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My Approach

I can help you to:
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  • Reduce anxiety — including panic attacks, fears, phobias and obsessions (OCD)

  • Overcome stress and burnout

  • Break the cycle of depression

  • Resolve trauma (PTSD)

  • Manage anger

  • Stop addictive behaviours 

  • Enhance self-confidence and relationships

  • Improve concentration

  • Recover from self-harm

  • Sleep well

Jonathan Kay 
HG.Dip.P, MHGI

In as few sessions as possible, my role is to:
 

  • Help you understand depression and how to lift it.

  • Quickly help with anxiety problems, including trauma.

  • Give advice if needed or asked for.

  • Use simple language - not use jargon or ‘psychobabble’.

  • Not waste time dwelling unduly on the past or taking you on long ‘voyages of self-discovery’.

  • Be supportive when difficult feelings emerge, but not encourage you to get emotional beyond the normal need to ‘let go’ of any bottled up problems.

  • Assist in developing social skills so that needs for affection, friendship, pleasure, intimacy and connection to the wider community can be better fulfilled.

  • Help you draw on your strengths and resources (which are usually greater than you think!).

  • Teach you to relax deeply when needed and help you think about things in new and more empowering ways.

  • Set tasks between sessions to help you reach your goals, increase your self-confidence and independence.

 

What's different about my approach?


Focusing on the latest research in brain science, you'll benefit from new insights and understandings for achieving good mental health.

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Through groundbreaking Human Givens (HG) therapy, I use a range of tools and techniques going beyond cognitive behavioural, person-centred, interpersonal, motivational interviewing, solution-focused approaches, and hypnotherapy.

 

At the heart of HG therapy is the understanding that our emotions usually come before our thoughts.

So if you’re feeling a bit low, anxious or depressed, please get in touch. 

Human Givens therapy

The Human Givens approach emerged by asking a simple question: How do we, as human beings, achieve well-being?

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Following millions of years of evolution, we are all born

'pre-programmed' with an innate set of physical and

emotional needs. ​​

When these needs are met in balance, we are mentally healthy.

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To survive and thrive and meet our needs, we, like every living being, must continually maintain and rebuild ourselves taking nourishment from our environment. 

 

It's the universal law of all living things.

Human Givens therapy focuses on helping you better meet your needs and improve your life by nurturing and developing your unique skills, talents and resources while treating and overcoming barriers, such as unhelpful conditioning or trauma.

 

​It works in tune with the 'givens' of human nature. 

 

​At the heart of the approach is the understanding that to achieve well-being, the answer lies not in endless therapy, rather, it's getting your needs met in balance. 

 

​​​​How well are your emotional needs being met?​

 

Take a couple of minutes to answer the questions below and find out.

10 benefits of the approach 

1.

Scientific - in tune with mind/body 

2.

​Brief as possible, giving you control

3.

Feel better after every session

4.

Sessions are structured​​

5.

Change is measured

6.

Learn concrete skills that are easily taught

7.

Safe - no ideological 'beliefs' about symptoms

8.

Identifies your strengths to bring about change

9.

Builds on the best of the most effective, proven therapies

10.

Practical, positive and forward-focused

'Emotions usually come before thoughts.'

Qualifications & training

  • Human Givens Institute Diploma, HG.Dip.P, MHGI

  • Human Givens Certificate of Graduate Membership,
    GHGI - Distinction

  • Foundation in Psychotherapy & Counselling, Regents University

  • Introduction to Counselling Skills, The Minster Centre

  • BA (Hons) Communication Studies (International),
    University of Leeds and George Washington University -
    First Class Honours.

 
Affiliations and Memberships:
 

 

About me

I have always been fascinated by what makes people tick.

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Following a sometimes challenging corporate career and personal journey, Human Givens provided me with many light bulb moments.

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The approach offers a simple framework that enables me to help clients deal with difficulties, change unhelpful patterns of behaviour and take back control of their lives.

I enjoy identifying precisely what's missing, or being misused in clients' lives to help them chart a positive way forward. ​

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It's a privilege helping others and hugely rewarding seeing the impact Human Givens therapy has on people from every background and walk of life as we all strive to meet our innate human needs. 

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