Our first Anxiety seminar took place in London yesterday. It was fully booked and attained very positive feed back from delegates.
Some examples of feedback:
"I very much enjoyed the training with its various techniques and the focus on different psychological diagnoses." DF, Psychologist
"Fantastic day. Very engaging course; with materials that I would like to build upon further. Particularly liked Mr Grantham’s style of delivery." ML, Counsellor
"Course content & process very appropriate to my work as a counsellor. Challenging to reconsider how I work." MC, Counsellor
Although this event was fully booked there are still some places available at other venues. Please visit our website for further information:
http://www.skillsdevelopment.co.uk/seminars.php?courseid=68
When booking this course you still can take advantage of our promotion by saving £10 on every single place booked online or by phone. (Note that all usual terms and conditions apply to bookings made through this promotion.)
Looking forward to seeing you on one of our courses.
Saturday, 28 November 2009
Wednesday, 18 November 2009
Idle thoughts on ICD-10
Ive just completed a set of training days on mental health awareness for a Housing Association whose target group are homeless people in the North East of England. I know the organisation well and we have worked together on a number of projects over the years.
This has been the first time Ive provided overview introductory training on Mental Health. The training was enjoyable and well received ...but it was the nature of the discussions with people who have no background in mental health or therapy that set me thinking.....
ICD-10 is predominant now as THE organising structure for psychoogical problems and psychotherapy in the UK. It is the primary classification system used by the primary funders of any service - the government or insuarnce companies, and influences the theoretical and linguistic framework in which other service providers think.
ICD diagnostic classification determines whether someone has a psychological problem and who shoukld be addressing it. It assumes a number of things ranging from the the unspoken belief that psychological difficulties relate to questions of "health" through importance of differential diagnosis to an assumption of treatment cure. I'm sure we all have an opinions on this way of thinking. However....this is not what my idle thoughts are about.
What has struck me regarding my recent involvement however is how much this sytem does NOT apply or doesnt WORK for practically all of the clients this organisation is dealing with.
Firstly, arounf fifty percent of their clients have psychological problems that dont fit into ICD-10 - anger problems, general lack of motivation or interest in life (without the necessary additional features to fulfill a diagnosis of depression), general "oddness" which psychaitrists have told them they shouldnt worry about etc....except for the fact that these presentations are a cause of distress for either the clients themselves or those around them.
Secondly, a large proportion of their clients have the dreaded P.D. diagnosis which is of course the 21st century equivalent of leprosy as far as mental; health services are concerned. Despite statements from NICE on the importance of mental health services addressing P.D. needs it still remains a primary reason for many of such services tio say that it is not their business to address their needs.
Finally, about 80% of their client have dual diagnostic problems....most commonly substance misuse and psychological problems, but occasionally learning disabilities and mental health problems....and as we all know dual diagnosis brings out the worst in a jobs worth attitude in statutory services, leading to an unending merry-go-round of trying to find someone who will meet the needs of such clients.
The long and the short of it is that some of the neediest people in out society get a really lousy service for their psychological problems or don't get any service at all ! And I'm convinced that a system that has made ICD-10 SO parameount is to blame....A system based on symptoms interfering with functioing or percived indivual need or distress seems a much more logical and equitable system to base our thinking on.....
All Ive got to do now is convince the medical professiona s a whole, the pharmaceutical industry and the cuurent holders of service and research budgets....Shucks....Im sure that wont be TOO difficult :o)
Paul Grantham
Consultant Clinical Psychologist
This has been the first time Ive provided overview introductory training on Mental Health. The training was enjoyable and well received ...but it was the nature of the discussions with people who have no background in mental health or therapy that set me thinking.....
ICD-10 is predominant now as THE organising structure for psychoogical problems and psychotherapy in the UK. It is the primary classification system used by the primary funders of any service - the government or insuarnce companies, and influences the theoretical and linguistic framework in which other service providers think.
ICD diagnostic classification determines whether someone has a psychological problem and who shoukld be addressing it. It assumes a number of things ranging from the the unspoken belief that psychological difficulties relate to questions of "health" through importance of differential diagnosis to an assumption of treatment cure. I'm sure we all have an opinions on this way of thinking. However....this is not what my idle thoughts are about.
What has struck me regarding my recent involvement however is how much this sytem does NOT apply or doesnt WORK for practically all of the clients this organisation is dealing with.
Firstly, arounf fifty percent of their clients have psychological problems that dont fit into ICD-10 - anger problems, general lack of motivation or interest in life (without the necessary additional features to fulfill a diagnosis of depression), general "oddness" which psychaitrists have told them they shouldnt worry about etc....except for the fact that these presentations are a cause of distress for either the clients themselves or those around them.
Secondly, a large proportion of their clients have the dreaded P.D. diagnosis which is of course the 21st century equivalent of leprosy as far as mental; health services are concerned. Despite statements from NICE on the importance of mental health services addressing P.D. needs it still remains a primary reason for many of such services tio say that it is not their business to address their needs.
Finally, about 80% of their client have dual diagnostic problems....most commonly substance misuse and psychological problems, but occasionally learning disabilities and mental health problems....and as we all know dual diagnosis brings out the worst in a jobs worth attitude in statutory services, leading to an unending merry-go-round of trying to find someone who will meet the needs of such clients.
The long and the short of it is that some of the neediest people in out society get a really lousy service for their psychological problems or don't get any service at all ! And I'm convinced that a system that has made ICD-10 SO parameount is to blame....A system based on symptoms interfering with functioing or percived indivual need or distress seems a much more logical and equitable system to base our thinking on.....
