Learning how to become a bit more relaxed might sound like a nice idea, but probably isn’t very high up on most people’s ‘to do’ list. However, the emerging science on the nuanced and far-reaching effects of chronic stress suggests we could all do with nudging it a little (or in some cases a lot) higher up our list of priorities.

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In fact, when it comes to improving our quality of life, lowering our baseline stress levels seems to be one thing that all areas of cognitive, behavioural and physiological sciences agree emphatically on. Less stress = better outcomes all round, and profound improvements in many cases.

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In which case, why is stress reduction not on most people's radar?

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Oftentimes we are just too busy to give it much thought. Sometimes perhaps we think that reducing stress will in some way lower our drive, motivation or ability to perform or be productive.

 

But the opposite is actually true. Stress not only significantly drains our energy and disrupts our attention. But being in a stress-response physiologically limits our access to the most crucial creative centers in the brain. This includes the regions of the brain which govern essential processes such as problem solving, reasoning, motivation and emotional regulation.

 

This is why lowering stress and learning how to relax is a foundational step in many performance optimisation protocols. Because chronic tension detrimentally affects both psychological and physical performance in so many key areas.

 

Relaxation skills training is one of the principle techniques utilised in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy due to its highly-evidenced benefits to so many areas of people’s lives. These include:

 

• Reducing over-all stress and anxiety

• Improving mood, helping to lower feelings of anger, irritation and frustration

• Enhance focus and mental clarity

• Improve emotional regulation

• Increase self-control and support habit reversal

 

It also comes with a host of essential physiological benefits such as lowering blood pressure, improving sleep quality, boosting immune function (psychoimmunology is offering some startling insights on this area of study), managing (and in some cases reversing) functional gastrointestinal disorders and lowering chronic muscle tension.

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How does it work?

 

Thankfully learning how to lower your baseline stress levels and feel more relaxed does not require weeks away on a retreat or a regimental meditation practice. In fact, it is a skill which our body and mind can learn just as any other. Through simple focus and repetition. 

 

In these sessions we employ a range of evidence-based techniques proven most effective for long-term stress reduction. After an initial assessment and review of your therapeutic goals, we aim to lower stress in just 6-8 sessions.

 

Sessions include discussion and review, CBT skills training (i.e. relaxation skills training, coping skills training, relapse prevention) as well as evidence-based hypnotic work, Mindfulness Based CBT meditation techniques and recordings to use in between sessions.

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Sessions can be held online or in person in Reigate, Surrey.