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Published: 14 February 2019

My colleague and I started a unique concept last week, educational group therapy for those living with fibromyalgia. It's taken a long time to put together an evidence based programme to hopefully build a platform for those who feel isolated and hopeless with a chronic medical condition, and we both feel so excited by this project. We now have the support of several health care professionals and doctors, the occ health department of 2 county councils, a hospital physiotherapy team, Fair Treatment for Women in Wales and an AM from the Welsh Assembly, from whom we eventually hope to apply for funding options for future projects. We both feel privileged to have met such a courageous group of ladies who gave of themselves so honestly and openly, and look forward to our work together over the next few months.

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Published: 07 January 2019

I would like to wish all of you a healthy new year, especially concerning mental health. 2019 looks promising for us in terms of progress as we build on the baby steps made last year.
*The use of a far kinder - and in my opinion - more effective way to work with trauma is proving successful in my private practice. Babette Rothschild’s somatic based trauma therapy places the emphasis on understanding how trauma affects our physiology as well as psychology, and how working with both in tandem creates a stable long term recovery.
*Understanding the reasons we become anxious by giving information on our psyco education is having a positive effect on the reduction of anxiety in medical trauma, both on a one-to-one and group basis.
*Workshops for understanding why we react the way we do , and how our relationships change when given a cancer diagnosis are proving successful within the Breast Cancer Care charity.
*Monthly group meet-ups for those living with secondary breast cancer are continuing, and networking with health care professionals within the cancer field is helping to generate greater support for the ladies attending.
*'Counselling with Cake's' private educational group therapy for those living with a chronic medical condition, begins in February with 'Living with fibromyalgia'. This is a pilot scheme for which we hope to create funding, and the results will be clinically measured to assess the success of the interventions and suggestions made to help manage the condition.
I am excited by this progress and plans for 2019......

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Published: 02 January 2019

Our new educational group therapy for those living with a chronic medical condition begins this February with the emphasis on fibromyalgia. Supported by health care professionals we're proud to be the first in South Wales offering this service which empowers people to help manage their symptoms in a more life enhancing way. We offer a source of education that is largely non-clinical and includes psycho-education and compassion based techniques to name a few, together with the powerful dynamic of group therapy. And of course, there's always time for cake......... See our Counselling with cake page for more details.

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Published: 14 December 2018

please see our 'Counselling with cake' page for details!

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Published: 20 November 2018

We are pleased to be offering a new fibromyalgia educational group therapy course from January 2019, at the same venue in Pontypridd. Dates to be confirmed shortly!

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Published: 11 September 2018

We are thrilled to finally be introducing 'Counselling with cake', group therapy for those living with fibromyalgia, in November 2018.

Long term medical conditions that affect people with little or no psychological support can exacerbate a physiological diagnosis, causing an individual to suffer depression, anxiety, isolation, lack of confidence & self esteem and the inability to function productively. Group counselling that incorporates psycho education, neuro science, mindful based  therapies and learning to be compassionate to oneself and others - in addition to the normalisation of a shared experience - can be instrumental in giving patients with a chronic medical condition the control they have previously lost, and the ability to reinvest in themselves and their lives. Please visit our 'Counselling with cake' page for details and contact us for further information, and for a place. Places are limited to 14.

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Published: 16 July 2018

'Counselling with cake' will be starting group therapy sessions for those living with fibromyalgia, in September 2018 for an initial 3 month period. Meet ups will be monthly for 2 hours in the Rhondda/Mid Glamorgan area. Facilitated by Psychotherapists and counsellors this is not only a chance for people to meet others who share their experience, but is  a therapeutic space in which to learn how to live with, and manage, physical and psychological pain. Living with any medical condition can often feel isolating if our emotional needs are unmet and many feel a sense of empowerment and control through meeting others who share their situation. Dates, times, location and costs will be available by the end of August/beginning September. Please e-mail via the contact page to register your interest.

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Published: 02 May 2018

I am proud to be promoting 'Family & Friends' workshops in conjunction with Breast Cancer Care Cardiff. Following our successful pilot evenings in February & March we have secured funding for further events this year. Having a cancer diagnosis can be life changing, both for those diagnosed as well as those close to them. These evenings give everyone affected the opportunity to meet others and share their experiences in an informal, non clinical and supportive environment. Dates are currently being confirmed in Cardiff for June, September & November, with the possibility of further evenings in Swansea/Carmarthen. Please share with anyone you think may be affected by the psychological impact of living with primary breast cancer in South Wales. Sometimes it helps not to feel so isolated and lonely when thoughts and feelings can be shared.

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Published: 12 February 2018

I'm excited to have signed up for Babette Rothschild's somatic trauma therapy training in London, which takes place over the course of a year. It approaches psychotherapy and counselling with traumatised clients in a safer and more assured way by using a non invasive model of working that is very different to that of exposure. The following is an interesting observation on the merits of working in this way, compared to the more evidence based, cognitive models.

https://www.madinamerica.com/2018/01/trauma-resiliency-model-new-somatic-therapy-treating-trauma/

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Published: 01 February 2018

Starting 2018 off with a new project in association with Breast Cancer Care, Cardiff. We will be hosting an information evening in February and March for those diagnosed with primary breast cancer and their family and friends, offering emotional support on how to manage the psychological impact of this illness. If you know of, or are supporting somebody with a primary breast cancer diagnosis, please contact me for information.

I am also the group facilitator supporting those living with secondary breast cancer. Meetings are monthly with bi-monthly demos and talks, offering a brilliant opportunity to share emotional experiences, tears and laughter too. Don't hesitate to contact me if you know someone who would benefit from such an amazing service.

Private practice is also available at The Cyncoed Consulting rooms for anyone who needs support with complex trauma, medical trauma, PTSD, cancer or life limiting illness, grief and bereavement. FREE telephone consultations available prior to booking your initial appointment.