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March 17, 2013

General Adaptation Syndrome: some initial thoughts by David Kraft.

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: David Kraft Hypnosis, General Adaptation Syndrome, Hypnosis London, London Hypnotherapy, London Psychotherapy, Top Psychotherapist London — Dr David Kraft @ 5:47 pm

I thought that I might tackle this topic by talking

about the role of the endocrine system in stress. I would also like to point out why it is important to differentiate between fear responses and long-term fear. This is also the case for short term stressors and the long term variety.

It appears that fear is controlled by the amygdala. When we are aroused by strong feelings, or when we are alerted, there is a pattern of physiological responses. This is often, as Tina suggested, referred to as a fight or flight response (Canon, 1932). The body is aroused and motivated via the sympathetic nervous system and the endocrine system. At this time our heart rate and blood pressure increase, breathing gets faster and blood is diverted to the muscles ready for action. As Tina said, the sympathetic nervous system actively increases while the parasympathetic nervous system reduces activity.

But, the amygdala is accessed very quickly. It by-passes, if you like, other mechanisms that might be used to evaluate the validity of this potential threat. LeDoux (1998) called it the ‘quick and dirty route’. The autonomic reactions and hormonal secretions happen unconsciously. So, in short, our initial reaction to a stimuli works on an emotional plane rather than a cognitive one. We are conditioned to fear from previous experience. This is classical conditioning. We are particularly responsive to auditory stimuli and gustatory stimuli. This is why it is very difficult to threat phobic anxiety using some of the strategies that CBT practitioners use. Techniques such as cognitive restructuring and education will have little effect until you break the pattern of behaviour. Evans and Coman (2003) talk about the fear of the fear, and often it is the anticipation of a series of events that make a phobic reaction so devastating for the individual concerned.

So, for psychotherapists, it is particularly helpful to break patterns of behaviour. This can be used in conjunction with systematic desensitization. A biological explanation for this is as follows. If we re-evaluate and change the emotional response to certain situations we send outputs to many brain regions including the lateral hypothalamus and the amygdala. In fact it is the ventromedial prefrontal cortex that does his. It receives information about the environment, it performs a range of behaviours and physiological responses and is involved in inhibiting emotional responses to certain situations. In short, this part of the brain is associated with the control of planned behaviour.

As the GAS theory suggests, there are types of stress. GAS theory divides them into three—Alarm Reaction, Resistance and Exhaustion. Most text books of the Biomedical model talk about two: acute chronic stress, which is short-lived, and chronic stress which is ongoing. When stress continues an initial alarm reaction has passed and individuals adapt to high arousal, as the body tries to defend itself (Selye, 1956). Later, we become exhausted and this is when damage is likely to occur. As a result, we become depressed or anxious, and this may have an effect on our autoimmune system.

Criticisms to this theory are as follows:

1 It assumes a uniform and non specific physiological response
2 It does not take into consideration Eustress (a positive form which engages individuals in the work place) Le Fevre, Matheny & Kolt, 2003).
3 Psychological factors are not analyzed in the studies—eg individual differences in personality, perception
4 More attention need to be paid to psychosocial components

With regard to point 3 above, ones perception of any stress is at the heart of whether it causes stress and anxiety o not. Lazarus and Folkman (1984) suggested that in the primary stages of stress we regard the stimuli as (1) a challenge, (2) a threat or (3) something can cause dame. This is the transactional model. Think of a situation as a challenge can be a useful technique for clinicians.

As a therapist and someone interested in the psychoneuroimmunology, I am ken to use systematic desensitization and re-framing in order to reduce learn term stress.

