Please note that I use the words "counselling services london", "psychotherapy London", "psychotherapeutic counselling in London" & "talking therapy" and also "counsellor", "psychotherapist London", "psychotherapeutic counsellor in London" & "talking therapist" interchangeably. I am trained & accredited as a counsellor, psychotherapist & talking therapist and I am happy to discuss their differences with you.
Counselling London Psychotherapy – Central London Counselling Services - Counsellor London Camden Psychotherapist
Our Body
How We FeeI About Our Body Some of us may struggle to accept our body how it is – it’s condition, shape, size, state of health. We may base our intrinsic sense of worth or identity on our body & how we look, as if this fully defines us. We live in a looks-dependent society, and comments made about our body can deeply affect us. Yet as we grow older, our body, metabolism and our looks change. We can choose to define our worth externally (purely on how we look) or internally (e.g. all of who we are, our compassion, reliability, sense of humour, kindness, creativity, etc.). Yet if our emphasis is only external, especially as we get older, we can become stressed. As for attracting others, do we really want a person who cares more about how we look than who we are? Counselling & psychotherapy can explore any body image concerns, alongside integrating your internal qualities & personal empowerment.
Respecting & Looking After Our Body Some of us take care of our body, notice and respect it. Others may ignore or neglect their body by not sleeping enough or eating nutritious food. We may not exercise our body or even disrespecting how we look. We may turn to unwanted habits & addictions.
Physical Illness Some of us may have poor physical health or be ill. We may be depressed, distressed, frustrated, angry or in grief, struggling to find our way through our pain.
Body Vitality Some of us can feel exhausted or collapsed in our body, yet others – full of vitality. We can be in good physical health, exercise & eat well, yet pain (e.g. trauma, grief, sadness, heartbreak) or other emotions like anger can feel stuck in our body. Our body has physical reactions, tightness, tension or pressure, which may be symptoms of stress, fear, anxiety, depression, which gets held in our body. (See also Releasing Ourselves & Letting Go). We can find it hard to release body tension. Some of us can live at a distance from our body. We may be overly focused in our minds & not in our body. Tired, we may have cut off from our feeIings. Our body, emotions & mind are intrinsically connected, so when tension is released in one area, it affects other areas. Others fully inhabit their body - anchored & fully alive. Counselling & psychotherapy will also pay attention to what's happening in your physical feeIings.