If you’ve ever struggled with sleep, you’ve probably been offered the usual advice: avoid screens before bed, keep your room dark, and stick to a bedtime routine. While these sleep hygiene tips sound great in theory, they don’t always work—especially for those dealing with insomnia. Here’s the problem: Sleep hygiene is about creating a good… Continue reading Why Sleep Hygiene Alone Isn’t Fixing Your Sleep – And What to Do Instead
Healing Grief with EMDR and ACT Therapy: A Path to Recovery
Grief is a universal experience, yet it affects each of us in deeply personal ways. Whether from the loss of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or another life transition, grief can sometimes feel overwhelming and unending. While time can ease the pain, certain therapies can actively help us process grief in a healthier, more meaningful way.
Two powerful, evidence-based approaches—EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)—offer unique ways to navigate grief, heal from loss, and rebuild a life that honors both your pain and your growth.
Dropping Anchor: Simple Grounding for Life’s Storms
In today’s fast-paced world, stress and anxiety can feel like uninvited companions. When life throws challenges your way, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed or untethered. That’s where the “dropping anchor” technique comes in – a powerful yet simple mindfulness and grounding exercise designed to help you regain stability and come back into the… Continue reading Dropping Anchor: Simple Grounding for Life’s Storms
Using EMDR to Tackle Future Anxiety: The Flashforward and Future Template Techniques
When most people think of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy, they often associate it with healing past traumas. While EMDR is indeed renowned for its transformative power in processing distressing memories, its applications extend far beyond the past. One of its most innovative uses is addressing anxiety and fear about future events through… Continue reading Using EMDR to Tackle Future Anxiety: The Flashforward and Future Template Techniques
Easy Relaxation: The 4 Elements
The video introduces a simple relaxation technique called the 4 elements, designed for stress reduction and grounding. It consists of four stages: EARTH (grounding), AIR (breathing), WATER (enhancing relaxation), and FIRE (visualizing a safe space). Practicing regularly improves ease of use and effectiveness in various situations.
I am an Accredited EMDR Practitioner
I am officially an EMDR Europe Accredited Practitioner in EMDR. I am chuffed to now be Accredited, having practised EMDR since becoming an EMDR Practitioner in 2021.
Helping your autistic child to sleep
I just received a copy of Helping Your Autistic Child by Ann Ozsivadjian. It includes chapters by various authors who specialise in working with children with neurodivergent conditions, including my chapter on sleep. My chapter includes sections on: The other chapters cover topics including: The book will be available from October 26th 2023 in all… Continue reading Helping your autistic child to sleep
Thinking of trying EMDR?
As an “EMDR Practitioner”, qualified to work with adults and children, EMDR is one of the therapies I offer. Whilst it was originally developed for helping people to overcome traumatic experiences, it has since been found to be effective in treating a wide range of other concerns including: The first stage of EMDR therapy involves… Continue reading Thinking of trying EMDR?
Insomnia in children
As a psychologist with a special interest in sleep, interesting projects sometimes come my way. One of these recently came to fruition in the form of a chapter in the newly published Oxford Handbook of Sleep Medicine, edited by Guy Leschziner. I am very grateful to Guy for the invitation to contribute. My chapter covers… Continue reading Insomnia in children
Published – ACT for non-epileptic seizures
The article Dr Naomi Boycott and I wrote about using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for the treatment of non-epileptic seizures was recently published in the British Psychological Society’s Clinical Psychology Forum (Issue 347). It focuses on a service we developed for people who experience non-epileptic seizures, seeing people individually and in groups.