Bare Health

Wednesday 14 February 2018

Art Psychotherapy at Bare Health





Art Psychotherapy at Bare Health

By Elle Hopkins

I believe it is important that everyone lives a creative life. What creativity means, or how to live a creative life - will be different for every person. Some characteristics of creativity involve  the capacity to see things from a new perspective, adaptability, to experiment and find solutions to problems or to create things or ideas. Another aspect of creativity, as in the arts, is to do with self-expression and self-discovery, and with communicating and connecting with the unconscious self.

It is my experience that giving expression to our need for creativity gives human beings a deeper sense of fulfilment; it requires the transformation of patterns that may be blocking us, and the courage to move forwards and finding meaning amid life’s uncertainties.  

The use of art in psychotherapy can add another dimension to the way issues are explored in the therapy room. An image, such as a drawing, painting, collage or a clay figure can richly express what is being communicated in the therapy. The art psychotherapist, in witnessing the client’s exploration, can support the process of art making and encourage thinking and reflecting linked to the image and to the client’s insights.

Art psychotherapy is not about artistic skills; whether a client is good or bad at art, or about the psychotherapist interpreting the work for the client. It is about being curious and playful in exploring meaning with the client. In art psychotherapy, the process of art making and how the client experiences this is also fundamental.

Talking, although a fundamental human way of expression, is by no means the only way that we can give expression to our experience. Taking place at the client’s pace, art psychotherapy can be a powerful tool to bring about change and transformation and help to work towards the unique process of developing a creative approach to life, whatever that may mean for the client. As in other forms of psychological therapies art psychotherapy also utilises the safe and boundaried relationship between the client and therapist as an agent for change.

Who can benefit from art psychotherapy?



The versatility of art psychotherapy makes it accessible to a range of different people. It can be particularly beneficial to those who have tried other forms of talking therapy and found it difficult to express themselves. Art psychotherapy tends to look at issues in a different way and can help participants to tap into emotions that have previously been buried or ignored. Anyone who finds it difficult to talk about their feelings or feels distanced from their emotions. Art psychotherapy can help with depression, anxiety, trauma related issues, grief and loss. Art psychotherapy can help to improve communication skills and offers an easy way for participants to express themselves and deal with their feelings in a healthy way. Tapping into the creative part of the brain helps to lower stress levels and restore a sense of personal identity. This type of therapy can help clients regain a sense of control, freedom and self-expression.

Being creative in this type of safe, therapeutic environment can be revitalising and often lifts mood. The sense of freedom and lack of judgement that is felt within art psychotherapy can be cathartic and unique when compared to other more traditional forms of psychotherapy.

What happens in an art therapy session?


 


During your art therapy sessions, your therapist may ask you to engage in creative activities. These are designed to help you explore your emotions and feelings in a new, creative way. Sometimes the therapist may ask you to make images of your choosing without giving you any particular direction.

What qualifications does an art therapist need?


 


Art therapists and art psychotherapists are regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). This means that their title is legally protected, and only individuals that are registered with the HCPC can call themselves an "art therapist".

If you feel this is something that you would find helpful to support your emotional and psychological wellbeing please contact

Elle Hopkins BA Hons, MA.  HCPC Registered (AS13975) /BAAT Registered Art Psychotherapist

Via Bare Health, Congleton


You can also send me a direct message on Facebook via my page @ellehopkinsart

Or Instagram via elle_hopkins_art

for an informal discussion and further information.

Friday 26 January 2018

Chaga – Mushroom of Immortality

  Who among you love mushrooms? I’ve grown up in a family of mushroom lovers, yet to this day I cannot stand the taste or smell of cooked mushrooms and have become what I call...’an expert mushroom picker outerer’ after carefully picking out the awful little things out of my meals! For me, it’s a little like Marmite, you either love it OR Hate it! However, despite my dislike of eating mushrooms I cannot deny that they have truly remarkable benefits upon health. Reishi, Maiitake, Cordyceps all varieties that research is highlighting as having a multitude of health benefits from increasing energy & endurance levels to immune support. But the one mushroom that is currently piquing my interest is Wild Chaga! Certainly not a mushroom that you’d come across on your weekly trip to the supermarket to throw into a risotto or find growing in a field, no, this amazing fungi, grows on trees! (primarily, the Birch tree)

Inonotus obliqus or as it’s commonly referred to Chaga, originally derived from the Russian word for mushroom, has been traditionally used in Siberia, Russia and Northern Europe since the 16th century for its’ medicinal properties. It is a parasitic fungus that grows on ‘living’ hardwood trees particularly in cold climates and unlike the image of a mushroom we are used to, it appears as a large, cracked black/brown growth on the tree that is hard and dense. Large concentrations of melanin, the pigment responsible for our skin colour, can be found naturally within and this is what gives Chaga its dark colour. Wild Chaga survives by extracting an abundance of nutrients from the inner layer of the tree bark whilst at the same time giving the tree vital nutrients to support its’ health in return - a truly unique ‘symbiotic’ (mutually beneficial) relationship. However, this relationship only occurs with wild Chaga grown and harvested in its natural environment as opposed to cheaper, less nutrient dense Chaga commercially grown in vats.