All Ive got to do now is convince the medical professiona s a whole, the pharmaceutical industry and the cuurent holders of service and research budgets....Shucks....Im sure that wont be TOO difficult :o)
Paul Grantham
Consultant Clinical Psychologist
Monday, 16 November 2009
BACP issues warning that new depression guidelines may harm patients
The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) has today issued a warning that the new depression guidelines published by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) could mean a narrowing of the options available to those being treated for depression, Britain's number one mental health concern.
Dr Lynne Gabriel Chair of BACP said: "BACP welcomes NICE's recommendations to support counselling and psychotherapy in general to treat depression. But we are worried that the narrow focus of the new guidelines could be used to promote one form of talking treatment - Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) - at the expense of the full range of psychological therapies. The evidence is clear that CBT can only be of benefit to some 50 per cent of depressed patients rising to just over 70 per cent when symptoms specially lend themselves to a CBT approach".
All patients with long-term illnesses will be assessed for mental health problems under new guidelines issued by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE).
Depression can be up to three times more common in those suffering from chronic illnesses such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease but because of the focus on primary physical symptoms the mental distress can often go undiagnosed. The new guidelines will tell GPs to do routine screens for depression in all cases of serious illness.
NICE also released updated guidelines on treatment of general depression, suggesting that psycho-social or talking therapies should be the first treatment option for people with mild or moderate depression rather than medication
For further details please go to:
http://www.bacp.co.uk/media/index.php?newsId=1610
We would be grateful if you could share your views on this issue with us.
Dr Lynne Gabriel Chair of BACP said: "BACP welcomes NICE's recommendations to support counselling and psychotherapy in general to treat depression. But we are worried that the narrow focus of the new guidelines could be used to promote one form of talking treatment - Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) - at the expense of the full range of psychological therapies. The evidence is clear that CBT can only be of benefit to some 50 per cent of depressed patients rising to just over 70 per cent when symptoms specially lend themselves to a CBT approach".
All patients with long-term illnesses will be assessed for mental health problems under new guidelines issued by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE).
Depression can be up to three times more common in those suffering from chronic illnesses such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease but because of the focus on primary physical symptoms the mental distress can often go undiagnosed. The new guidelines will tell GPs to do routine screens for depression in all cases of serious illness.
NICE also released updated guidelines on treatment of general depression, suggesting that psycho-social or talking therapies should be the first treatment option for people with mild or moderate depression rather than medication
For further details please go to:
http://www.bacp.co.uk/media/index.php?newsId=1610
We would be grateful if you could share your views on this issue with us.
Thursday, 12 November 2009
Three-minute therapy: Speed Dating, 'Speed Shrinking' - what's next?
Claire Prentice writes in The Independent:
Three-minute therapy: Can 'speed shrinking' fix your head in 180 seconds?
Three, two, one...Speed Shrink!" booms a voice over the loudspeaker. Having three minutes to spill your most intimate secrets to a stranger in a crowded room may not sound like everyone's route to good mental health, even in the world capital of psychotherapy. But for today's time – and increasingly cash – poor New Yorkers, it offers a potential quick fix that is hard to resist.
Read the full article: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/features/threeminute-therapy-can-speed-shrinking-fix-your-head-in-180-seconds-1818840.html
What do you think about this as an idea?
Have you ever experiences anything similar in your everyday life?
Is there room for this approach amongst other therapeutic interventions?
Please share your thoughts with us.
Three-minute therapy: Can 'speed shrinking' fix your head in 180 seconds?
Three, two, one...Speed Shrink!" booms a voice over the loudspeaker. Having three minutes to spill your most intimate secrets to a stranger in a crowded room may not sound like everyone's route to good mental health, even in the world capital of psychotherapy. But for today's time – and increasingly cash – poor New Yorkers, it offers a potential quick fix that is hard to resist.
Read the full article: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/features/threeminute-therapy-can-speed-shrinking-fix-your-head-in-180-seconds-1818840.html
What do you think about this as an idea?
Have you ever experiences anything similar in your everyday life?
Is there room for this approach amongst other therapeutic interventions?
Please share your thoughts with us.
Thursday, 5 November 2009
CBT Introductory Course - Feedback
We are excited to share with you first feedbacks that we've received on our recently completed three day introductory CBT course:
"The course was brilliant - I thoroughly enjoyed in & learnt a lot & would definitely be interested in doing more courses with you in future."
"The variety of learning aids helped to validate my learning, good use of role plays, videos, handouts, case studies etc. "
We are delighted with the positive feedback and would like to congratulate the tutor - Dr Tom Werner on the successful course.
Next CBT Introductory Course in London is now fully booked.
Additional dates are planned for 2010:
23-25 February 2010 Birmingham
23-25 March 2010 Manchester
26-28 April 2010 London
- places are available at the moment, but as they are strictly limited (up to 18 participants) - book early to secure your place on the course.
This course is approved by the British Psychological Society Learning Centre for the purposes of Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
Best wishes
SDS Ltd Team
"The course was brilliant - I thoroughly enjoyed in & learnt a lot & would definitely be interested in doing more courses with you in future."
"The variety of learning aids helped to validate my learning, good use of role plays, videos, handouts, case studies etc. "
We are delighted with the positive feedback and would like to congratulate the tutor - Dr Tom Werner on the successful course.
Next CBT Introductory Course in London is now fully booked.
Additional dates are planned for 2010:
23-25 February 2010 Birmingham
23-25 March 2010 Manchester
26-28 April 2010 London
- places are available at the moment, but as they are strictly limited (up to 18 participants) - book early to secure your place on the course.
This course is approved by the British Psychological Society Learning Centre for the purposes of Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
Best wishes
SDS Ltd Team
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