Association for professional Hypnosis and Psychotherapy

05/05/2026

Why do therapists need Clinical Wills?

Discover how clinical wills safeguard client confidentiality and guarantee uninterrupted support for your clients.

02/05/2026

Your therapist will never ask you to stop medication: the reason why

Medication and therapy are often presented as either/or options, but for many people they work best together. Each addresses different aspects of mental health, and combining them can create a more stable foundation for change.

Medication can help regulate symptoms such as severe anxiety, depression, or mood instability. When the nervous system is less overwhelmed, people are often better able to engage in therapy. They can concentrate, reflect, and practice new skills without feeling constantly hijacked by symptoms.

Therapy, in turn, helps with understanding patterns, processing experiences, and developing long-term coping strategies. While medication may reduce intensity, therapy supports insight, emotional regulation, and meaningful change that lasts beyond symptom relief.

Doing both at the same time is a practical, collaborative approach that recognises mental health as both biological and psychological. When used thoughtfully and with professional guidance, medication and therapy together can offer support that is both stabilising and transformative.

If you would like to find a qualified therapist, you might want to have a look at our website for therapists who have been fully vetted.

www.aphp.co.uk

20/04/2026

We would like to introduce the newest member of the team, Hayley McAuley, who is going to be joining the APHP board as our Ethics Officer. She is replacing June Hale, who has spent many years offering help and advice to our Association, but has made the decision to step away to pursue other commitments.

Hayley is a Psychotherapist working full-time from her therapy practice, Curious Counselling in Kent, seeing lots of clients and will be a valuable member of our operational team. She holds very high standards within our industry, and her interests span various sports, wildlife, and she owns many different kinds of animals.

Welcome to the team, Hayley. We are glad to have you!

15/04/2026

https://www.aphp.co.uk/blog/2026/04/15/the-joy-of-sex-reclaiming-pleasure-as-part-of-a-healthy-life/

14/04/2026

Our spring newsletter is winging its way to you. Check your junk mail folders if you are a member and you don’t receive it.
It includes two ideas for techniques you can use this spring! 🌱🌷

If you’re reading this and you would like to join an association that truly keeps its members learning at the forefront, offering free CPD and other techniques and strategies, have a look at our website!

www.aphp.co.uk

12/04/2026

Come and read our latest member's article on the benefits of the season of spring and how it can make us feel better.

Explore how the spring affects mood with increased light and energy that can lift your spirits and improve well-being.

03/04/2026

What Therapists Notice in the First Five Minutes of a Session:

The first few minutes of a therapy session often say more than people realise. Before any big topics are named, therapists are already quietly taking in a lot of information.

Energy and body language stand out quickly; how someone enters the room, sits down, makes eye contact, or settles into silence can offer clues about their emotional state. These cues help form a picture of how the person is arriving that day.

Therapists also notice shifts from previous sessions. A client who is usually talkative but suddenly withdrawn, or calm but unusually restless, signals that something may have changed. Even subtle differences can matter, especially in ongoing work where patterns are familiar.

What’s said first is often meaningful too. Many people open with something casual or practical, but therapists listen for what’s underneath. Sometimes the real issue appears indirectly, in tone rather than content, or in what isn’t mentioned at all.

Importantly, these early observations aren’t about conclusions, they are tools that help therapists attune to the client, pace the session, and decide where to begin. The first five minutes set the emotional temperature of the room, creating the foundation for everything that follows.

02/04/2026

Our latest blog post explains why some therapists may feel sleepy in sessions.

Recognising and working with sleepiness as a relational and psychological signal is a meaningful step toward deeper clinical awareness.

27/03/2026

Come and read our latest blog from member Nikki Emerton on holding the key to happiness!

Find out the key to happiness by better understanding it

24/03/2026

Belonging to a professional therapy association that genuinely cares about its members, offers benefits that go far beyond having a logo to display. It creates a sense of professional home. Knowing you are part of a community that understands the realities of therapeutic work reduces isolation, supports ethical practice, and reinforces your professional identity, especially in a field that can sometimes feel lonely or emotionally demanding.

One of the most practical advantages is access to free continuing professional development. Free CPD removes financial barriers to learning and makes it easier to stay current, confident, and competent in your work. It encourages growth driven by curiosity and care rather than obligation, and helps therapists integrate new insights into their practice without added pressure.

When an association invests in its members through support, education, and accessibility, it strengthens the profession as a whole. Therapists feel valued, skills stay sharp, and clients ultimately benefit from practitioners who are supported, informed, and connected.

If you'd like to join us, apply here:

Find the best Hypnotherapy Association and Directory near you. Discover trusted hypnotherapists and resources about hypnotherapy.

19/03/2026

We are very much looking forward to our March workshop with Nick Whitehouse.
If you are a member of www.aphp.co.uk you are invited to this session free of charge! 🙂

09/03/2026

Come and read Hayley McAuley's article on Doomscrolling!

Doomscrolling: Why do we do it and how do we break the cycle? Doomscrolling is a phrase that has become increasingly common in recent years. It describes th ...