Health & care

 •  We all have thoughts that seem to come out of nowhere, that feel strange or ridiculous but that also pass after a few minutes. •  These thoughts can be about worries that could happen to you or someone you love, about mistakes you have made in life or could potentially make. •  Some individuals intrusive thoughts are linked to their anxiety and focus on a fear of their anxious feelings, such as what if my heart beating faster is a sign of a heart-attack? What if I fall apart in doing this presentation as I’m so anxious and I can’t speak clearly or go blank? Here, people become fearful of their own anxiety and can get stuck in an anxiety-fear loop, fuelled by intrusive thoughts. Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts Other types of intrusive thoughts are called unwanted intrusive thoughts. These can be a cause of much upset, and trigger feelings of anxiety, guilt, disgust or dread and often have a sexual, violent or socially unacceptable subject matter. A classic example, I ...

Psychoanalysis operates on the premise that there exists a knowledge not known to ourselves, an unconscious knowledge. If one worked in one’s own  best interests and if one is in control we wouldn’t be capable of our own destruction such as in cases of anorexia, addiction, gambling, puzzling anxiety or depression. Psychoanalytic psychotherapy is a practice that focuses primarily on speech. Language is our connection to reality as reality is grounded in speech. Psychoanalysis is an effective method of treatment for those experiencing disturbances in affect, thought or behaviour. Clinical experience shows that when one symptom disappears it is often replaced by another. Psychoanalysis aims to undo the identifications and fixations that have led to the repetition in symptom-formation. Clinical practice in the psychoanalytic orientation is preoccupied with the singularity of each client in a case-by-case tradition not a one solution fits all model. Speech provides the means to access ...

Electrolysis refers to the production of heat by a high-frequency electric current to remove individual, fine, light hairs that are not suitable for laser therapy . The tip of a very fine metal probe is inserted into a hair follicle and an electric current is discharged from it, producing heat in the immediate area. The heat causes localized damage, destroying the living cells of the surrounding tissue, including the hair root, preventing the follicle from ever producing hair again. Electrolysis is a very safe technique; however, although it is a quick procedure, it can be uncomfortable for some. The area treated may be sore immediately afterwards, and small scabbing may also be evident, depending on how many hair follicles were treated, but this usually subsides within 48 hours. Results are immediate, since each individual hair being treated will be permanently removed. However, any area of the face or body must not be over-treated in order to prevent excessive soreness, so more than...

A highly effective treatment that can transform the appearance of your skin, helping to reverse the signs of ageing by significantly improving overall skin tone, texture and elasticity. It increases moisture content and reduces superficial pigmentation and pore size. FDA-approved. Here at Andresa we offer a highly effective iPixel fractional laser treatment for skin resurfacing. Using the new generation of Fraxel Erbium Yag Laser from Alma Lasers we can deliver outstanding results on the skin whilst avoiding long periods of downtime for the client. Unlike traditional ablative laser resurfacing, this new generation of iPixel laser is much less aggressive on the skin surface, thus minimising redness and downtime. The depth at which the ablative element of the iPixel penetrates the skin, creates heat deep within the skin to trigger the body’s natural healing response. In turn this stimulates the growth of new healthy skin tissue, including the production of new collagen, to deliver a sm...

Psychotherapists who work in a Humanistic and integrative approach create a space for individual’s to develop an awareness around what is preventing them from living their life to its fullest. This approach runs counter to the scientific tenets of behaviourism and analytic approach of Freudian Psychoanalysis. The Humanistic and Integrative approach includes, in its process, those aspects that make up what it is to be human for example, love, values, self awareness, choice and human potential. Within the Humanistic and Integrative approach human beings are seen as a whole person living through a level of integration through their mind, psyche, body and feelings. This approach also believes that the responsibility for the individual’s life lies with the individual themselves. Individual’s make their own choices and are responsible for both their action and inaction. The practitioner sees the person as dynamic and as an entity unfolding in different stages. It is recognised that along th...

Walk and Talk Psychotherapy is a Professional Psychotherapy practice that takes place outdoors. There are a few different ways of working therapeutically using  Walk and Talk Psychotherapy. Most common is that the session takes place exactly like a session would indoors, clear boundaries are established and we talk just as we would normally, except we’re walking side by side. This can feel less intimidating than regular face to face office style Psychotherapy. Other ways are using the principles of Ecotherapy and Ecopsychology where we use nature to help the process. It may be slowing down to natures pace, using materials or drawing metaphors from the natural surroundings. I am a believer in client centred Psychotherapy and therefore will wait and see what way to work emerges.  No matter which way we work it is always Professional, Ethical and based on the most up to date research while drawing on my experience and natural wisdom that occurs when outdoors.  Ecotherapy i...

Poor pelvic floor strength and urinary incontinence are as common as they’re embarrassing. It is a condition which can affect us at any age or stage of life. It is a myth that only women who have given birth suffer from this, though certainly it helps! Chronic constipation can also take its toll. Most of us just put up with it and resign ourselves to a life of Tena Ladies and being careful when we laugh/cough/sneeze/run/jump/just about anything. Pelvic floor dysfunction is when we’re unable to correctly relax and coordinate the muscles in our pelvic floors to pee or to have a bowel movement and can also be the source of pain during sex. Although we use humour to mask our embarrassment, it really is no joke. It can severely affect the quality of our lives and limit the activities we undertake. It won’t kill us, but it is certainly lifestyle-limiting. Kegel (pelvic floor) exercises are recommended to maintain strength and condition in the pelvic area but by the time trouble strikes, it’s...