Therapy with Sam

What is EMDR? 🛋️

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a psychotherapy approach designed to help people process and heal from traumatic or distressing experiences. It’s most commonly used to treat PTSD, but it can also help with anxiety, phobias, grief, and other emotional difficulties.

How it works:

EMDR is based on the idea that trauma can get “stuck” in the brain in an unprocessed form. During EMDR sessions:

1. You briefly recall a distressing memory.
2. At the same time, you follow guided bilateral stimulation (usually side-to-side eye movements, taps, or sounds).
3. This process helps the brain reprocess the memory so it becomes less emotionally intense and more like a normal past event.

Key points
• It does not require detailed talking about the trauma.
• It focuses on how memories are stored in the brain.
• Many people experience faster relief compared to some traditional talk therapies.

A few colleagues and I are taking on the National Three Peaks Challenge next year to raise money for The BDD Foundation - The Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation

Please take a moment to donate what you can! Thanks so much

Samuel's fundraiser for BDD Foundation Help Samuel Herbert raise money to support BDD Foundation

Top tips for managing intrusive thoughts 🧠

The key to effectively managing intrusive thoughts is to take their power away. We can do this by reminding ourselves to practice acceptance of these thoughts in a non-judgmental way. This doesn’t mean ‘agreeing’ with the thought but recognising that it can exist without attributing any additional meaning to it - after all, we have thousands of thoughts every single day and not all of them are accurate. Sometimes called ‘non-engagement responses’, these top tips are examples of how to practice mindfully noticing the intrusive thoughts without struggling with them or trying to push them away.

OCD Awareness Week ( ) is a worldwide event that serves to dispel myths about obsessive compulsive disorder, break the stigma around mental illness, and provide education about the disorder and how to support those affected. For the over 200 million people worldwide living with OCD, public misconception can prevent them from accessing the timely, effective treatment they need to move from suffering to thriving.

What is Body Dysmorphic Disorder? 🪞

For more information about BDD and details of how to access support, visit the BDD foundation website or follow them on social media:

https://bddfoundation.org

Growth requires change… 🙏🏻

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) recognises that we often engage in behaviour/s and patterns of thinking that inadvertently prevent us from moving forward.

Although CBT is a ‘present-focused’ therapy, it still takes time to explore our personal histories in order to understand the origins of our current experiences.

That said, our pain and suffering exists in the present moment and therefore this is where we have the power to make positive changes.

This quote highlights how we should embrace change, try new things, adapt our approach and push ourselves out of our comfort zone if we want things to be different.

So if you’re looking for a warm and supportive space for you to work through any difficulties you’re having and break those negative cycles - I can help.

Please see my website for more details (link in bio) and reach out to book an initial consultation which is completely free.

T: 07535860585
W: therapywithsam.co.uk
E: [email protected]

What does OCD look like?

Really important reminder - to only seek professional support from qualified and accredited professionals...

Today is world mental health day, and purely by chance we are posting this article today which seems very apt. This article is being written in the hope we can help empower people to make informed choices when seeking private treatment.

Read the full article on our website - https://www.ocduk.org

Article link - https://www.ocduk.org/unqualified-unlicensed-ocd-therapists-exploiting-vulnerable-people/

OCD Awareness Week 🧠

OCD week is a worldwide event that serves to dispel myths about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, break the stigma around mental illness, provide education about the disorder and how to support those affected.

There are over 200 million people worldwide living with OCD and public misconception can prevent them from accessing the timely, effective treatment they need to move from suffering to thriving.

Time to recharge! 🪫🔋

Tired? Stressed? Overworked? Exhausted?

Sometimes, the most productive thing we can do is relax. Just like the electronic devices we use on a daily basis, our minds and bodies also need to be regularly recharged.

Daily rest and relaxation is not something that needs to be ‘earned’- nor is it a sign of weakness. It’s something we should all be prioritising regardless of how busy our lives are.

It’s fundamental for maintaining our physical and mental health and can benefit us in several ways:

1) Reduces stress and anxiety
2) Improves immune health
3) Decreases blood pressure
4) Improves problem-solving skills
5) Encourages greater creativity

How do you rest and recharge? What helps you to feel energised? Comment below!

If you’re looking for a warm and supportive space for you to work through any difficulties you’re having - I can help.

Please see my website for more details (link in bio) and reach out to book an initial consultation which is completely free.

T: 07535860585
W: therapywithsam.co.uk
E: [email protected]