NLP Practitioner In Wellington
If you are struggling to find a Neuro linguistic programming (NLP) practitioner (or any other kind of therapist) in Wellington, the following overview of NLP alternatives could be a useful guide to your options.
New Zealand is in the depths of a chronic, long-standing mental health crisis. In terms of its impact on our collective wellbeing, this crisis is more than a match for the likes of Covid 19. If you don’t believe that is possible, you are simply in disagreement with hard data.
If the story of our mental health crisis sold more newspapers, you would see major coverage every single day. Such is the scale of the problem. Sadly though, it doesn’t make for very exciting news, so the scale of the problem remains on the periphery of our collective awareness.
In addition to the shockingly elevated stats for mental health challenges like anxiety, anxiety disorders, childhood anxiety, PTSD, depression and OCD, in NZ, we also have a further compounding issue. And that issue, unbelievably for a first-world country, is a lack of healthcare. On top of having a mental health crisis, we also have a mental healthcare crisis. And even in Wellington, our affluent capital city, there is a severe shortage of therapists available to treat issues like anxiety, depression and PTSD.
NLP Practitioner In Wellington
We are looking primarily at NLP alternatives but let’s take a look at NLP itself first,
NLP is an excellent option for people who wish to improve their mental health, anxiety levels, stress levels and general resilience. Many people even find NLP very effective for treating a host of more ‘physical’ complaints like insomnia, IBS and even asthma.
NLP aims to empower the client with the knowledge, tools and self-awareness necessary for them to work at becoming the best version of themselves and achieve the happiness we all deserve. NLP does this by using very carefully chosen language patterns that access the subconscious mind. The language chosen is modelled from other successful forms of therapy, and it forms a range of specific processes that lead the client through solutions and strategies to manage issues like phobias, anxiety, depression, insomnia, addiction, habit changes and the like. There is certainly no abundance of quality research to show what exactly NLP can and cannot treat effectively; nonetheless, countless anecdotal reports over more than half a century of practice indicate that NLP can create extraordinary results for a percentage of people. This is not to say that NLP is a magic bullet for life’s problems, but it does not need to be that in order to be a valid and valuable tool.
NLP Practitioner in Wellington
There are a lot of great things about living in NZ, and more
specifically, Wellington itself. But easy access to an abundance of mental
health professionals is definitely not one of them. It can be challenging to
find a counsellor, therapist, psychologist, CBT practitioner, EMDR practitioner
or NLP practitioner who can fit you into their overbooked schedule. Especially
since Covid 19 had its wicked way with our collective stress levels and mental
health profile. Calling therapists and counsellors to find an appointment for
the likes of an anxiety disorder can be a grim and fruitless task.
Finding an NLP practitioner in Wellington is very much a part of this problem we have with insufficient numbers of mental health practitioners. A search on the wellness directory reveals only three certified NLP practitioners in Wellington City.
Only one of whom actually specialises in NLP. If you are
determined to try NLP (which perhaps you should be, it’s awesome), it could be
worth trying to get on a waitlist or find a practitioner who does online NLP
sessions.
NLP Practitioner Alternatives in Wellington
Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR)
Eye Movement Desensitization And Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy method developed by Francine Shapiro in the 1980s. It was originally developed to alleviate the emotional discomfort associated with traumatic memories. Which are the cause of PTSD and a vast array of other mental and physical complaints
In EMDR sessions, the client recalls distressing experiences whilst being guided through side-to-side eye movement or physical stimulation, such as tapping either side of the body. It is thought that by stimulating nerve activity between the brain hemispheres, the nervous system is able to re-integrate and process difficult memories.
In this scientifically mysterious way, EMDR eye movements ‘unplug’ traumatic memories from the strong emotions we feel when we recall them. After EMDR sessions, the intense feelings associated with the past event (which tend to spill over into our present day-to-day life) can be dramatically reduced. This can lead to a major improvement in mental health and quality of life for people suffering from issues like PTSD, trauma and anxiety disorders.