David Kraft

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April 26, 2012

Existential Psychotherapy

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: Brisitish Society of Clinical and Academic Hypnosis Kraft, British Society of Clinical and Academic Hypnosis London Psychotherapy, BSCAH David Kraft, BSCAh Existential Psychotherapist, BSCAH Kraft, BSCAH London Hypnotherapy UK, BSCAH London Psychotherapy, BSCAH Top Psychotherapist, Existential Psychotherapy London, Hypnotherapy London age 1, London Psychotherapy, London Psychotherapy Page 1, Psychotherapist London, Psychotherapy David Kraft, Psychotherapy London, Top Psychotherapist London — Dr David Kraft @ 7:28 pm

Dear Sir

I read ‘Either/Or’ and various Kierkegaard when I was at school and got really into it. Oli and I used to rush to the library after our philosophy class in order to look up some of the theories that our teacher had talked about. I also read Nietzsche too. What I found fascinating is that many of us live in society and are bound by societies rules and modes of action. I began to challenge these rules and to think more liberally about rules and laws. I realized very early that living a purely hedonistic or anarchic life would only cause me problems. I found that becoming aware of your personal freedom, one only realizes what one can’t do. However, I have lived my life challenging perceptions which are just accepted by some people. Indeed, there seems to be a collective conscious book of laws that even bridges across from culture to culture. I challenge these.

The thought that humans are basically alone in the world is very negative. And, I don’t agree. Existential therapists feel that it is are connection with others that makes are lives bearable. So, we are not alone. Existential therapist would disagree with me there, and say that the search for meaning and contentment must come from inside rather than from others. I disagree with this fundamentally. However. in Albert Camus’ ‘L’Etranger’, the protagonist (hero/anti-hero) does reject his pre-existing theories on human existence and morality, and invents his own, subjective modus vivendi.

Subjectivity is at the heart of this philosophy. The concept of the ‘good life’ is something that I have had in the back of my mind since I learnt about this philosophy at school. It means that one is prepared and has the courage to lead one’s own life and take responsibility for the consequences. One creates meanings for one’s self. By creating and asking questions; by building and enjoying one’s own-crafted adventure, one is happy in fulfilling one’s own personalized potential.

During existential therapy, clients are encouraged to feel that their lives our coincidental and attention is focussed on the present. One begins to have a more dissociative idea about one choices in life, and one becomes freer to make choices. By accepting that one has no destiny, the idea is that one may become more accepting about life and the freedom of choice.

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May 16, 2011

Throw out the cravings with the cigarettes. Dr David Kraft at the Royal Society of Medicine.

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On 6th of June Dr David Kraft will be giving a presentation on his approach to smoking cessation. Smoking has a deleterious effect on nearly every organ in the body. Dr Kraft has spent a considerable time helping many people give up smoking; many individuals that have given up smoking say that they feel the immediate effects of being a non smoker. David has had a considerable success helping people to give up smoking and many have given up in one session. The smoking cessation programme is a complete abstinence programme. It is important that clients work together with the therapist and make a verbal contract that they will never smoke a cigarette again. The treatment is a powerful one. It reduces or, in some cases, eliminates cravings, and the use of aversion is a particularly helpful strategy. Dr Kraft also uses a split screen imagery approach which encourages clients to choose the healthy option, and to give up smoking.

David Kraft is a fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine and a member of the Hypnosis and Psychosomatic Medicine Section. He is also a member of the British Society of Clinical and Academic Hypnosis (BSCAH). David has a diploma and an advanced diploma in clinical hypnosis and a diploma in clinical psychology. He has published several articles in the field of hypnosis and integrated psychotherapy in both international and national journals. David runs a successful practice in Harley Street.

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August 9, 2010

Hypnotherapist London. News Feed.

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: Cheap Hypnotherapist, Cheap Hypnotherapy, Dr David Kraft Hypnotherapy, Freud London, Freud Psychotherapy London, Freudian Psychotherapist London, hypnotherapist london, Integrative Psychotherapy London, London Fruedian Psychotherapist, london hypnotherapist, London Hypnotherapy Cenre, Looking for a Freudian Psychotherapist, Psychotherapist London, Psychotherapy Centre London, Psychotheray Freud London, top hypnotherapist london, Top Psychotherapist London — Dr David Kraft @ 4:20 pm

Sessions are now available at a 20% discount. If you book a session between now and 30th of August, you can have your first session at the reduced rate. Rather than £160; you can book an appointment with a top Harley Street specialist for £144.

Please quote the following reference for the booking:

1471

For all appointments, call 0207 467 8564.

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