Mirror Psychology

New dawn, new you. See you in the morning 🌅

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In our love series for Valentine's Day, we're delving into the Anxious Attachment Style, particularly relevant for psychologists and psychotherapists.

Loving someone with an anxious attachment style requires sensitivity and reassurance. These individuals often grapple with fears of abandonment, leading to a constant need for validation in relationships. Providing stability and consistent emotional support is crucial.

It's vital for therapists to understand and patiently guide clients toward secure, trusting relationships, helping them to embrace stability and security in their connections 💌

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The world you see around you will change along with your mindset 🤍

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As we head towards Valentine's Day, we're starting a mini series looking at different types of love and how psychology can come into play 🤍

Today's focus is on loving someone with Avoidant Attachment Style.

Loving someone with avoidant attachment requires understanding and patience. This attachment style often emerges from childhood experiences, leading to behaviours like withdrawal and emotional distancing in relationships.

People with avoidant attachment may seem independent and dismissive, but they can form loving relationships. Supporting them involves giving space, gently encouraging connection, and understanding their need for independence. Physical touch and positive feedback are also important.

It's crucial to respect their boundaries while gradually helping them feel more comfortable with intimacy and connection.

Understanding and supporting individuals with avoidant attachment is vital in therapeutic settings. How have you dealt with this when working with clients? 💌

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In the news... 📰

A new study finds that the moments that follow a distressing episode are more memorable than the moments leading up to it.

The research published by the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology suggests that we remember the moments immediately following a distressing episode more sharply than the moments leading up to it.

Clarifying the relationship between trauma and memory can improve how we evaluate eyewitness testimonies, inform therapies to treat PTSD, and help clinicians combat memory decline in brain disorders like Alzheimer's disease.

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Here are some mindful affirmations to guide the week ahead ✨

If you're looking for more positivity and development, visit our website for courses, webinars and in-person events with some of the world's leading psychologists and psychotherapists.

ISC International for our Italian colleagues 🇮🇹
Psychotherapy Courses 🇬🇧🇺🇸🇳🇿🇮🇪🇦🇺🇨🇦

Taken from Helena Blavatsky's 'The Secret Doctrine', written in 1888; a text merging science, religion, and philosophy 📖

This groundbreaking text discussed concepts like the law of attraction and manifestation long before they became mainstream. It reminds us that ideas we consider novel today may have roots stretching back over a century 🪶

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As draws to a close, we want to highlight the importance of understanding mental health issues beyond just one day 🔵

Working in the field of mental health, we know it isn't confined to a calendar date. Every day is an opportunity for awareness, support, and understanding.

Let's shift the focus from myth to meaningful mental health conversations.

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Climate Grief: A growing concern for mental health professionals 🌱

As psychologists, we're increasingly encountering clients grappling with climate grief, particularly among younger generations. This emotional response to environmental loss reflects a deep concern for our planet's future. It's crucial for us as mental health professionals to understand and address this emerging issue.

How can we better support those experiencing climate grief? 👥

Some of our tips include; reminding clients of the world's beauty and potential for positive change. Curate social media to showcase global climate action and envision a fairer future. Connect with peers through local climate groups and nature-based activities like hiking and beach clean-ups. Choose eco-friendly financial institutions and embrace mindfulness, art, and physical movement to process emotions and strengthen resilience.

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The power of positive, or delusional(!) thinking 🌐 📱

Delulu, a term coined by Gen Z on social media sites such as TikTok, represents more than a fleeting social media trend. It's a mindset where delusion is seen as a solution, especially in challenging situations.

This concept is rooted in the idea of faking confidence to transform dreams into reality, a modern twist on the manifestation movement. Psychologically, it's linked to self-efficacy – the belief in one's ability to achieve goals. Research indicates that high self-efficacy correlates with setting higher goals and overcoming adversity.

For mental health professionals, understanding this mindset offers insights into positive psychology's impact on goal setting and achievement. It encourages individuals to step out of their comfort zones, replacing negative self-talk with optimistic affirmations and visualisation of success.

We're willing to try it if you are! ☁️🌜✨

Many of you will have just finished your first week back at work, so here's a little reminder that in 2024, we're saying goodbye to the 'hustle life' and embracing the ethos of slow living 🌱

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🧠🤖

In the world of psychotherapy, AI and technology present both opportunities and challenges. But as we embrace these advancements, we must ask: How does this tech influence our brain's health and the core of therapy itself?

AI offers incredible potential – it can streamline our work and open new doors in understanding mental health. Yet, it's important to be aware of its impact on our cognitive functions. Prolonged tech use can affect our memory, attention, and even creativity. It’s like our brains are adapting to a new way of thinking and processing information, influenced by the digital world around us.

