http://www.conscientwellbeing.com/

Conscient Well-Being, Greater Manchester (2025)

12/11/2024

Feeling overwhelmed, stuck in a cycle of overthinking, or battling burnout and anxiety?
It's time to break free and reconnect with your path.
I specialise in offering integrative therapy to clients who know there's something they want to change, and are seeking guidance to make that change. My approach blends powerful techniques like Hypnotherapy, Meditation, and Logotherapy to help you heal in a truly holistic and sustainable way. Our approach addresses not just the symptoms of stress, anxiety, and burnout, but also the root causes, empowering you to transform your mindset, renew your energy, and reconnect with your purpose.

The therapy I offer integrates different modalities to create a personalised plan that works for you. You will be able to address the root causes of burnout, anxiety, and overthinking, rather than just masking the symptoms.
Experience lasting transformation, equipped with practices and strategies that you can carry with you long after therapy ends.

Stress, anxiety, and burnout need not control your life any longer. Take the first step toward a calmer, more fulfilled you. You can book a free consultation today and start your journey to healing with integrative therapy designed for your unique needs.

Curious? You can book a free consultation, find out more about the services I offer, and ask any questions you might have, via my website:
https://buff.ly/4dxjWDz

01/11/2024

I'd like to take a deeper look at hypnotherapy this month, by looking at some common misconceptions!

"Does hypnosis involve sleep?"
The same state of consciousness involved in deep REM (rapid-eye-movement) sleep can be contrived by using hypnosis, but a client doesn't need to fall asleep for that to happen.

"Are you going to swing a watch in front of my eyes?"
An idea from stage hypnotism, with swinging the watch putting a person in the trance state. While I do not use a watch, there are many techniques which can be used to induce hypnosis - and these are discussed with client consent before use.

"Are you going to make me cluck like a chicken?"
Not unless it's something you want me to do! To be honest, stage hypnotism isn't something I'm interested in, and this is where this stereotype comes from. You are in control at all times. It's understandable that seeing stage hypnotism on TV or at a show could be worrying, but it couldn't be further removed from hypnotherapy. The very word "hypnotised" carries the idea of this loss of control,

"Am I going to remember what happened?"
Another misconception is that you won't be aware of what's going on. During hypnotherapy, clients can feel deeply relaxed - but not to the point of losing control. Communicating with your subconscious mind is what matters here, and imagination is the language of the subconscious.

"Will I be able to hear everything you say?"
I have had a mix of client responses here. Sometimes client tell me they've heard everything, sometimes clients lose track of my words. At no point will I use suggestions, metaphors or ideas which we have not expressly agreed to before using hypnosis. To do so would be completely unethical!

These misconceptions are found everywhere, and my clients often tell me how surprised they are to have them overturned.

The following video addresses many of these misconceptions:
https://buff.ly/3NbJX0d

I bet you still have questions! It's important you have the space to discuss them, and you can arrange a free consultation to do this on my website:
https://buff.ly/4dxjWDz

29/10/2024

Of particular interest to me at the moment is the effect of mindfulness and mind-body therapies (MBTs, which hypnotherapy falls under) on our bodies right down to the cellular level. My scientific curiosity has never left me, and it's really adding a new layer of excitement to my work in well-being that I am able to engage with science again.

If you're curious about the current findings in the field about how mindfulness and MBTs affect our cells (and indeed cellular aging!), I can't recommend highly enough The Telomere Effect, which summarises recent findings the effects of many life aspects (including mindfulness) on our bodies.

Telomeres are small repeated sections of DNA found at the tips of our chromosomes, which progressively shorten as our cells divide and copy themselves. These have been found to be a useful marker for the healthy or unhealthy (premature) ageing of our cells. While I should stress that research is very much still in the preliminary stages, it nonetheless has exciting implications for monitoring the effectiveness of therapeutic approaches in the future.

Curious?
"The Telomere Effect", by Elizabeth Blackburn, PhD and Elissa Epel, PhD 2017, published by Orion Spring (an excellent book to whet your appetite on the science!)
And to go a little deeper, why not hear some of the science in Elizabeth Blackburn's own words? https://buff.ly/4eywziw

25/10/2024

Carl Rogers is widely regarded as the founder of Person-Centred Counselling. I use the terms person-centred and client-centred interchangeably, but what do they mean?

Simply that your needs are put at the centre of the services you receive when working with me.
- If we use mindfulness approaches, then time will be dedicated for reflecting on how they worked (or not) for you, and seeing if we need to make changes to the approach to make them more accessible (or to try a different approach altogether!)
- The same is true of therapeutic techniques we might try. In therapy more generally, client-centred means that you are in charge of the changes you want to see, of the discoveries you make, and I act as a guide in that process, helping to offer perspective where I can.
- More than anything, it is simply a reminder that no two clients are the same, and that your needs cannot necessarily be met by using approaches which seem to have worked for a client in a similar situation to you.

All of my well-being work, whether in a 1-2-1, group or corporate setting, is founded on a client-centred outlook.

