John Carlin wrote in the Weekend FT Magazine (17 February 2012) about the ‘catastrophic and inexplicable loss of form’ that the Chelsea striker Fernando Torres has been experiencing over the past 12 months. This is a type of performance dysfunction that numerous elite sports people have to deal with during the course of their careers. While there are occasional physical or physiological explanations for such changes in performance, in general they arise from psychological causes. Continue reading
‘Was that a Micro Expression I just saw?’ By Leah Siteman
Have you ever got a strange feeling about somebody but you couldn’t put your finger on why? Perhaps you got the impression that you upset somebody with a throw away comment but when confronted they say they are fine. They act normally, however your gut feeling remains that they are genuinely upset. I’m sure there are thousands of such examples, and perhaps they are in part due to Micro Expressions.
‘Clinical Psychology is Needed in The Boardroom’ by Rob Archer
For many years leadership trainers, coaches and consultants have worked in organisations helping leaders build high performance teams and cultures. Yet recently a new trend has emerged whereby Clinical Psychologists have been in increasing demand to share their expertise within organisations.
Why is this? Continue reading
Free Breakfast Briefing – Resilience in the Workplace – 23 February 2012
LPP Consulting is delighted to announce a free Breakfast Briefing in our consulting rooms at 8 Devonshire Place, London W1G 6HP on Thursday 23 February 2012 (8am for 8-30am).
The subject is Building a Resilient Workplace with Mindfulness-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Our speaker is Rob Archer, Chartered Occupational Psychologist and Director, LPP Consulting.
‘Effectiveness of CBT for anxiety disorders’ – by Dr Pieter Kruger
There had been recent talk in the media about people struggling with stress or stress related problems and most people know somebody who had been treated for anxiety at some point (“Anxiety Disorders have soared since credit crunch” – Telegraph, 1st January 2012). Yet, it is a confusing term and people very often do not know exactly what is meant by it. Technically, the term ‘anxiety disorder’ is an umbrella term which includes Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Panic Disorder, Agorophobia, Social Phobia, Specific Phobias, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Acute Stress Disorder. Although these disorders all have certain shared symptoms, there are certain distinct differences, especially in the treatment of these disorders. Continue reading
‘Hidden side of Sport’ by Dr Gary Bell
The reactions I get when someone I have just met discovers I am a psychiatrist vary enormously: awkwardness, embarrassment, disinterest, and sometimes morbid interest! Last night’s BBC 1 programme, ‘Freddie Flintoff: Hidden Side of Sport’ gave us a rare and privileged insight into ‘the dark side’ of elite sports. ‘Every cricket team in the country has some one who is depressed’ is a true but startling statistic. Continue reading
‘The season to be jolly?: The festive season is a challenging time for people with eating disorders’ by Dr Kate Joseph
Although many of us look forward to some overindulgence over the festive period, this time of year can lead to high levels of stress and distress for men and women with eating disorders. For people with anorexia, the prospect of eating more than usual or ‘forbidden’ foods can be extremely anxiety-provoking. For those with bulimia or binge eating disorder, a large, long meal can increase the likelihood of a binge, which can then be difficult to stop. Continue reading
‘Business performance: lessons from sport’ by Dr Phil Hopley
As we approach 2012 business leaders are increasingly looking to elite sport for valuable insights into enhancing performance.
BOA Elite Performance Director Clive Woodward talks about “the ability to think clearly under pressure”. Steve Redgrave writes about “mental discipline and overcoming low self-esteem”.
A widespread assumption is that elite athletes have bullet-proof minds but that is simply wrong, as my work as a Sport Psychiatrist confirms. However, what they do have is a willingness to work on their mental resilience so that they can enhance their performance. What is it that lies behind this idea of mental resilience, and what lessons does this have for business? Continue reading
‘Insomnia – Sleepless in The City’ by Dr Vince Gradillas
“12:01… 12:37… 01:03… 02:12… My mind won’t switch off… Look at the time… You will fall asleep… Maybe another tipple will crack it… I can’t believe it’s time to get up.” 30% of people suffer with insomnia at any one time. Although common in those with medical and psychiatric conditions, most with chronic insomnias do not have an underlying cause. Individuals complain that sleep is too short, interrupted and/ or poor in quality, making them fatigued the following day. Low mood, reduced concentration and memory, are but a few consequences: it can prolong your journey time by a couple of hours!!! Social functioning and vocational performance are affected; sleeping less than 3.5hrs per day over a prolonged period of time increases the risk of mortality by 15% and chronic insomnia rarely resolves without intervention. Continue reading
Clinical Sport Psychology – by Dr Pieter Kruger
In my work as a Clinical Sports Psychologist with teams and organisations such as GB Rowing, UK Athletics and premiership football and rugby teams, I am often asked whether my role is to ‘motivate’ athletes. In fact, motivation is only a small part of what Clinical Psychologists do. Continue reading