Please note that I use the words "counselling services London", "psychotherapy in London", "psychotherapeutic counselling London" & "talking therapy" and also "counsellor", "psychotherapist London", "psychotherapeutic counsellor 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 Central London Psychotherapy – Thoughts, Beliefs - Counsellor London Camden Psychotherapist
Thoughts & Beliefs
Introduction We are all influenced by the prevailing thinking & the social context of the time in which we are brought up in.
Clarifying Our Thoughts & Beliefs We may want to revisit how we think & what we believe. We may play out scenarios in our head – fortune telling. The psychotherapy & counselling can explore how we select, clarify & view our thoughts & belief systems (both adverse & positive) in a more objective manner, alongside:
- How aware we are of our judgements of ourseIves & others, and how we feeI about this
- How our thoughts & beliefs may be counterproductive or sabotage the way we live
- What feeIings are OK and what aren't, e.g. envy & jealousy
- What we believe, what we know & what we fear
- Where we are open & where we are closed
- Our positive & negative thinking patterns
- How we think & our conclusions
- Other possible perspectives
- Our creativity & imagination
- Our inspiration & dreams
- Our perceptions
- Our blind spots
- Our selfbeliefs
- Our creativity
- Our identity
- Our values
Paying Attention To Detail Some of us can be so busy concentrating on the details of everything, that when we are confused, we can lose our overview or context, as if we "can't see the wood for the trees". The counselling & psychotherapy can explore this & any other confusion with you.
Our Inner World Some of us may struggle with what to do with the thoughts that we form. Some of our thoughts may become a continuous stream as if they go around in a loop, and this can be explored in the therapy. We may be busy overanalysing things, finding it hard to switch off, or driven by our obligations. What we think & believe to be possible, contributes to how we feeI. And because how we think affects our inner world and our responses, counselling & psychotherapy can explore the wisdom of holding on to unhelpful, irrational, distorted, fear-based thoughts or beliefs, and ways in which we can create different thoughts & meanings in our Iife. Living more from your heart & less from your head, may also be a challenge.
Self-beliefs The attributions we have given to us (or have inherited), inform our "internal environment", and our sense of who we are. Many of our beliefs about us & the world originate from our childhood, affect our interactions (e.g. "I should..., therefore...", "I can only be happy if..."). We all create expectations, assumptions, meanings & conclusions. Some of these beliefs, especially the ones we hold as precious, may be restrictive & no longer support us, or define all of who we are now (see also Impact Of Our Past). Counselling & psychotherapy can help explore how we construct our thoughts, what beliefs we can let go of, any new ones that may be emerging, which fit closer to who we are. (See also Finding Our Way Through Difficulties & Old Beliefs)
Fixed Beliefs Counselling and psychotherapy helps to explore what beliefs are fixed, and which ones are fluid, any redundant beliefs and how your values & principles impact upon your beliefs. We may also believe that we should know everything – see Not Knowing – Our Need To Be In Control.
The world we have made as a result of the level of thinking we have done thus far creates problems we cannot solve at the same level of thinking at which we created them.Albert Einstein
Our Perspective The way we see things is not always the way they are. Counselling & psychotherapy can help explore different perspectives.
FeeIings Dominating Our Thoughts Our moods affect how we think. Psychotherapy or counselling can help reduce or manage the impact of powerful emotions, like fear, anxiety & anger, so we are able to think more clearly.
Unconscious Thoughts & Beliefs Often our thoughts, beliefs, and indeed actions, are not conscious. We can live in reaction to these. Counselling & psychotherapy can help us become aware of the sources of these, so our choices & actions become more conscious. (See also Role Of The Unconscious)
All Or Nothing Thinking Some of us may have developed a way of thinking I absolutes, which has become all or nothing, right or wrong, good or bad, either-or, which may limit the way we see & act in the world.
Life's Contradictions Many of us struggle responding to the changes & contradictions, dilemmas, ambiguities, double binds, paradox, mysteries & unknowns of the world.
Existential Angst Some of our thoughts & beliefs may not only be about the day to day aspects of living, but also include existential dilemmas & beliefs. Psychotherapy can offer a space to explore this, if that is your desire.
Our Actions Choosing our response to our thoughts & beliefs can be challenging. Whilst we can't control all what happens out there in the world, we can control our own actions. Counselling & psychotherapy explores these issues with you.