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The possibility that I might have lived previous lives is one that has intrigued me, and having reached an age where well over half of my expected life span has already gone the possibility that I might come around again seems increasingly attractive. However the scientific training I had earlier in my career makes me cautious and sceptical. It is clear that biological life stops at death, and it is hard to see what else there could be that could preserve the memories of my current life independently of my physical form. On the other hand there is an accumulating body of evidence for reincarnation that should not be dismissed out of hand.

Accidents and other distressing events happen to all of us at some time in our lives. Sometimes we take these in our stride and live through them unscathed, but some events can leave a residue that continues to affect us years later.

I've been trying to write this article on psychological trauma for over a year now, and each time I do I seem to end up with nothing but a series of lists. The problem is that the causes and effects of trauma are so diverse and widespread that it's hard to do justice to it in any other way. So there seems to be no option but to bow to the inevitable, and present the lists. These have been culled from a range of sources, and although they are lengthy I make no guarantee that they are complete.

Causes of trauma

Our brains are immensely complex pieces of machinery, vastly more complex than the computer you might have on your desk. As a complex and delicate machine the brain is vulnerable to damage or trauma.

In the ten years since I created The Hope Street Centre I have always been keen to network with colleagues in mental health services of all kinds—public sector, independent and voluntary. In that time reorganisation has been happening almost non-stop as roles, responsibilities, targets, funding and geographical boundaries have all changed over and over again.

I am sure that many of my colleagues would prefer a period of stability rather than yet more change, but that seems unlikely to happen. The new coalition government is intent on driving through change at high speed, and with Britain’s debt now estimated at £4 trillion or £200,000 for every taxpayer* they have very little choice.

A major component of the new strategy is involving local groups and service providers in delivering services. This is not a new idea, and I have seen it happening in East Cheshire for several years. Some examples of the way this centre has been involved are listed below.

Welcome!

Welcome to our first fully electronic newsletter!

Reflecting on my experiences of producing this newsletter I realise how much internal resistance I had to overcome before I could get started.  I can track this back to early experiences of being trained as a helpline volunteer and being told never to leave a message on a caller's answering machine: "Why not?" I asked naively.
"What if the wrong person hears the message - perhaps the caller didn't want them to know they were talking to us.  What if leaving that message causes your caller to be battered or abused?"

Pondering all these "what if's" has made me much more cautious about issues of confidentiality and privacy, but there is another side to it.  If we keep quiet about mental health and therapy we perpetuate the stigma that still exists, and that can prevent people getting the help they need.

January is the time of new beginnings when we think of New Year resolutions. Why is it that all too often these do not last beyond the end of the month? In this article I offer some tips for turning these aspirations into permanent change.

Do you worry that one day, those around you will realise that you are not capable of doing your job? That you will be ‘found out’? Do you continually worry that you aren't good enough to succeed? That, despite all of your achievements, you're just not capable or clever enough? You're not alone.

Hope Street Centre Director and Psychotherapist Maurice Tomkinson, and The Mind Coach Tianne Croshaw use different but equally effective techniques to help individuals to overcome limiting self beliefs perpetuated by the inner critic.

Psoriasis is an unpleasant condition for which, at the present moment, there is no known cure. Many people see it as something they have to “live with” permanently and, as well as the physical discomfort, there is embarrassment in case others see the hard, scaly skin. The cause of the condition is unknown and, unfortunately it does appear to run in families. You may have already tried medicines which helped as long as you took them, but found the side effects unpleasant.
 
There are creams, oils or lotions available, which may soothe a little, but give no lasting improvement, as well as proving costly over time.

Psychodynamic psychotherapy describes a particular approach to psychological treatment which has its roots in psychoanalysis, but over time has been influenced by new developments in neuropsychology, attachment theory, humanistic, transpersonal and body oriented approaches to human nature. There are many different schools of psychodynamic psychotherapy (Freudian; Jungian; Kleinian; Object Relations; Gestalt; Lacanian; Cognitive Analytic; attachment based) and the list keeps growing.

All psychodynamic approaches seek to better understand the self and they use the therapeutic relationship to illuminate aspects of the self that were formerly hidden, misunderstood or neglected.

Despite their differences, there are certain processes and techniques which distinguish all psychodynamic psychotherapies from other types of psychological therapy.

Fibromyalgia is a long-term condition that causes muscle pain all over the body, tiredness, disturbed sleep and difficulties with concentration.  In this article we provide some information from the South East Cheshire Fibromyalgia Association on self help techniques which can help individuals manage and reduce symptoms.  At the end of the article you can find contact details and information relating to the Fibromyalgia Associations' support group, which meets once a month in Crewe.

Dear Julia

I am not one who normally feels comfortable in writing to somebody to ask a question about me.  I am only concerned with normally looking after other people and think of myself last.

I wonder if you could help me.  I am having great pain in my back and shoulder.  I have an employer who is making me work long hours without a break in front of a computer.  I find my work stressful because I work hard for my employer who is very bad tempered which affects my nerves. 

Could you help me please?

Thanks.

Jill