Mindcare Counselling Blog

Online psychology clinics could help people cope with a variety of anxiety disorders, Australian experience reveals. The Anxiety Online clinic of the Swinburne University of Technology has been lauded by the  Journal of Medical Internet Research . The eTherapy programs of the clinic are tailored to treat generalised anxiety, panic, obsessive-compulsive, post-traumatic stress and social anxiety disorders.  More than 220 people with an least one mild anxiety symptom – who completed one of the five fully-automated programs over 12 weeks – showed significant improvements on 21 of 25 measures, Swinburne researchers have reported.  Each program consists of 12 modules using text-based and multimedia materials such as audio, video and animated graphics and online activities.  Swinburne National eTherapy Centre Director Associate Professor Britt Klein said that although the findings need to be replicated, the preliminary results were very pleasing.  “Essentially we ...

Researchers at The University of Nottingham are to investigate whether the therapeutic effects of clay modelling could help disturbed teenagers deal with their feelings of anger, anxiety and depression. Academics are teaming up with professionals in the NHS, Nottingham Contemporary art gallery and local artists for the innovative project that will look at the potential benefits that clay could offer to young people struggling with mental health problems. Dr Gary Winship, of the University's School of Education, part of the project team, said: "With its qualities of cold resistance and suitability for moulding, we believe creative play through clay could be an exciting alternative therapy for young people suffering from a range of mental health vulnerabilities. "Anecdotally, it may offer potential therapeutic effects through the cathartic venting of emotions through banging, squashing, bending or breaking the clay." The £25,000, one-year project will focus on young ...

A new   study finds that children who experience abuse or adversities in childhood are at a greater risk of having chronic pain related physical problems as adults. The sample for the study included people living in 10 of the 28 countries participating in the World Health Organization World Mental Health Surveys initiative, according to the report. “The team looked at anxiety disorders and depression in children  and at the following childhood adversities: abuse, neglect, loss of a parent through death or other causes, divorce, parental substance abuse, parental criminal behavior, family violence and being poor. Both anxiety and depression in childhood were associated with three chronic pain conditions in adulthood: osteoarthritis, chronic spinal pain (back or neck), and frequent or severe headache.” Physical abuse in childhood was linked to chronic diseases in adulthood such as heart disease, asthma, diabetes, osteoarthritis, chronic spinal pain and headache.