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psychology
ISTDP
Integrative Psychology
CBT and ACT
Integrative Psychology
On request, integrative psychology sessions are available with Alice Crole, whereby in addition to standard psychological counselling, other factors impacting your mental health can be explored. Depending on your needs, sessions may include recommendations for blood tests and/or prescribed supplementation (nutritional, herbal).
Examples of where integrative psychology might be applicable include:
- Exploration of alternative or adjunct supplements to pharmaceutical medication for depression, anxiety, or sleep disturbance (in liaison with your GP)
- Nutritional deficiencies that can impact on mood (e.g. Vitamin D, iron, B12, Zinc)
- Hormonal/endocrine conditions such as premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD, thyroid disorder)
- Somatisation/pain syndromes with no identified medical cause that may have an emotional component
- Digestive disorders associated with stress (e.g. irritable bowel syndrome)
These sessions do not include dietary planning and are only applicable for complaints directly related to mental health.
CBT and ACT
Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) is a commonly used form of therapy that can help you to develop greater insight into how your thoughts, emotions, and behaviours are connected. Such insight may require exploration of your past history, as your earlier life experiences and the messages you received as a child, are likely to have influenced the way you perceive yourself, others, and the world.
CBT recognises that in your past, you may have had to develop ways (known as ‘defences’) to protect yourself from painful experiences. Such defences however, can manifest as unhelpful thinking styles and behaviours that cause suffering in your present life. CBT can help you to challenge these parts of yourself, so that you can achieve personal growth.
CBT goes hand in hand with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a mindfulness-based therapy centered on creating a rich and meaningful life, while accepting the pain that inevitably goes with it. Similarly to CBT, the therapy aims to increase insight into what causes suffering, utilising mindfulness, acceptance, and compassion.
Both CBT and ACT are a core part of clinical psychology training and widely utilised by therapists.
