What we can help with
People may reach out for support with a longstanding experience of mental, physical or emotional distress, or a more recent situation or transition, such as a young person’s experiences post COVID or through teenage years, a relationship challenge, family breakdown or an unexpected grief or loss, for example.
We are needs-led
Human Givens is underpinned by an idea that we have different emotional and physical needs, and resources to meet these needs to live a life in balance. We use this to make sense of your situation ,help clarify what you want moving forward and what we need to focus on for you to achieve your goals.
We focus on your strengths not just your problems
The Human Givens approach also has a positive outlook. Your strengths, such as your achievements, skills or positive imagination, are important resources you can use to help you move forward.
We build awareness and insight, motivation and the skills to grow
Sessions (and the time in between) aim to build awareness and insight of what's happening and clarity about what you need to do to move forward positively to achieve your goals.
Support that is designed to be brief
We want you to feel that you are well supported - that you are not alone - and perhaps even relief, which some clients share they feel from the very first session. Our commitment is to walk alongside you to find your way through whatever challenges are affecting you.
Overall, the sessions aim to help you overcome your challenges and find your balance in as short a time as possible. We recognise that for some people this may be a few sessions, and for some it may be longer depending on the complexity of your life and what you're experiencing.
Using approaches from different schools of psychology and sciences
People come with very different needs and issues they would like help with.
We use strategies and approaches from different schools of psychology and science which is bespoke to your needs.
Some examples:
- emotion awareness and management tools
- learning how to relax
- cognitive behavioural strategies
- mindfulness and meditation techniques
- skills building
- building healthier responses to stress and anxiety
- understanding your brain design
Breathwork
We are trained to help you to learn breathwork techniques to help you to feel more relaxed.
Psychoeducation
Sessions tend to involve learning lots about how the brain and body works and how to feel more relaxed and safer within yourself as a foundation.
Guided imagery
Qualified Human Givens therapists can include Guided imagery (a form of deep relaxation or hypnotherapy) in therapy sessions. This may be to help you to feel more deeply relaxed, to help mentally rehearse for the future or help lift addiction and trauma, for example.
Trauma specialists
Human Givens therapists receive specialist training in lifting trauma, which can include using an evidence-based approach called the rewind technique.
This approach has been validated by the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the positive feedback from clients about how it can lift trauma and help people get their lives back.
Addictions & Habits: Compulsive behaviours, substance use and behavioural addictions
Anxiety & Panic: Anxiety, panic attacks, phobias and chronic worry
Body Image & Eating: Food relationships, body image concerns and distressed eating
Burnout & Life Transitions: Exhaustion, occupational burnout, stress management and navigating life transitions
Complex Emotional Health: Complex experiences often labelled as personality disorders or emotional instability
Existential & Life Purpose: Lack of meaning, feeling stuck and existential crises
Grief & Loss: Bereavement, unexpected loss and life changes
Identity & Self: Gender identity exploration, sexual orientation and personal identity
Low Mood & Vitality: Depression, persistent low mood, lack of energy or motivation
Men’s Wellbeing: identity, hormones, paternal health, silent burnout, physical-emotional health overlap, male-specific life transitions
Neurodiversity: ADHD, autism, OCD (obsessive and compulsive disorder), bipolar disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, and learning differences
Psychosis & Complex Health: Hearing voices, altered experiences and psychosis
Relational Abuse & Domestic Violence: Coercive control, domestic abuse, relational trauma and recovering safety and autonomy
Relationship & Interpersonal Issues in Couples and Families: Communication breakdowns, intimacy struggles, conflict resolution, affairs, dealing with significant life events and navigating relationship transitions
Trauma & Recovery: Trauma and complex trauma (C-PTSD)
Women’s wellbeing: identity, hormones, PMDD/PMS, perimenopause / menopause, fertility, birth related issues, female-specific life transitions