EMDR in Wellington
You probably saw this coming by now, but there is a severe lack of EMDR therapists in Wellington. This is even more concerning than the lack of NLP practitioners, given the amount of research that has shown that EMDR is a vital breakthrough form of therapy for issues like PTSD. And for the many milder forms of trauma that often impact sufferers of depression, OCD, anxiety and even the dreaded insomnia.
If you search on The Wellness Directory for EMDR practitioners, there are none registered with them in Central Wellington. A more general google search reveals that there are possibly ten or so registered EMDR therapists who work in Wellington itself, most of whom are psychologists, counsellors and psychiatrists.
Sadly this means that these practitioners are very much a part of
Wellington’s mental health care skill shortage. In fact, of all the EMDR
therapists listed in Wellington, there is only one whose profile doesn’t say
‘not accepting new clients. We called her to check, and she said, ‘sorry, I am
not accepting new clients.
If you are determined to try EMDR, it could be worth trying to
find an online practitioner. However, it is important to bear in mind that it
can bring up strong emotions, and it is generally considered better to have
someone present with you. Brainwave Entrainment can be an excellent alternative
to EMDR and, for many, has a similar ability to reduce trauma-based symptoms,
which is done by switching off the brain’s fight or flight centres.
Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy is a tried-and-true treatment that countless people have found to be a highly effective means of shifting unwanted habits and phobias. It also happens to be one of the key tools hidden within the NLP tool kit. Hypnotherapists can also help alleviate symptoms of conditions like anxiety, OCD, PTSD and depression. Hypnotherapist sessions involve the use of specialised language patterns that induce a relaxing trance-like state. Dropping into these trance states enables a good hypnotherapist to implement positive suggestions to the subconscious mind. Hypnotherapy is not necessarily a magic bullet. Still, it can be hugely helpful to take the heat out of the challenges faced by many sufferers of mental health conditions.
There are many different styles of hypnotherapy, and there are also many different hypnotherapists, so for many people who wish to try hypnotherapy, finding a practitioner with whom they have an excellent rapport is important; when you do sessions that involve such deep relaxation, trust is essential.
Hypnotherapy in Wellington
Unfortunately, if you search for registered hypnotherapists in Wellington in the wellness directory, the results are extremely limited, with only one of the three registered hypnotherapists being based in Miramar, Wellington.
If you persevere, you should be able to get an appointment with a hypnotherapist in Wellington eventually. But hypnotherapy is definitely in short supply, much like many of the other therapies on this list. If you are considering hypnotherapy for something like anxiety, insomnia or PTSD, it could be worth seeking an online hypnotherapist; while not as good as in person, it can still be effective. As is the case with EMDR, Brainwave Entrainment can be an excellent alternative to hypnotherapy.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBTB
Cognitive behavioural therapy may have replaced traditional psychotherapy as the most popular treatment choice for people suffering from anxiety, depression, PTSD, and OCD.
The reason for cognitive behavioural therapy’s popularity is the excellent amount of research supporting its efficacy in helping people self-regulate their thoughts and feelings. The world badly needs treatments that teach people and empower them to effectively manage their own mental health challenges. The more resilient and empowered we are to manage our own issues, the lesser burden we are to ourselves, our friends and family, and the healthcare system.
The inherent wisdom in a therapy that teaches the client or patients to manage and observe their own thoughts and feelings when life gets difficult is undeniable. And you could argue that cognitive behavioural therapy is an absolutely vital piece of the jigsaw when it comes to a mature mental health care system.
Cognitive behavioural Therapists in Wellington
The good news is that there are a respectable number of CBT therapists in Wellington, with there even being a Cognitive behavioural clinic located on Lambton Quay. Sadly, as seems to be the case in mental health services, there are often lengthy wait times to get an initial appointment, and many Therapists are not taking on new clients at the moment.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is rightly one of the most popular therapies for the full spectrum of mental health challenges. This explains why there are so many CBT practitioners in Wellington, supply and demand. Yet the supply is not what it should be for the capital city of a country with the level of mental health challenges that we have here in NZ. Maybe check online and see if three are any off-shore CBT practitioners with good reviews !?
