Welcome
welcome to mindful-therapy.uk
Hi and thank you for your interest in my work. If you know what you want please fill out the form on the contact us tab. Or text me. Or email me. A conversation is free.
My name is Daren. I'm known, locally, as Senje.
I have been working over 25 years as a psychotherapist, 15 years as a mindfulness teacher and 12 years as a CBT therapist. I'm dedicated to continuing to cultivate personal self learning via mindfulness which I began practising in 1989. Much of the way I work entails facilitating your awareness of 'how difficulties manifest' in terms of 'body sense' - or felt awareness-; in terms of how you automatically think and react to difficulties and what you choose to do. This 'raised awareness' leads, naturally, to possibilities of change.
Originally given teachings and training in 2 distinct Eastern traditions and lineages I have also undertaken 3 different degree level trainings in 3 distinct psychological therapies:
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Existential Psychotherapy (UKCP registered),
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Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT & MBSR)
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Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (BABCP accredited)
All these therapeutic approaches have a special emphasis upon embodiment and presence.
I have a special interest in ACT - Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and DBT. These are contextual behavioural approaches that include mindfulness alongside behaviour change methods.
How do you choose a therapist? I would say that a recommendation goes a long way but it is also important to find someone who is experienced and qualified.
I am currently updating my website.
There is usually a high demand for my work: please text or email me as there is, usually, more demand than I can fulfill.
I , usually, only have some slots available in daytime hours.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
I qualified as a CBT therapist and registered with BABCP in 2011. My approach integrates mindfulness and embodied approaches to working with anxiety and trauma. My specialism in CBT is 'Acceptance and Commitment (ACT) therapy.
You can find qualified CBT therapists here only:
https://babcp.com/CBTRegister/
It is worth checking to see if your CBT therapist is qualified because- even in the NHS- you often get what is called 'Supported Self Help' under the guise of CBT (because they use CBT skills). This is not CBT psychotherapy
For Anxiety, depression and other mental health related problems CBT psychotherapy involves changing behaviours. I integrate mindfulness into this behaviour change approach and this is called ACT, it is a radical 'problem' orientated therapy: looking at specific problems and offering specific approaches to dealing with them. I specialise in using mindfulness/embodied approaches, especially in my work with PTSD and complex trauma. The body is often overlooked but it is often where we experience the re living of anxieties and traumas from the past. I invite you and support you in writing your own therapy logbook and manual. Using this approach, your problems are assessed over 3-4 weeks and, gradually, a formulation 'picture' is developed to help you understand what is 'going on'. Your 'workbook;' starts out as an empty A5 hardback notebook but becomes a very personal journal of self growth and behaviour change: You bring your experince into language by distinguishing between feelings and sensations in the body, thoughts and images in the mind and your perceptions of the situation that is difficult. We then start the work according to contemporary scientifically evidenced informed treatment models: often completing within 12-20 weeks. Using your own handbook,you will learn to be your own therapist! £80 per session contact me directly mindfuldashtherapy.uk@gmail.com
Existential Therapy
Existential Therapy (ET) I originally trained as a humanistic counsellor but became disappointed with this and trained and became qualified as a UKCP registered psychotherapist in 2002. This is an analytic therapy that has been updated by contemporary philosophical critiques of traditional psychodynamic therapy. For instance, with this psychotherapy, we focus, mostly, upon the present and then, through guided enquiry into what is really going on, it might be that we might start to notice how the 'past is playing out in the present'. We don't necessarily 'root through the past'. This form of therapy involves dialogue, it is very engaging and it is also informed by my background in mindfulness. We will find ways of focusing and anchoring your embodied experience of your difficulties and, through these explorations, you will learn to anchor your experiences of, perhaps difficult emotions or difficult situations, in a new way. You will come to understand your life, your difficulties and what matters to you in new ways and on your terms. These changes in understanding then change the difficulty. There is an emphasis on looking at things in depth and this can involve uncovering and healing embodied traumas from the past. Perhaps you are cautious about the claims of therapy, of 'psychological experts' and 'quick fixes'? Perhaps from experience? I like sceptism too! However; It still might be worth trying something different. You might need to consider and make sense of what is important to you in your present situations and to really start living your life according to these values. Relational psychotherapy is informed more by philosophy than by psychology and science. It is a contemporary take upon psycho-analysis. However; unlike the psychoanalyst I will be fully engaged with the experiences that you present- I talk back!- A dialogue emerges about the meanings, alternate possibilities and thus choices inherent in the situation for you.
https://www.psychotherapy.org.uk/find-a-therapist/
£70 per session contact me directly mindfuldashtherapy.uk@gmail.com
Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy/ Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction
Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) or MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction). I have been practising mindfulness, daily under the guidance of a tradition since 1990. I also qualified in a mindful based psychology degree at Bangor university Centre for Mindfulness Practise and Research (CMRP) and in 2009 I became qualified to teach 8 week MBCT therapy groups. Many people say they 'meditate' but, when we practise daily under the guidance of a teacher and with a group then significant change usually occurs. This approach welds Bhuddist and Eastern approaches to mindfulness with contemporary cognitive science. It may sometimes feel like you never seem to have time or that your life and it's demands can feel overwhelming but being part of a group that is practising daily and meeting weekly realy facilitates the motivation to build a regular practise. Perhaps you want to learn to cope better with the stress and difficulties of life? Mindfulness practise, once learned, stays with you for life. This, MBCT, is a UK version and slight variant of the well known Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course developed by Jon Kabat-Zin. I have over 30 years of personal mindfulness practise experience- under guidance- and, therefore, bring this long history and varied contexts to my teaching. This course is evidenced to reduce relapse into depression, reduce anxiety, help with coping with chronic pain and stress. It will improve well being.C£260-£300 for complete 8 week course including materials; cd's workbooks etc. Do you buy fake items or like the real thing?Don't accept copies: it's for you! Please contact my secretary on mindfuldashtherapy.uk@gmail.com
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