Groups
By Doreen Virtue, Ph.D.
I have a particular interest in working with groups, and have worked in this field for approximately 6 years. I facilitate groups on issues such as relaxation therapy, stress management, sleep and body acceptance (changing negative feeling and promoting health)
Programmes on sleep, stress and relaxation can be designed to suit your requirements. The techniques which I use can help you face stressful situations such as exams, job interviews or stress which occurs in your daily life, at work or at home. Learning relaxation skills can help you change and look at life in a more positive way.
Being part of a group can greatly enhance the therapeutic process .You will meet together with others who can relate to your problems. You will be able to hear how they cope and use the techniques to enrich their lives.
I have seen positive changes in the lives of many who have attended these group sessions.
Testimonials
Many people benefit from attending groups because they no longer feel isolated in their problem, and can share it with people of like mind, who understand because they have experienced, or are experiencing similar problems.
“Meeting other people with similar difficulties, helped. Mary was very good at explaining things, helping us to relax, I enjoyed doing the course with everyone” from Irene
“It has been a very useful course and its good to share your experiences with others. Knowing you are not alone” from Jay
“The course was very good with a very friendly atmosphere and that made it very easy to relax in, and that made me feel safe.” From Liz.
Body Acceptance
In today’s society diets are seen by many as the only answer to weight problems. I prefer to adopt a holistic approach, which will help whether you are over or under weight. What do I mean when I speak about “body acceptance”? In this group we will look honestly at how you see yourself and your attitude towards diet, food, health and exercise. The group is not about dieting. It is about understanding how you think and accepting yourself.
“Going to your group has changed the way I look at my relationship to food” from Jean
Anne would hide behind the open cupboard door to eat without her family seeing her. They all knew what she was doing and tried to make light of it. When she came to the group she began to understand why she didn’t acknowledge to herself the reason for hiding her snacking problem from her family.
“ I no longer try to hide in the cupboard and deny my eating problem” from Anne
“ I am beginning to understand why I find food a problem.” From Barbara
What to expect
Stress Management and Relaxation Therapy
In stress management and relaxation therapy, I will give you techniques, which you can continue to practice at home. We will sometimes go into deep relaxation, (you will still be in control) and you can relax as much or as little as you feel comfortable with.
You do not need any special clothing, though loose clothing would be more comfortable.
You do not need to lie on the floor unless you want to, as we can do the exercises in chairs.
Body acceptance, we focus on negative feeling and how this can affect you and teach you how to turn your life around.
Because of the varying nature of these problems one group can be very different to the next.
These skills are an investment in your future and like any new skill, (i.e. driving a car or swimming) the more you use them the easier they become. These techniques are a valuable resource, and will be of of use throughout your life.