(DBT) Dialectical Behavioural Therapy
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a modified type of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Its main goals are to teach people how to live in the moment, develop healthy ways to cope with stress, regulate emotions, and improve relationships with others.
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy was originally developed to help treat personality disorders but has now become a popular choice of therapy for a host of mental health issues, including PTSD, anxiety disorders, generalised anxiety, OCD, depression and general life stress.
One of the key components of DBT is the development of mindfulness skills. This develops the ability to observe your thoughts, feelings, sensations, and impulses. As well as tuning your senses to tune in to what’s happening around you (what you see, hear, smell, and touch). Developing these aspects of the mind can make managing mental health challenges immeasurably easier.
The mindfulness skills taught in Dialectical Behavioural Therapy help you slow down and focus on the use of coping skills during periods of emotional pain. The strategy can also help reduce unchecked negative thought patterns and impulsive behaviors.
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy Wellington
Again, the good news is there seem to be many options in the Wellington area for DBT therapists, with most being cognitive behavioural therapists offering this as a treatment option. Still, you may run into the problem mentioned above, long wait times or no availability for new patients.
If you are determined to try DBT or CBT and you can’t get an immediate appointment, it could be worth seeing if a therapist near you has a waiting list. Alternatively, you could try Brainwave Entrainment, which despite being less common, is more available due to the lack of constraints imposed by the need for a ‘therapist’ to deliver the treatment.
Brainwave Entrainment
Brainwave entrainment is a form of therapy that uses high-frequency LED light to reduce fight or flight activity in the brain of a person suffering from stress, anxiety, OCD, trauma, PTSD, insomnia or depression. Brainwave entrainment can also simply be used for its performance benefits and general mood enhancement.
Our bodies’ most fundamental processes, like sleep and digestion, are regulated by light-sensitive cells deep inside the brain. This is how our species has adjusted to
the rhythmic 24-hour clock imposed on us by a spinning planet whose surface is dark half the time. Brainwave entrainment uses high-frequency light to stimulate these light receptive cells deep in the brain and altar brainwave activity. This dampens down the brain’s fight or flight activity and can bring dramatic and rapid reductions and symptoms associated with PTSD, anxiety, depression, OCD and good old-fashioned stress.
Brainwave entrainment sessions are generally very relaxing, don’t involve talking to a therapist and can make a rapid and cost-effective change to the culture of life and people suffering from mental health challenges. It is a breakthrough therapy and one that has the potential to dramatically improve the mental health situation we are currently faced with in NZ.
Brainwave Entrainment Wellington
Here in Wellington, there is only one place that offers Brainwave Entrainment. And that’s us. We are fortunate enough to have this revolutionary therapy available in the heart of the CBD. The brilliant thing about this therapy is that because it doesn’t involve a therapist and typically sessions only run for around 30 minutes, there is generally no waitlist, and it’s very affordable. This is also aided by the fact that most people still aren’t aware that this form of treatment exists.
Having numerous machines available and not needing one on one practitioner time means we are able to offer regular Brainwave Entrainment sessions to people without a long waitlist. Many people who do this find that they get a faster reduction in their symptoms than they do with other forms of therapy. Although we always recommend a broad-minded and flexible approach to managing issues like anxiety, trauma, PTSD, stress, OCD and depression.E
Float Tanks
Floating has come out of nowhere in the past decade and has become hugely popular for reducing stress, improving mental and emotional issues and general self-improvement. Float tanks are basically sensory deprivation chambers, which is nowhere near as weird and scary as it sounds; in fact, it’s quite a lovely experience once you get used to it. In practical terms, float tanks are like little pods that increase your ability to relax and ‘switch off about a thousandfold.