If you'd like to learn more, I warmly invite you to visit my website where you can book a free consultation to discuss your needs further.
buff.ly/4dxjWDz

22/10/2024

When I get asked this question, I know that my prospective client often would like a roadmap of the full first session with me.
The integrative, client-centred approach which I offer means that no two clients' sessions are the same.
However, in a first session, there are some important parts to get right, and these I've listed below.

- Explaining my model of therapy, the ethics I abide by, and my credentials.
I love the work I do, and I want my clients to know this! I also want them to know that I treat it with absolute integrity, and that I am offering the highest quality service I can.

- Completing an intake process
This sounds very formal, and there are some important safety questions which we need to consider. That being said, I make my intake processes as relaxed and open as I possibly can. Ultimately, this part helps us to understand whether what I offer is right for you at this time.

- I explain my fees.
I want to be transparent with my clients at all times, and I want them to feel that a therapeutic alliance with me is something they want to invest in. I am completely disillusioned with pressured sales approaches and they have no place in the well-being field.

- Make the space for my client's story.
By generously listening to your story, what brings you here, what sparked your interest, I can be the process of acting as a guide in the world as you see it. I try to leave plenty of time for this part of the session - again, it's no good if you feel pressured by time or intrusive questions!

If we decide that working together is something we want to proceed with, then I will lay out some ideas of what we will begin with in our next session. We'll also check what time and date works for you, and I'll make sure that you can easily contact me should you need further support, questions answered or to change the time of your session.

There will always be some unknowns in the first session, but if you've got this far and you're still curious (first, thank you for reading all this!), perhaps you might like to discuss things further?

You can send me a message on here, but if you'd like to a arrange a free consultation then I'd recommend visiting my website, where you can find the details to do so: https://buff.ly/4dxjWDz

18/10/2024

Mindfulness works wonderfully in group and 1-2-1 sessions, but especially when I work with my clients 1-2-1 it's an absolute joy to provide them with audio resources which are tailored to their needs. This is a standard part of my offer (including for clients who are working with me for integrative therapy, where mindfulness or audio practices might be useful).

These are recorded in real time and sent to you after your sessions as high-quality MP3 files. These are yours to keep, and allow you to take your practices with you. Some clients use these to help them fall asleep, or they use them when they need a short pause in the middle of a busy working day.

Some ways in which I tailor these recordings for my clients:
- Immersive tracks added which make the audio more accessible than background silence.
- The inclusion of specific sounds to help bring the attention back to the present moment.
- Practices recorded in languages other than English.

If you're curious about developing a mindfulness program which puts your unique needs at the heart of it, I'd love to chat! Free consultations are available via my website. buff.ly/4dxjWDz

15/10/2024

A little bit more insight into hypnotherapy today. I have reviewed many approaches to hypnotherapy, and one I find brings consistent success with my clients is the 4-stage model shown here, developed by C. Roy Hunter, a renowned expert in the field.

Hypnotherapy isn't simply about offering ourselves suggestions - whether it's for an outcome we want or a change we want to make, perhaps a behaviour which no longer serves us or a repressed hurt from our past. Those who offer hypnotherapy as an instant fix may claim this to be true! While offering ourselves suggestions can feel liberating or effective in the moment, it can often be the time which follows, where the resistance begins to show up.
This resistance comes from patterns which have been ingrained in us over time - perhaps years or decades.

For example, if I work with a client who wants to quit smoking they may feel very empowered and hopeful after the first session, but then the deep-seated cause of the addiction may begin to show up. There's no predicting how or when this might happen (it may even show up during the first session), but it's something I always account for in the process of working with my clients.
Discovering the root cause of unwanted behaviours, self-limiting beliefs - always with trauma-sensitivity in mind, for which I maintain my own rigorous training - allows us to work together to empower you to release those resistances, all of those ideas, memories, subconscious echoes which keep you stuck. From there, the real relearning can begin - and that relearning is always on your terms!

I can't stress that last point enough. It's always on your terms, you are in control. I'll be releasing another post soon addressing the misconceptions behind hypnotherapy which often lead to people feeling unsure about it. If you're curious about how hypnotherapy could help, and you'd like to discuss any uncertainties sooner, please reach out via my website for a free informal consultation. buff.ly/4dxjWDz

11/10/2024

What is Integrative Therapy?
Is it another buzz word of our times?
Perhaps it has been used in that way.
For what I offer my clients, it's the word which seems to say it best, and I have tried out many different words!

I believe firmly that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to well-being, and this often means that my clients needs more than one approach blended in a way which responds to their needs. It also means that we take into account different aspects of your life such as beliefs, values, language, the way your mind responds to the world around you. Since we are affected every single day, every second, by all the influences around us (and we have been for our whole life), how could I possibly predict which techniques would work for you without a creative, dynamic (as opposed to static, your needs change over time!) and responsive outlook?

I value taking the time and care to discuss my clients needs with them. For a therapy process to thrive, a foundation of trust is needed. Taking the time to discuss your needs, learning a little more about each other, discussing what your hopes are in therapy. These things can help decide whether we can work together - crucially this is a decision we both make together.

