News

Congratulations to Asana owner, Mike Levett, who has now completed all three of his target events in this years fundraising cycle rides in aid of The Big Issue Foundation. First was the steep 96km Amade Radmarathon in Austria - completed in 4hrs.2mins and then The London Prudential 100 in pouring rain on 29th July.  The major and last event was the 600km London to Amsterdam, 29th August to 1st September, where he met some fellow solo cyclists and they joined together for support as 'the motley crew'! Please add your support for his efforts by donating to his Just Giving page here.... where you can also read up on the gruelling training rides, like the 203km Audax 'The London Ditchling Devil' on 3rd June and the 223km 'Welsh Dragon Ride' on 10th June with 3,200m of alpine steep climbing! Yep - we think he's mad too! (Below pics L to R: Austria, the Prudential Ride London, where Asana also sponsored the shirts for the Love Kingston Team, & Amsterdam).

The new ethical framework comes into effect on the 1st July, following a comprehensive review of the 2016 version, to incorporate member feedback, enquiries and new legislation. Psychotherapists and Counsellors can download a copy and check a special page on the BACP website to familiarise yourself with the new version 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. 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 the professionals at Asana, like Nicola Todd, who are used to treating habits and addictions. Click the blue links to find out more.

Cecily Criminale, MS, MEd, MA, MBACP (Reg.), Sex and Relationship Therapist and former neuroscience graduate, steps back into the debate on whether sex addiction 'exists' or is 'out of control sexual behaviour' with her new blog which looks at the scientific method of 'exploring an observable phenomenon'. Read it here.

Joanna Benfield, our Psychosexual Therapist, has a new article published online for 'Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity', The Journal of Treatment and Prevention - which is The Official Journal of the Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health. The article is a study examining the lived experiences of 6 sex addiction therapists who incorporate an attachment-informed approach in their work. The study aims to elaborate key components of an attachment-based approach that could potentially be incorporated into sex addiction treatment strategies for therapists working across different modalities. View the article here. View Joanna's informative website here.

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We are delighted to welcome Petar Rodic onto our professional therapy team. Petar specialises in Addiction Counselling (substance misuse, drugs, alcohol, behaviours) and also works as a Recovery Practitioner for the NHS. He is an Integrative Counsellor focusing on Psychodynamic, Person Centred and Existential-Transpersonal theories, but can draw on many other therapy modalities to suit the needs of his clients. Petar is also passionate about personal development work with clients - exploring the 'inner child' to discover the true self. Another area of focus is Family Constellation work - an approach that goes beyond therapy as it explores life events and traumas in previous family generations that is able to affect the lives of concurrent and future generations, often manifesting as physical illness or disruptive life patterns. Working with and understanding these influences can bring about transformation and healing. Petar speaks English, Russian and Serbo-Croation. Click here to visit Petar's own website and send him a direct message, or call: 07505-104266.

A new book 'The Mothers Manual' by our Parenting Coach, Lily Yang, is out now! If you are experiencing daily challenging behaviour from your child and have tried 'everything' without the results you want, then why not get in touch with Lily at Lily@YoungLilies.com for her 30 minute free telephone/online consultation. Lily covers everything you need to know to successfully parent a child from birth to 5 years in her best selling book - it's a must for every parent, mum or mother to be!

We are delighted to welcome Maria Romero to the Asana Health 'talking therapies' team. Maria is a highly qualified Psychotherapist, Counsellor and Clinical Supervisor specialising in Gestalt Psychotherapy for couples and individuals. She can conduct therapy in English or Spanish and has over 20 years experience in a variety of settings including the NHS. Frequent issues she works with include common problems arising from life events such as separation, loss, birth, and transitions; depression and mental illneses; couples relationship difficulties; stress, anxiety, low self-esteem and many more. Maria has a large Spanish client base and also helps people having difficulties arising from transition to a new culture - identity, communication and relationships. There is much more to read about Maria and how she works on her website, www.mariajromero.co.uk