OPENNESS
FLEXIBILITY
CONNECTEDNESS
FLEXIBLE MIND PSYCHOLOGY
Adapting to life
Flexible Mind Psychology offers specialist therapy for those who are feeling disconnected. Whether you are experiencing anxiety, having difficulty responding to the ever-changing demands of the world, or finding it hard to express yourself, you don't have to cope alone. Flexible Mind Psychology provides treatment that focuses around the principles of Radically Open Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (RO DBT), which is the only published treatment that specifically targets difficulties that are associated with excessive and maladaptive levels of self-control, or 'overcontrol'. RO DBT is an evidence-based therapy which incorporates the teaching of practical skills as well as the opportunity to reflect on the ‘blind spots’ that might be keeping you stuck.
INDIVIDUAL THERAPY
Flexible Mind Psychology provides a unique form of treatment for those who may have previously felt unable to access help from others, or unable to contemplate new ways of thinking. Examples of treatment targets, which are associated with an 'overcontrolled' coping style include, but are not limited to, the following:
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Depression
Anxiety
Relationship Problems
Loneliness and Social Isolation
Rigidity or a Lack of Flexibility
Paranoia and Mistrust
Rumination and Over-Thinking
High Levels of Bitterness
Holding Grudges
Unhelpful Envy
Problems Expressing Feelings
Obsessive Thinking
Compulsive Fixing
Anger
Over-Exercising
SKILLS CLASSES
RO DBT skills classes provide a unique opportunity for learning and for personal growth. Alongside the teaching and practising of new skills, the class environment allows its members to share stories, to reflect, to offer suggestions for problem-solving, and to provide feedback. Primarily, however, its main benefit is to allow individuals to form connections - something that they may have struggled to do in the past.
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TRAINING AND CONSULTATION
In addition to therapy, Flexible Mind Psychology provides educational and training events for professionals or organisations that aim to develop their awareness of Radically Open Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, disorders of overcontrol, and the differentiation of overcontrol from undercontrol. Furthermore, consultation and support is available to teams that may wish to reflect upon their practice or their dynamics, in order to enhance their effectiveness or relationships.
All events can be planned in a bespoke manner, and can vary from brief one-hour presentations to detailed workshops over one or two days.
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As all training and consultation is provided in a bespoke manner, rates are individualised according to the nature of the service that is required.
ABOUT IAN
I am a Consultant Clinical and Forensic Psychologist and have worked within psychological settings for over twenty years. Having primarily been based in large institutions, I now feel like I have something to offer to the wider community - on a more personal level. Over the years, I’ve come to recognise that there’s a whole set of people out there who may not be feeling quite as positive as their outside appearance might suggest. I therefore decided to set up Flexible Mind Psychology in order to offer something different: something for those people who are often assumed to be coping perfectly well, who don’t like to make a fuss, and who appear to be okay on the outside but who are actually struggling on the inside. I want to help those people who feel disconnected or isolated, even when they are around lots of people; I want to help people to develop fulfilling relationships and to interact more effectively; and I want to help people to adapt to the ever-changing, unpredictable world that we live in.
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My previous practice has routinely included assessments, interventions and additional consultative roles with a range of clients and using a range of treatment models. I have received specific training in, and implemented, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Group Analytic Psychotherapy, and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT). More recently, however, I have developed a particular interest in Radically Open Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (RO DBT), which aims to treat disorders of overcontrol. Having undertaken advanced training within this field, I have been invited to join the European team of Senior RO DBT Clinicians, and have delivered a number of workshops and training events regarding RO DBT, disorders of overcontrol, and the differentiation of overcontrol from undercontrol.
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I am Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC registration number PYL22814) and hold Chartered status with the British Psychological Society (BPS membership number 90146).
TREATMENT OPTIONS
INDIVIDUAL THERAPY:
Individual therapy is tailored to each individual's needs, and is based upon an introductory consultation or assessment, which takes place during the first session (or further sessions as required). All sessions last for 50 minutes.
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COMPREHENSIVE RO DBT:
A comprehensive programme of RO DBT is considered to be the gold standard for the treatment of difficulties that are associated with overcontrol. This comprises of two key components: a weekly 50-minute individual session with a nominated therapist; and a weekly, two-hour Skills Class. The Skills Class involves 30 lessons, is delivered by three fully-trained and highly experienced RO DBT therapists and involves working with others who also experience difficulties with overcontrol - a primary aim of which is to develop a sense of social connectedness.
FEES
Each 50-minute individual session costs up to £130, depending upon individual circumstances, whilst each two-hour Skills Class lesson costs £80. These both include out-of-hours skills coaching and online materials. Whilst the combination of both Skills Classes and individual sessions is the recommended form of treatment for overcontrol, we are aware that funding the whole programme may not be possible for some people; as such, there is also the option of undertaking the Skills Class only, without the weekly individual sessions, or undertaking individual sessions without the Skills Class.
For information regarding treatment options, please call, send an email, or submit the enquiry form below.
Want to know more about overcontrol?
I had the pleasure of speaking with Steve Tywnham at Yowah Radio, where we discussed the traits of overcontrolled and undercontrolled personalities.
Listen here...
NEXT STEPS
It’s usually best to begin with an informal chat about what brings you to contact Flexible Mind Psychology, as this allows a brief idea of your needs to be formed, along with a sense of how I can help. From this, a more detailed assessment of your needs might be useful, so that I can identify more specific treatment targets and can make recommendations. Although I will make suggestions, the decision on how to proceed is yours to make: therapy can be agreed on a short- or long-term basis, and can be either pre-planned or flexible. In any eventuality, I aim to provide you with meaningful and helpful treatment that addresses your needs, and to do so in a timely and efficient manner.
If you would like to discuss your situation, please send me an email and I will call you back – usually within 24 hours.
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*Flexible Mind Psychology is based in York, and provides face-to-face sessions in a relaxing environment. Alternatively, online sessions are available, meaning that enquiries are welcome from a wide geographical area.
Telephone: 07392 618919
"We do not see things as they are, we see them as we are"