Ultimately it is your choice, and it will always be your choice which is the most important. There will never be any pressure from me to sign up to a treatment program - a healing therapeutic alliance simply doesn't work under those conditions!

Many approaches and techniques are available, it can sometimes be overwhelming to consider what might work for you - whether you know what you need or you don't, perhaps it's just possible that we could explore your options together.

Informal enquiries are warmly welcomed via my website - buff.ly/4dxjWDz

08/10/2024

It is my great pleasure to be able to offer mindfulness freely to those who would like to try it, and equally to those who have already tried it and would just like to experience a new perspective!

My interest and focus has always been offering mindfulness which each individual in a group can access in their own way, engaging with practices and techniques which seem like a good fit for them. Following each practice, we take the time to reflect and share those reflections with the group (if you so choose, no pressure!). This is something that can be left missing from many online mindfulness resources, and yet is a crucial part of embedding mindfulness practices into your life - developing the resilience and self-compassion to make lasting and meaningful change, rather than hoping for a quick fix.

Still in its early stages now, I'm hoping to offer twice-monthly sessions at times which are as accessible as possible. You can sign up for these sessions at my website: https://buff.ly/4dxjWDz

You'll find the link to a form to sign up at the top of the page. In this form, all I ask is that you provide responses to some safety questions - these are required by the ethical standards framework I follow in offering my mindfulness sessions - you can find out more about this on my website too.

I look forward to warmly welcoming you, and all are very much welcome regardless of how much experience you have previously had of mindfulness. Beginners minds are all that I ask!

30/09/2024

As a passionate linguist and (very amateur) poet over the years I've been amazed by the number of ways people can describe something which sounds like mindfulness - but perhaps the word mindfulness itself doesn't quite fit.

However well-being shows up in your life, however you would like to nurture it, that's part of the journey and exploration I enjoy with each and every unique client I work with.

What capacity might you like to nurture in your life? (some ideas here, but perhaps you'd like to consider your own in the comments?)
Generous Listening, Self-Compassion, Inner Stillness, Feeling Safe in my body, Present-Moment Living, Introspection, Interoception, Health-Span-Focused Living, Living with my Telomeres in Mind...

I tried to cover a good range of backgrounds in the list, some of these really speak to my own ongoing love of science.
So many words that we find, which work for us, can be dismissed as "woo-woo" if they don't measure up intellectually. Such jargon used for jargon's sake can be excluding, and lacks a sense of humanity.

It may be unexpected words which work for you, it may be words out of order, it may be words that others wouldn't always understand. Accepting this, owning this, and opening to where these words might take you, can be the beginning of a truly person-centred approach to well-being.

A bit of a ramble this week! If you made it here, thank you for reading! I warmly welcome all discussions and enquiries, you can find out more about my offers at my website: conscientwellbeing.com

26/09/2024

I'm convinced that mindfulness can be offered to every individual in a workplace, and in ways that they are able to explore and figure out what works.
I'm still amazed how many people attend my sessions expecting a one-size-fits-all approach, or believing that there is one way and one way only to "do mindfulness".
Whether a one-off workshop experience for the well-being of your employees, or a longer term collaboration to develop and embed custom-built well-being practices for your whole company, I warmly welcome enquiries from all prospective clients.

From planning, to deployment, to full impact analysis and revisions, I'm here for workplace leaders who envision well-being which works for every employee.
More information can be found on my website:
https://buff.ly/4cGvfZl

23/09/2024

I came across the work of Rachel Naomi Remen, MD long before I came across mindfulness. Her words came to me in the form of a lecture called "The Art of Living Every Minute of Your Life". If that's not a mindful title, I'm not sure what is!
The lecture is a wonderful selection of stories with profound messages to remind us of. I say "remind us" intentionally, because the ideas within are definitely core human values which many of us lose sight of.
I rarely get through a course of mindfulness without mentioning Rachel Remen at least once, and never more so than for her coining of the term "Generous Listening".
I have come to see building our capacity for generous listening as an unexpected side effect of mindful practice in our lives. It allows us to reach others without the nagging need to fix or problem-solve. It allows us to really make space for the person to be with what they may be facing, and to know they're not alone in it.
If we're busily trying to fix the problems for that person (in other words, we're stuck up in our own mind!), we won't be able to reach them in the same way.
Most importantly for me, Rachel's humility in admitting that she has been put down in her field as a medical doctor for valuing the stories of her patients (often dismissed as anecdotal evidence), even though they may hold the key to healing that patient.
If I, as a therapist and mindfulness teacher, do not take the time to check in with myself first, I cannot show up as a whole person for my clients. I won't be able to listen generously to them.

You can find out more about Rachel's wisdom around Generous Listening in her book Kitchen Table Wisdom.
If you're curious about how mindfulness and person-centred therapy could support your capacity as a Generous Listener, I warmly welcome all enquiries.

Consultations are free, and you're welcome to arrange a time that works for you. I look forward to hearing from you!

Conscient Well-Being

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