Autogenic Training and Therapy FAQ's
Why stress less?
Stress is part of all our lives. Some stress can be positive and life-enhancing, especially when it helps to get things done under pressure. Stress becomes a problem when life experiences push us beyond our ability to cope. This overload can affect our physical and mental well being in many ways...
Anxiety
Frustration
Sleep problems
Poor concentration
Panic attacks
Depression
Anger
Fatigue
Low self-esteem
Tension
Some health conditions, such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, asthma, migraines or eczema may worsen during times of stress. Many of us are drawn to unhelpful ways of coping with stress, such as increased smoking or drinking, weight problems or obsessiveness.
The Symptom Stress Spiral
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With difficult physical symptoms, we can sometimes find ourselves stuck in a negative and anxious cycle. Symptoms may make us feel anxious, stressed and depressed and these feelings make our symptoms worse. Our worsening symptoms, then make us feel depressed, stressed or anxious.
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Breaking this negative cycle is an important step in feeling healthier, more positive and more in control.
My symptoms make me:
Anxious
Afraid
Angry
Depressed
My Anxiety
Fear
Anger
Depression
Makes my symptoms worse
Extracted from Dr Ann Bowden: Autogenic Training at the RLHM.
27 years of audit: outcome and research
The Autogenic Approach.
Autogenic Training (AT) is a technique that offers an antidote to chronic stress. The term 'Autogenic' means 'self-generated'. AT developed from the pioneering work of Dr. J Schultz and Dr. W Luthe almost a century ago. Despite its early origins, modern research and insights have made AT more relevant today than ever. It has been available in the NHS for more than 20 years at the Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine and is available in clinics across Europe, North America, Japan, India, Australia and the Far East. It is a learned therapeutic process that affects the whole mind-body system. During Autogenic Training you learn a set of easy mental exercises that are repeated as silent thoughts whilst sitting or lying in specific training postures. These exercises focus on the experience of relaxation in various parts of the body, for example, the limbs, neck and shoulders and forehead. With practice, this tool enables you to shift your mind and body away from a state of stress and anxiety to one of calm, rest and recovery. In this quiet space, natural healing and self-righting mechanisms of the mind and body are able to do their work. Autogenic Training often opens a channel between mind and body in which emotions and past memories can surface and for this reason you also learn and practice strategies and techniques to help you address difficult emotions such as anger, sadness, inhibition or tension held in the body.
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My role as therapist is to train and facilitate you as you learn these tools and begin your own process of self- knowledge and recovery. After 9 weeks, you leave the course with a life skill which will empower you to continue to practice and experience the benefits of AT without the support of a therapist.
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With practice, AT can bring about significant and long-term improvements to health and emotional wellbeing, sometimes within a few weeks. People often report:
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Feeling more resilient and able to cope
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A more confident and relaxed attitude to life
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Increased self esteem, motivation and creativity
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Reduced anxiety and frustration
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Improved concentration and focus
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Improved quality of sleep
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The ability to rest mind and body whenever and wherever they choose…
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AT can also benefit a variety of medical and psychosomatic conditions, such as:
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Sleep disorders
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Mild/moderate depression
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Infertility
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High blood pressure
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Asthma
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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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Colitis
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Arthritis
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Muscular pain and tension
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Migraines
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Autoimmune disorders
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Low immunity
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Panic attacks and phobias…
These benefits have been researched and documented in scientific and medical papers over several decades. Many are available on The British Autogenic Society website: https://www.autogenic-therapy.org.uk/journal-articles/:
Benefits of AT​
Practicalities​
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I am qualified and insured to work with adults and children, individually and in groups. I am affiliated with and abide by the ethical codes, professional and confidentiality standards of the British Autogenic Society (BAS) - the regulatory body for autogenic therapists in the UK, providing training and supervision.
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Autogenic Training is suitable for children and adults and can be taught individually or in small groups. I offer sessions in private and comfortable consulting rooms in London NW4 and NW9.
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Our first meeting is an assessment. This usually lasts an hour and is an opportunity for us to find out about each other and whether we feel we can work together. We can then agree a weekly time and place to meet.
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The course then takes place over 9 weekly sessions with a follow up 6-8 weeks later. Sessions last 60 minutes for an individual and 90 minutes for a group. Each week you learn a new mental exercise to take away and practice 3 times a day. These exercises are simple, very short and can be practised almost anywhere sitting or lying down.
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The fee for the assessment and course are fixed, however I do offer a limited number of concessionary spaces and am happy to discuss your particular circumstances with you.
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Covid 19. In light of the current situation, I with am currently working with clients online or by telephone. In this context, we would agree a time for an assessment consultation and I seek to offer you a safe, virtual consulting room space for us to meet online or through the telephone at the same time each week.