During the past few decades the health benefits of Chaga have been actively studied with the aim of shedding some light on its biochemistry and reported human health benefits. Chaga has been noted to have activity in a wide range of health-related areas such as its free radical (molecules that damage our cells) scavenging potential, immune stimulating effects and anti mutagenic and anti cancer properties and is rapidly gaining a reputation as one of the most medicinally valuable fungi. In China it is referred to as ‘The king of all plants’, the Siberians call it a ‘gift from God’ or the ‘mushroom of immortality’ whilst in Japan it is often referred to as the ‘diamond in the forest’. It certainly is one of the most praised superfoods and that can be attributed to its unique concentration of nutrients that include: flavanoids, phenols, antioxidants, various B complex vitamins, minerals including copper, manganese, iron, zinc, potassium and calcium, high levels of SOD (Superoxide Dismutase) a component that exhibits a very high antioxidant activity, Beta glucans, melanin, amino acids, dietary fibre, enzymes, sterols, vitamin D2 and K to name but a few.
So what health benefits does Chaga potentially offer?

·         Cellular Protection – research has shown Chaga to have very high concentrations of antioxidant compounds that help to protect our cells from damage and premature ageing. In fact it is one of the richest sources of antioxidants in the world, not only boasting the highest levels but also an exceptionally rare diversity of antioxidants. It has been reported that the Emperor of China once outlawed Chaga as he wanted exclusive use of the age defying tonic so that he could appear ‘eternally young’ whilst everyone around him grew old.

·         Anti inflammatory – it contains specific anti inflammatory compounds such as ergosterol that help to combat inflammation a process that is often present in chronic degenerative disease. So, with this in mind, Chaga may help reduce systemic inflammation and help in the prevention of a number of health problems, leading to a longer and healthier life.

·         Anti Hyperglycemic – a few studies have shown that polysaccharides in Chaga have the potential to reduce, glucose, triglycerides, fatty acids and cholesterol in blood.

·         Immune support – There is increasing research exploring the role of Chaga on immune function with evidence suggesting that it has a stimulating and balancing effect whilst increasing white blood cell population. This has been attributed to high levels of Beta Glucans (immune supporting polysaccharides) occurring naturally within Chaga. Making it a fabulous immune remedy to have at hand during the cold & flu season.

·         Anti bacterial , Anti Viral & Anti Fungal– Wild chaga has been reported to to enhance anti viral activity in the body with research demonstrating positive results in cases of the Herpes simplex virus and additional research showing that chaga polysaccharides work equally to broad spectrum anti viral drugs for respiratory and gastrointestinal infections with additional significant favourable outcomes for its anti bacterial, anti fungal and anti parasitic effects.

·         Adaptogenic - It has strong adaptogenic properties. The European Medicines Agency tried to define adaptogens as clearly as possible in a 2008 treatise, "Reflection Paper on the Adaptogenic Concept":Adaptogenic substances are stated to have the capacity to normalize body functions and strengthen systems compromised by stress.

How can Chaga be incorporated into our health & wellness 
regimes?

Traditionally in Eastern Europe and Asia where it originates, Chaga has been boiled and consumed as a tea, however with its growing popularity in the Western world Chaga can now be found as a tincture, in capsules or powder. In powder form it is ideal to add to smoothies or juices or taken as a warming, immune supporting hot drink tat makes an ideal coffee alternative. Perfect during the cold winter months. Top Tip - Always try to source the best Chaga, preferably Wild and 100% organic where possible to ensure you are obtaining a full spectrum of nutrients with no added synthetic binders, fillers or preservatives and that is also from a sustainable source.

For further information, please call Bare Health, Congleton your local, independent health store on 01260 408413. We are always happy to answer your queries.

Bare Health highly recommends...

Viridian Nutrition Organic Wild Chaga & Cacoa hot drink -

SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY OFFER! 15% off in store at Bare Health #Congleton #Cheshire until end of February 2018

Vegetarian, Vegan, Organic
Potent Wild Nordic Chaga extract and flavanol-rich Cacao from the Peruvian rainforest creates a bi-cultural melting pot.
Harvested in two hemispheres, from organically certified forests to ensure purity and sustainability and carefully blended to create a pleasant tasting, nutrient dense beverage.
From the icy Birch forest of Finnish Lapland and the steamy rainforest of Peru to your cosy kitchen.

Certified organic by the Soil Association.



The content of this article is for information purposes only. Always seek the advice of your GP or healthcare specialist if taking prescribed medication or undergoing any form of treatment prior to embarking on any new health regime.

Useful References:

http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/Scientific_guideline/2009/09/WC500003646.pdf