awareness

Stress Management Coach: Tools, Strategies and Expected Changes

John Nolan
4th March 202514th March 2025

A stress management coach provides support, education, and strategies to help clients understand and manage their stress. They employ various tools like consciousness-raising exercises, relationship building, and cognitive behavioural techniques. Clients can expect to adopt healthy stress management strategies, increase self-awareness, and develop new habits such as relaxation, seeking support, and setting boundaries.

The Damaging Impact of Anger

John Nolan
13th January 20204th March 2025

Names, and details of people and organisations have been changed to maintain their privacy. The case studies below will will go into details of how these transformations occurred. Tim (not client’s real name) was an unusual client in that from the very first contact they were clear that anger was the issue (typically clients have… Read More »The Damaging Impact of Anger

Just 20 Seconds to Change a Habit

John Nolan
29th November 20194th March 2025

I suspect there is not one single human being who doesn’t know that if they just dropped some habits, or adopted others, their life would improve. So why are people not doing this? Many years ago, not long after I started my private practice, I realised that helping clients to make lasting changes was not… Read More »Just 20 Seconds to Change a Habit

Which part of the brain controls anxiety6th June 2025
Which part of the brain controls anxiety. The Brain’s Anxiety Network Anxiety is a complex emotional response that involves several interconnected regions of the brain rather than being controlled by a single area. Understanding how these different parts interact provides insight into how anxiety is generated.… Read More »Which part of the brain controls anxiety
Mastering the Experience of a Panic Attack5th June 2025
Experiencing a panic attack can feel intensely frightening, like an attack on one’s very being, leading to a sense of being gripped and paralysed. These attacks can happen for seemingly no explanation and are often described as the most alarming experiences of a person’s life. A… Read More »Mastering the Experience of a Panic Attack
Comparing Havening Techniques and EMDR for Trauma and Anxiety4th June 2025
Both Havening Techniques and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) are methods for addressing distressing experiences, including those related to work anxiety. Key differences include the perceived speed of the techniques, with Havening often described as faster. Havening can be performed content-free, meaning verbal disclosure of details is not always necessary, unlike EMDR which typically involves more recounting. The mechanisms differ, with Havening focusing on depotentiation of encoded traumatic memories in the amygdala through touch, and EMDR using eye movements or other bilateral stimulation. Havening is also easily taught for self-application and can be effectively integrated with other therapeutic approaches. Havening clients report not being re-traumatised during the process. While EMDR is an established trauma treatment, Havening is a newer approach focused on rapid processing and client empowerment.
Workplace Anxiety: Strategies and Support3rd June 2025
Anxiety about work is a common experience driven by how we interpret and respond to work-related situations, often involving excessive focus on future problems and attempts to control the uncontrollable. Effective self-help strategies include developing awareness of triggers, practising acceptance and mindfulness, gradually facing feared work situations through exposure, reinterpreting anxious thoughts, using relaxation and breathing techniques, and writing down worries. When workplace anxiety is severe, professional help is available. An anxiety coach can provide guidance on tackling avoidance and managing internal states. An anxiety therapist offers structured treatment to understand and modify responses to anxiety. For extreme anxiety or that linked to trauma, a Havening practitioner may provide help, including processing experiences without detailed verbal disclosure. Managing anxiety about work involves understanding its mechanisms, employing targeted techniques, and seeking appropriate professional support when necessary.
The Amygdala’s Role in Anxiety1st June 2025
The amygdala, part of the brain's limbic system, is a crucial structure for anxiety. It acts as a rapid threat detector, triggering the stress response and fight-or-flight reaction. The amygdala forms emotional memories based on associations, causing triggers to elicit anxiety. It is involved in various anxiety disorders and trauma responses. Although it can override the thinking brain, the amygdala learns from experience and can be rewired through exposure, relaxation, breathing techniques, exercise, sleep, and mindfulness, allowing for more effective anxiety management.