Float tank therapy research shows promising results in reducing blood pressure and blood cortisol levels, improving recovery after sports and other physiological improvements. It’s also been shown to help manage symptoms of anxiety, and can even be useful in dealing with addiction. One study found that competitive archers who floated for forty-five minutes before shooting shot arrows more accurately than archers who did not. There is something about shutting down the sensory input to the brain for an hour that enables it to improve its output.
In simple terms, it may be that floating is so beneficial because we are generally so over-stimulated; and that just by giving it a rest, it is able to perform better in ways that can even help mental health.
Float tanks in Wellington
According to the mighty Google, there are currently two float tank businesses in Wellington, Tory Urban Retreat and Floatwell. Floatwell specialises in floating and has invested heavily in a world-class float experience, so we wholeheartedly recommend they be your first stop.
Like Brainwave Entrainment, you can benefit from the effects of float tanks without the need for a therapist, which intrinsically reduces the ‘supply constriction’ on float sessions compared to talk therapies. Furthermore, floating is still a little niche, so the demand for sessions will generally be less than it is for the likes of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. If you call Floatwell, they are always busy, but you can usually get a session within a week or so of calling.
Meditation Classes
Meditation classes can be an excellent way to get the type of benefits you might look for in hypnotherapy; by learning to gain better control of your own brain. The nice thing about the meditation classes option is that whatever you are able to learn about reducing issues like anxiety will be yours to keep; instead of relying on a therapist.
Research has shown that meditation and mindfulness can help with a vast range of mental health challenges. In 2013 the Journal Of Clinical Psychiatry published an article based on the first randomised controlled trial on mindfulness meditation for generalised anxiety. The study concluded that meditation may have a beneficial effect on anxiety symptoms and may also improve stress reactivity and coping mechanisms.
Meditation classes are, in many ways, a preferable option to self-taught meditation. Especially if you are, in fact, trying to use mediation to help with an issue like PTSD, anxiety or insomnia. As is often the case, we can progress much quicker under guidance when learning new skills, and it is easy to get discouraged when learning to meditate.
Meditation classes in Wellington
A search on the wellness directory for Wellington city and on Google brings up numerous options for meditation classes.
This means you should be able to get into a class without any significant issues. It can, of course, be debated whether learning to meditate in a class is a viable ‘alternative’ to NLP and some of the other therapies on this list. But no doubt, it could be an excellent addition for those looking to manage the likes of phobias, addictions, anxiety disorders, stress disorders, depression, trauma, PTSD, OCD and insomnia.
If perhaps your first visit to meditation class doesn’t sit quite right with you, keep an open mind and maybe try again or a different class.
Trauma Release Exercises (TRE)
When we go through traumatic and even fairly regular stressful events, our fight or flight system is activated, just as it should be for survival purposes. The problem arises when the fight or flight system gets stuck in the ‘on position’. This can happen simply because we experience something that completely overloads our stress-coping mechanism or because we are exposed to repeated stressors over time. Unresolved trauma is a major cause of anxiety, anxiety disorders, depression, insomnia, OCD, personality disorders, and full-blown PTSD.
Trauma Release Exercises (TRE) help to resolve unprocessed trauma that gets stuck in the junction between the muscles and the central nervous system. It does this by imposing gentle stress postures on the muscles, which are held for up to 10 minutes at a time.
Trauma Release Exercises (TRE) Wellington
There are a number of practitioners offering TRE in Wellington. However, they don’t all have a strong Google presence. Seeking them out on social media may be more fruitful. TRE is super effective but still relatively unknown, so the provision of this therapy has a long way to go before it is even remotely well known
The great thing about trauma release exercises is that you don’t necessarily need to go to a class or expert to learn how to do them; there are several Youtube videos that can teach you how to do these exercises in the comfort of your own home. There are also online courses you can study.
Conclusion
There are obvious challenges, as we have seen. It is possible that by mixing and matching some online options and some of the more available local options (like our Brainwave Entrainment Machines #blatantplug) you could throw together a protocol that will work better than NLP alone. So don’t despair. Like anything else in life, improving our happiness and mental health does generally yield to some persistence, determination and a can-do attitude.
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