherapy might be useful, what was far more helpful to lessen hay-fever symptoms was gradual, graded exposure to the trigger to increase tolerance.
Last Updated: Tuesday, 26 April, 2005, 23:50 GMT 00:50 UK
Hypnosis could banish hay-fever
Hay-fever symptoms can be severeHay fever sufferers could benefit from using self-hypnosis, researchers say.
A Swiss team at Basle University taught 66 people with hay-fever the art of hypnosis and found it helped them alleviate symptoms such as runny nose.
The volunteers also took their regular anti-hay-fever drugs, but the effect of hypnosis appeared to be additive and reduce the doses they needed to take.
The findings appear in the medical journal Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics.
Self-hypnosis
The study took place over two years and included two hay fever seasons.
During the first year, some of the volunteers with hay-fever were taught and asked to regularly practise hypnosis as well as take their usual allergy medicine.
The hypnosis training consisted of one two-hour session with an experienced trainer.
The remaining volunteers had no other treatment apart from their normal allergy medication.
After a year, the researchers found the volunteers who had been using self-hypnosis had reported fewer symptoms related to hay-fever than their fellow volunteers.
Runny noses
During the second year, the researchers taught the remaining "untrained" volunteers how to use hypnosis. By the end of this year, these volunteers also reported improvement in their hay-fever symptoms.
Although the improvement in symptoms was not statistically significant and, therefore, could have been down to chance alone, the researchers also found that the volunteers had cut down on the amount of hay-fever medication they used after learning self-hypnosis.
While our findings are not a definite answer, this simple intervention is worth investigating further
Lead researcher Professor Wolf Langewitz
Professor Wolf Langewitz and his team also tested the volunteers in the laboratory to see what effect the hypnosis was having on the body.
Using a machine that measured how forcefully a person could exhale through their nose, the researchers found that the hypnosis was helping to improve nasal airflow, even when the volunteers were exposed to things that triggered their hay-fever, such as pollen and grass.
Professor Langewitz said: "While our findings are not a definite answer, this simple intervention is worth investigating further.
"It is cheap and only takes a couple of hours to teach."
How it might work
He suspects that hypnosis might work by altering blood flow and helping alleviate congestion in the nose that can occur with hay-fever.
Dr Peter Whorwell from Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester, who uses hypnotherapy to treat people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome, said some of his own patients who also had hay-fever had commented to him that their noses were less runny after hypnotherapy sessions.
He said: "It is known that you can alter blood flow with hypnosis.
"Hypnosis has been used for a variety of medical conditions, including asthma, eczema and migraines.
"It's definitely an area that is worth researching."
A spokeswoman from Allergy UK said they had heard anecdotal reports of hay-fever sufferers using hypnotherapy. However, they said they were unable to recommend any approaches that had not be extensively investigated and backed by strong scientific evidence.
Dr Adrian Morris, a GP in Surrey with a special interest in allergic disorders, said although hypnotherapy might be useful, what was far more helpful to lessen hay-fever symptoms was gradual, graded exposure to the trigger to increase tolerance.
June Book Review - BOOK Review
Hi all,
We have added June's Book Review to the website at:
http://www.contemporarycollege.com/book_reviews.htm
We have also updated the display method for the book reviews so you can immediatly check price and contents of each book from now on.
Happy reading,
CCTS Team.
We have added June's Book Review to the website at:
http://www.contemporarycollege.com/book_reviews.htm
We have also updated the display method for the book reviews so you can immediatly check price and contents of each book from now on.
Happy reading,
CCTS Team.
Why does it happen? ... How do I stop doing it?
Why does it happen? ….What sets it off? ...How do I stop doing it? … What's going on?
These are just some of the questions you could be facing from the next client through your door.
With just over a million people in the UK suffering from anorexia and bulimia (although experts believe this figure is far higher), there is a need for therapists to have specific knowledge and a specialist understanding of Eating Disorders.
By now you are already an effective therapist and soon you can enjoy an even greater confidence when working with this diagnosis. Being more specifically informed about the mechanics and dynamics of eating disorder to enhance your client work and increase your client base.
Imagine working with real informed confidence and being relaxed and `sure' around a depth of knowledge with people who are `dying to be thin' or who are `fed up and weighed down' with life. Think about having even greater awareness of what to say and more importantly what not to say and know how you can really help.
Now we are giving you that chance ...
UK Research reported that more than 12 million adults and 1 million children will be obese by 2010 if nothing is done and we just want to give these people a chance to be different.
When I asked a compulsive eater what she needed from therapy she said that she need a therapist to be life experienced, treatment experienced, open minded, challenging and nurturing all at the same time.
Imagine adding "Knowledge of Working with Eating Disorders" to your areas of expertise. Well now you can … You have found a one day seminar that will give you a unique and extraordinary insight into the complex phenomenon and mechanics of Eating Disorders and information that will build on your already good practice and extensive knowledge.
Your 2 Unique Course Experts …
Your expert course, Richard Reid, a specialist in Eating Disorders having trained at the National Centre for Eating Disorders. He is also qualified in NLP, EMDR, Integrative Counselling, Clinical Hypnotherapy, Hypno-Psychotherapy, Critical Incident Stress Debriefing, Alternative Dispute Resolution and is a Stress Management Consultant.
Your expert ex-anorexic, who had an experience of a 4 month stay in an Eating Disorder Unit and knows the process of recovery to health and vitality first hand.
Wouldn't you love to know how it all really … I mean really works?
Imagine learning from real life and from
a well qualified and researched practitioner.