The real challenge lies in how we use AI. It's a tool, not a replacement for the intricate workings of the human mind. Our goal is to leverage AI in ways that enhance therapy while preserving the depth and authenticity of human interactions. We're not just therapists; we're navigators, helping our clients find their way in a world where technology and human experience intersect.

How do you think AI usage is shaping our brain function and therapy methods?

mirrorpsychology.com 🖥

🧠

As mental health experts, it's vital to understand how chronic stress affects the brain.

As you know, stress can actually reduce brain size. Areas like the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus can shrink due to prolonged stress. Chronic stress can also influence the brain's genetic makeup.

But the brain's ability to adapt is our advantage in therapy. For clients dealing with stress; integrate mindfulness and physical activity into coping strategies, and utilise therapies such as CBT to rewire stress responses effectively.

How do you tackle stress-related brain changes in your therapy sessions? 👥

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We would like to wish everyone a happy and healthy new year! 🎉✨

Let’s see what we can achieve in 2024! 🎊

New Year, new learning: "The Body Keeps the Score" 📘

As we step into a new year, it's the perfect time to embrace fresh perspectives. "The Body Keeps the Score" by Bessel van der Kolk is a must-read that delves deep into the impact of trauma on the human mind and body. This book offers innovative insights, from the role of EMDR and yoga in healing, to the importance of understanding trauma's physical manifestation.

Van der Kolk's expertise in neuroscience and psychology makes this book a brilliant resource for professionals. It challenges and enriches our approach to trauma therapy, making it a valuable addition to your 2024 reading list 📖

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One to read now and bookmark for January 🔖

Merry Christmas from all the team at Mirror Psychology🎄

Reflecting on a year of guiding others, may today bring you peace and happiness.

Enjoy the festive season! 🎁

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Because it's the only one you get 🧠

If you're looking ahead to the New Year and wanting to give therapy a go, we offer Mindful Interbeing Mirror Therapy.

MIMT is a unique, effective intervention which takes place in front of a large mirror. Unlike other trauma therapies, during which you look at your therapist as you speak, in MIMT you address your own reflection. With your therapist as your gentle, expert guide, you’ll arrive at the very deepest parts of your inner self. There, you’ll access the root cause of your issues, focussing on the here and now, learning how you can live happily in the present – and the future.

Learn more 🖥: mirrorpsychology.com/mirror-therapy

It's the most accurate tool you have 🔴

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Tis the season to prioritise your own mental wellbeing 🎄

We love Christmas, but it's important to acknowledge that it's not the season to be jolly for everyone. For many, the holidays can be exhausting, stressful, and may evoke sadness, grief, and loneliness.

So, take care of your mental health during this time. Do what's necessary to protect your peace — setting boundaries with friends and family is okay.

How your Monday is going to look ⚪️

News just in 📰

A study published today offers new insights into childhood trauma's impact on brain function 🧠

Researchers at the Weizmann Institute found that early trauma alters brain cell communication. However, they also discovered that early environmental interventions, such as enhanced physical activity and social interaction, can reverse these changes.

This highlights the critical role of early, proactive therapy in mitigating the long-term effects of trauma in children, offering valuable insights for therapists working in this field.

We work with many specialists in the field of trauma. Visit our sister companies ISC and Psychotherapy Courses to learn more 📲

Self-awareness is the cornerstone of personal growth 🔘

In a 2019 interview, Stephen Porges defined the Polyvagal Theory through three key systems 🧠:

"Polyvagal theory articulates three different branches of the autonomic nervous system that evolved from very primitive vertebrates to mammals. And it’s quite interesting how the sequence evolved.

First, you have a system that is really an ancient one, which is death feigning or immobilisation. Then it has a fight or flight system, a mobilisation system. Then finally, with mammals, you have what I call a social engagement system, which can detect features of safety and actually communicate them to another.

When you trigger feelings of safety, the autonomic nervous system can help health restoration".

Our training organisations ISC and Psychotherapy Courses both provide courses from Stephen Porges on Polyvagal Theory and its application.

Italian speakers, head to isc.training and english speakers, please visit psychotherapycourses.com 📲

Always question the why... 🐒🍌

Researchers put monkeys in a cage with bananas on top of a ladder. Initially, when a monkey attempted to climb, all were sprayed with cold water. Soon, the monkeys stopped climbing and even began attacking any monkey who tried.

New monkeys, unaware of the cold water, were also attacked when they tried to climb. As old monkeys were replaced, the attacking continued, despite none experiencing the spray.

This experiment highlights the power of unexamined habits. So remember, next time you're told 'we've always done it this way', think of the five monkeys and dare to challenge the status quo.

We embrace change and innovation in all that we do 🪜

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