Central Stress Management offers a Consultant-led team-based approach to psychiatric and psychological problems.
The emphasis is on rapid assessment and short-term out-patient treatment.
There are six Consultants; all accredited adult Psychiatrists who work or have worked at leading NHS hospitals and most have attachments to university departments as well. They work closely with a team of accredited Counsellors.
A number of the Consultants work closely with other specialists based at London Bridge Hospital and in particular with Cardiologists, Oncologists, Rheumatologists and General Physicians.
Most members of the therapeutic team are recognised by all of the major insurance companies, but there are particular anomalies where insurance companies will not cover a certain therapist, certain conditions, or impose strict limits on psychiatric disorders. It is essential that all clients seeking treatment from Central Stress Management familiarise themselves with the limitations of their insurance company, and are also clear about whether or not their therapy will be covered by their own insurer.
The team at Central Stress Management is broadly based, and not partisan to one school of psychiatry or another. Not only do we have Psychiatrists who are extremely well versed in the use of drug treatments, but also Psychiatrists and Counsellors who have a broad range of counselling skills stretching from brief therapy using Cognitive Behaviour techniques (CBT) to Cognitive Analytic therapy (CAT), and various dynamic therapies. Both couple therapy and psychosexual counselling are available, as are psychotherapy for Eating Disorders and Drug & Alcohol dependence. Long-term out-patient treatment, day-care and in-patient treatment may require onward referral.
- In the best managed organisation, the best managed family, the best managed personal life there are still occasions when we will become stressed.
- No matter how well adapted or resilient we think we are, at times the body’s internal mechanisms designed to adapt to stress will be provoked. This can produce uncomfortable physical or mental feelings, which can easily be misinterpreted as symptoms of illness when, in fact, there may be no illness present.
- Stress is part of the body’s adaptive response to extreme conditions.
- The short term stress response known as “fight and flight” is as the name implies designed to deal with acute threat. In the past it allowed us to respond to threat by wild animal or hostile human adversary.
- Our ancestors developed long term stress adaptations mediated by corticoid steroids to face physical adversity such as famine, flood or adverse weather.
- We can tell if we are stressed by a number of characteristic changes to our body. Physically we may be aware of rapid heart beat, digestive problems, and bowel over activity, muscle and joint pains, tension in the neck, headaches and a variety of other minor bodily changes.
- Anxiety is probably the most common manifestation of stress with irritability and short temper, lack of affection or sex drive. There may be feelings of negativity, pessimism about the future, avoidance or withdrawal which may become intrusive and make life and work difficult.
- Stress management is one of the sources of expertise at Central Stress Management. All our therapists are trained in stress management, in addition to their training as clinical or counselling psychologists, CBT or CAT therapists or psychodynamic therapists.
- Most stress management explores sources of stress, attitudes and personality.
- If work relationships are involved these may also be explored, with attention to management structure and the match of role to abilities.
- It is well recognised that our intimate and familial relationships are probably the most important in our lives, but they can be sources of stress. Lack of affection or disinterest in a partner, will produce feelings of anxiety and insecurity. Excessive demands or a feeling that the family balance of work is unfair can be a very significant source of stress. Either partner may feel they are taken for granted, ignored, not appreciated and not rewarded for the input that they give.
- Stress management uses a variety of techniques. Relaxation training teaches us to help the body unwind and reverses some of the key changes produced by the fight and flight reaction.
- Cognitive restructuring encourages us to think differently about the pressures that are imposed upon us.
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, which follows much more serious exposure to life threatening stress, is frequently treated at Central Stress Management.
- Resilience training is available at Central Stress Management. This involves techniques designed to prepare yourself for stress and be more resilient to stresses when they occur.
Being able to manage pressure or stress, such as difficult working conditions, uncertainty, redundancy, over thinking and other complex and distressing issues, both in professional and personal realms, is part and parcel of our daily life. However, at times this can be difficult to do, especially if you experience prolonged pressure without any respite or a series of difficult events. In addition, excessive pressure in one area, such as work, can impact negatively on your personal life, leading to a downward spiral of negativity and even possible burn out.
Developing resilience enhancing strategies is a step in the right direction to managing pressure more effectively. Some of the more common strategies include:
- Developing and maintaining a realistic outlook in all spheres of your life. To do this you need to become aware of your resilience draining attitudes, such as ‘I can’t cope with this role change’ and work on developing stronger more pragmatic attitudes.
- Working towards goals whether they are short or long term. Bearing in mind that the more specific and challenging the goals the greater your sense of achievement.
- Developing an overall sense of unconditional self acceptance, that is learning not to rate yourself as a failure, boring or useless rather learning to accept yourself as you are.
- Identifying and augmenting your own repertoire of strengths.
- Moving towards a process of solution focused thinking and actions. Using the skills and strengths you have to develop quick and creative solutions to manage your problems.
- Maintaining flexibility and perspective in your overall outlook to life.
- Developing the skills for efficient decision making.
- Managing your emotions.
- Accepting and embracing change.
Overall, the key is to develop a resilience action plan, in keeping with your own values which you can implement on an everyday basis.
- Access to Central Stress Management Therapists is now by two routes.
- The usual route for assessment and treatment would be by a GP referral to a medically qualified Consultant Psychiatrist. The psychiatrist would be careful to exclude any possible physical causes, such as thyroid disease or anaemia, which may be producing the symptoms of stress.
- Referral other than by GP is covered by some insurance companies. Arrangements for the company doctor, if not your local general practitioner to provide any medical input and take clinical responsibility would be required.
- After the psychiatric assessment a referral may be made to a therapist for appropriate treatment.
- The team at Central Stress Management now consists of 25 doctors and therapists who have been treating stress and other psychological problems together for many years. We are particularly experienced with regard to the work life balance and the culture of the City.