We don't believe that you can be more informed than this!
To Register for this course Click Here
Dont be left wanting for answers!
These are just some of the questions you could be facing from the next client through your door.
With just over a million people in the UK suffering from anorexia and bulimia (although experts believe this figure is far higher), there is a need for therapists to have specific knowledge and a specialist understanding of Eating Disorders.
By now you are already an effective therapist and soon you can enjoy an even greater confidence when working with this diagnosis. Being more specifically informed about the mechanics and dynamics of eating disorder to enhance your client work and increase your client base.
Imagine working with real informed confidence and being relaxed and `sure' around a depth of knowledge with people who are `dying to be thin' or who are `fed up and weighed down' with life. Think about having even greater awareness of what to say and more importantly what not to say and know how you can really help.
Now we are giving you that chance ...
UK Research reported that more than 12 million adults and 1 million children will be obese by 2010 if nothing is done and we just want to give these people a chance to be different.
When I asked a compulsive eater what she needed from therapy she said that she need a therapist to be life experienced, treatment experienced, open minded, challenging and nurturing all at the same time.
Imagine adding "Knowledge of Working with Eating Disorders" to your areas of expertise. Well now you can … You have found a one day seminar that will give you a unique and extraordinary insight into the complex phenomenon and mechanics of Eating Disorders and information that will build on your already good practice and extensive knowledge.
Your 2 Unique Course Experts …
Your expert course, Richard Reid, a specialist in Eating Disorders having trained at the National Centre for Eating Disorders. He is also qualified in NLP, EMDR, Integrative Counselling, Clinical Hypnotherapy, Hypno-Psychotherapy, Critical Incident Stress Debriefing, Alternative Dispute Resolution and is a Stress Management Consultant.
Your expert ex-anorexic, who had an experience of a 4 month stay in an Eating Disorder Unit and knows the process of recovery to health and vitality first hand.
Wouldn't you love to know how it all really … I mean really works?
Imagine learning from real life and from
a well qualified and researched practitioner.
We don't believe that you can be more informed than this!
To Register for this course Click Here
Dont be left wanting for answers!
Wednesday, 7 May 2008
The Therapy Training DVD Collection
The Therapy Training DVD Collection
Now YOU can learn how to use as many of the approaches to counselling and psychotherapy as you like ...
... without having to spend thousands on expensive training courses and without even having to leave the comfort of your home!
This unique collection of DVD's show you real live Counselling & Psychotherapy sessions in action to help you get to grips with the many different approaches you can use to help improve the depth and quality of therapy you can offer your clients!
"A first class service offering first class 'real live' counselling sessions. I wish I had found the Collection a few years ago!" O.G. - Surrey, UK.
The Therapy DVD Collection - FULL 8 DVD Counselling Training Series! Special Offer - SAVE 20%
The Therapy DVD Collection are offering ALL 8 DVD's in our Counselling Training DVD Series with a massive 20% saving when you order this unique set!
"Thank you for sending me your DVD collection. They have made a real difference to the way I am working with my clients. I can now prepare so much better!" G.A. - Boston, U.S.A.
The Therapy DVD series includes Live sessions in:
Gestalt Therapy
Transactional Analysis
Person Centred Counselling
CBT – Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Existential Psychotherapy
Phenomenological Counselling
The Egan Model of Counselling
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
Find Out More or Order Here!
Wednesday, 30 April 2008
165,000 in the UK have an Eating Disorder ...
165,000 in the UK have an Eating Disorder ...
Hard to believe isnt it! ...
Eating disorders are responsible for the highest number of deaths from psychiatric illness.
The Eating Disorders Association estimates that about 165,000 people in the UK have eating disorders with 10% dying as a result, but experts believe it could be higher.
Most sufferers are women, but one in 10 are now men.
The most common eating disorders are anorexia, bulimia and compulsive over-eating. But other disorders exist. For example, some people severely restrict the range of food they eat or several children have a psychological fear of food.
Anorexia, which involves depriving the body of food, is more common in young people. Children as young as three have been treated for it.
Bulimia, characterised by a cycle of starving and bingeing, is more likely in adults.
The emphasis on super-thin models has been blamed for the increase in eating disorders.
Experts say that these can have an effect on how people perceive themselves, but the causes of eating disorders are usually more complex and are linked to general feelings of self-worth.
Our help is needed!
To find out how you can be equiped to deal with this epidemic:
Click Here ...
http://www.contemporarycollege.com/eatingdisordersworkshop3.html
Best,
CCTS Team.
Hard to believe isnt it! ...
Eating disorders are responsible for the highest number of deaths from psychiatric illness.
The Eating Disorders Association estimates that about 165,000 people in the UK have eating disorders with 10% dying as a result, but experts believe it could be higher.
Most sufferers are women, but one in 10 are now men.
The most common eating disorders are anorexia, bulimia and compulsive over-eating. But other disorders exist. For example, some people severely restrict the range of food they eat or several children have a psychological fear of food.
Anorexia, which involves depriving the body of food, is more common in young people. Children as young as three have been treated for it.
Bulimia, characterised by a cycle of starving and bingeing, is more likely in adults.
The emphasis on super-thin models has been blamed for the increase in eating disorders.
Experts say that these can have an effect on how people perceive themselves, but the causes of eating disorders are usually more complex and are linked to general feelings of self-worth.
Our help is needed!
To find out how you can be equiped to deal with this epidemic:
Click Here ...
http://www.contemporarycollege.com/eatingdisordersworkshop3.html
Best,
CCTS Team.
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