News

Eating Disorders Awareness Week is an international awareness event, fighting the myths and misunderstandings that surround anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder and OSFED. We know the sooner someone gets the treatment they need, the more likely they are to make a full and fast recovery. There is a need to improve the services available, but we also recognise that we must raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of an eating disorder and encourage and empower people to take action now no matter how long their symptoms have been present. Read more here.  Find out about the UK's eating disorder charity and the work they do at BEAT.

These are uncertain times for everyone, but particularly difficult for those experiencing challenging life situations, psychological or relational problems.  So we continue to provide 'face to face' therapy sessions here at Asana Health for anyone who:

• Is not self-isolating
• Is not feeling unwell
• Is not having Covid19 symptoms – high temperature; new persistent cough; or loss/change of sense of taste and/or smell
• Has not been in contact with anyone suspected of having coronavirus in the last 14 days
• Is not considered clinically vulnerable and in need of shielding

After careful assessment of our premises and business operation and due adherence to the latest government guidance to curtail Covid19, we have produced an operational plan that enables our therapists to safely use the facilities at Asana Health to see their clients ... because we believe that traditional face to face counselling is always preferable and more effective.  

Every therapist has a copy of Asana’s Operational Plan and Hygiene Procedures that will ensure your visit to Asana Health will be well managed and take every precaution to keep both our clients and therapists safe. We are fortunate to have spacious, airy consulting rooms where we can operate well within all social distancing requirements.  Our professional practitioners are so pleased to be able to continue focusing on traditional 'face-to-face' counselling and psychotherapy, at a time when mental health services are desperately needed by people of all ages and backgrounds.  Our wonderful team of therapists offer the best treatment and counselling within Asana's discreet yet professional environment of comfort, safety, understanding and confidentiality.

This years Awareness Week took place 1st to 7th February and the theme was 'Express Yourself' - encouraging children (and adults) to explore the different ways we can express ourselves, and the creative ways that we can share our feelings, our thoughts and our ideas. Watch this video by HRH The Duchess of Cambridge - supporter of children's mental health and Patron of Place2Be. 

Summary of a report by The Mental Health Foundation on the impacts of lockdown on the mental health of children and young people states:  "One of the most significant public health measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic has been extended periods of ‘lockdown’, and associated school closures. The evidence on the direct impact of lockdown on mental health and wellbeing of children and young people yielded mixed findings, with some studies indicating an increased likelihood of PTSD symptoms in quarantined children. Overall, studies point to increased levels of distress, worry and anxiety. Some likely reasons include increased feelings of loneliness and worries about returning to school, missing school and the future.  The evidence overview has helped contextualise some of the challenges that children and young people have been and continue to face with respect to their mental health. Support should pay attention to those for whom lockdown has been particularly challenging. Moreover, children and young people may benefit from the opportunity to validate their experiences of lockdown with their peers and should continue to receive clear communication about the pandemic, including on the return to school".  Read the full report here.

Changes in our business operation and working environment are enabling us to again consider applications from therapists who wish to develop their 'face-to-face' talking therapy practice within the supportive business model and spacious, well equipped rooms of Asana Health. The business and premises are totally compliant with all Government Covid19 guidance. Look at what we provide by clicking here on 'Our Rooms' which will direct you to that section of our website. Then call Asana's owner, Mike Levett, on 07740-644193, for an informal chat.

Bereavement is a distressing but common experience. Sooner or later most of us will suffer the death of someone we love. Yet in our everyday life we think and talk about death very little, perhaps because we encounter it less often than our grandparents did. For us, these losses usually happen later in life. So we do not have much of a chance either to learn about grieving - how it feels, what are the right things to do, what is 'normal' - or to come to terms with it. In spite of this, we have to cope when we are finally faced with the death of someone we love. Of course, we grieve after any sort of loss, but most powerfully after the death of someone we love - and it is not just one feeling, but a whole succession of feelings, which take a while to get through and which cannot be hurried. These various stages of mourning often overlap and show themselves in different ways in different people. Many of our therapists are experienced in helping those who seek bereavement counselling and especially those who seem stuck in the grieving process. You can read more about bereavement, how we experience grief and what happens if grief is unresolved on the Royal College of Psychiatrists website here. Read the profile of one of our specialist therapists - Nikki Macpherson.

For special advice about funerals and pastoral care during the Coronavirus outbreak, Churches Together in England have information on their web page. Click here.

There are many myths and misunderstandings that surround anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder and EDNOS. On average, 149 weeks pass before those experiencing eating disorder symptoms seek help. That’s almost three years. On top of this, in a YouGov survey conducted for EDAW, more than one in three adults (34%) in the UK, who gave an answer, could not name any signs or symptoms of eating disorders. We recognise that we must raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of an eating disorder and encourage and empower people to take action now, no matter how long their symptoms have been present. For an informative overview click here to go to Asana's dedicated web page. Find out more about all eating disorders on the Beat Eating Disorders website. 

To take part in a major research study to better understand the genetic and environmental links to eating disorders and help develop better treatments, please visit EDGI - Eating Disorders Genetics Initiative

Cecily Criminale, MS, MEd, MA, MBACP (Reg.), Sex and Relationship Therapist and former neuroscience graduate knows that past trauma can impact your long term relationships and day-to-day interactions with each other.  Sometimes this can be because the relationship itself feels unsafe overall, and is dangerous or toxic and this shouldn’t be overlooked, but emotional flashbacks can also happen in good and healthy relationships, where the partners are growing closer.  In many cases the trigger has nothing to do with whatever started the current misunderstanding, but is almost entirely to do with things already inside of us (or our partners) from the past. The most significant way to overcome this is to take the power out of the trigger by understanding each other better and this is where sex and relationship therapy can help. ~ Cecily Criminale.

The True Origin of Stress - by Stress and Anxiety Management Practitioner, Giselle Monbiot - is a simple yet powerful guide to what stress is and how to manage it. Download your free copy here! 

It's real! The design tricks and techniques that keep you hooked on your phone, Facebook, video games, etc. is known as 'Persuasive Design' and it influences the parts of your brain responsible for forming habits and addictions. We all know someone who's fascination with their phone or other gadget has become excessive and is seriously impacting their relationships, work, education, etc. The WHO (World Health Organisation) now recognises gaming addiction as a mental health disorder - and, the NHS has opened the country's first specialist clinic to treat children and young adults who are addicted to social media and playing computer games. So - what can you do? At least learn more about 'Persuasive Design' in this short BBC video. If professional help is needed to help a person combat their addiction, we have professionals at Asana who are used to treating habits and addictions. We also have therapists who specialise in treating children. Click the blue links to find out more.