Andreas Lubitz and Stigmatizing Mental Health Problems Over the past several days we have heard more and more salacious speculation regarding the mental state of Adreas Lubitz and how this may have been a contributing factor in the recent airline … Continue reading →
Training Hypnotherapists As I write this blog, I am also preparing to begin a new London Certificate in Hypno-Psychotherapy course for the National College of Hypnosis and Psychotherapy. This got me to thinking, I began training hypnotherapists in 1993, and … Continue reading →
Mental Illness When physicians conceptualise medical illnesses there are usually tests available which can confirm or refute the diagnosis. These include laboratory tests, imaging or genetic markers in order to confirm impressions formed following physical examination of the patient in … Continue reading →
Types of Schizophrenia The word comes from the Greek, ‘split mind’, hence arises a common misconception that schizophrenia refers to a Jekyll and Hyde character, or the ‘Multiple Personality Disorder’. This is not so. It was Bleuler, a German psychiatrist, … Continue reading →
Bipolar Disorder It is usually during the manic phase of this illness that an individual has an acute need for treatment, and initially anti-psychotic drugs will be prescribed which often reduce the mania within twenty four hours. Then maintenance therapy … Continue reading →
Ethics of Stage Hypnosis Stage hypnosis is also commonly referred to as comedy hypnosis. Participants are volunteers and they enter the scenario knowing that they will be asked to perform silly tasks for entertainment purposes. Before stage hypnosis begins, many … Continue reading →
Organic Psychoses The term ‘organic’ suggests a physical/biological cause. There are many different kinds of causes: inborn brain defects; brain infections; intoxication; head injuries; circulatory disorders; seizures; tumours or cancers; bodily changes of growing or ageing. The three main organic … Continue reading →
Diagnostic Manuals Psychiatric diagnoses are listed in manuals produced by the American Psychiatric Association (APA). The first such manual (DSM-1) was produced in 1952. Subsequent versions were produced. Up to recent times the latest revision was DSM-IV-TR which was published … Continue reading →
Fictional Finalism Fictional Finalism is a psychological term used to describe an internally held idealistic belief about the future. For instance, we all experience fictional finalism concerning the lottery: “if only I could win the lottery, I would be so … Continue reading →
NLP Neurological Levels The basic concept of NLP Neurological Levels is that the upper levels have a direct impact on lower levels. For example, if you struggle with daily exercise (which is a behaviour), then you can change your views … Continue reading →
