Psychology Services

Psychology is the study of the mind and its behaviour. Its aim is to discover all aspects of the human experience – from neuro functions of the brain to the actions of collective groups, from early infant development through to the degeneration of old age.

It is our understanding of all conceivable environments from, scientific investigation to mental health care professions that, “the understanding of behaviour” is the pursuit of our own physical, mental and social intelligence.

Here at Trancescend Therapy Services our aim is to empower the understanding of a client's behaviour through simple and easy to understand psychological theory.

Trancescend Therapy Services supports our clients understanding of their own behaviour in relation to their environment, in order to empower insight, change and growth.

Through a broad knowledge and range of experience and Applied Psychology in the fields of Neuro Science, Developmental, Educational, Positive and Social Psychologies. Rob Rutherford has been able to integrate the use of psychological methods and research, to bolster a client’s awareness.

What do I need to know about the different areas and traditions of psychology?

Developmental and behavioural Psychology - focuses on the development of the child. Here at Trancescend Therapy Services we concentrate on how these early experiences can impact on our psychological wellbeing and ability. From our early experiences of care to what we believe we can accomplish. Developmental psychology explores how the senses we develop match, our social world and how behaviourally we have become conditioned to these social worlds in different ways.

Our early experiences in life are not only interesting because we want to understand how we have become who we are, but also interesting because, developmental theories can affect how children our viewed and, how or what we express through our environment. In turn this can be highly empowering for the client, as it can help to uncover important felt experiences that feed our knowledge of who we are and our abilities. It is also an important part of therapy as it allows the formulation of a coherent narrative of past and present experiences, that can be understood from different perspectives, the client may not be already aware of.

How does this impact on you?

Development from early childhood into adulthood is not merely a passive event. We develop as active agents, that depend on how others view us and how we view our selves; or more broadly, (our confidence and ongoing self-esteem). The beliefs we uphold about an experience, enable us, to understand who we are and how to react or conduct ourselves in similar social situations.

Social psychology – has been an important contribution to our understanding of ourselves and others in today's world. It focuses not only on particular areas of interaction, such as the family, work, crowds and different groups, as well as, - investigating our perceptions of ourselves within these groups, from 2 simplified stand points.

• Our selves as individuals – and ourselves belonging to different groups.
• Our actions within society that produce particular affects – and how society can cause particular effects on the individual.

By uncovering these concepts and how the client regards and views themselves within these concepts and, through the power, individuals and groups have over one another. We are able to build a picture of how these happenings fix or supress beliefs about the self in positive and negative ways, leading to psychological problems with health. This intern, can create empowerment for the client and uncover directions in which to make change.

Neuropsychology - focuses its investigation on the impact of brain disfunction on the cognitive behavioural and emotional parts of the brain. Integrated into a comprehensive and individualised therapy, neuro science, uncovers a more comprehensive need to focus interventions in conjunction with each other.

By studying how the brain makes connections and rewards physical mental and social activities, we are able to work using more inclusive techniques to improve not only our psychological health but also, improve the brains functions to maintain these effects.

Within the area of mental health and Neuropsychology, we have been able to focus our attentions to the reward systems and processes the brain uses. More importantly, we can start to understand how our own psychological and social circumstances condition and impact our brains function.

Simply broken down, we are in a continual state of tention and relaxation between tasks. As these demands increase, so does the strain that is placed on our nervous systems. As we complete tasks, we generally gain approval from our surroundings which then in turn, feeds positive feelings about self and a desire to keep doing them; through the release of feel good, neuro chemicals.

Problems can arise firstly as, too many demands are placed on us. We start to feel that we are not competent or overwhelmed and do not receive the reward for them, hence we don’t release chemicals to say we have done the job well. We therefore do not continue to experience the task as rewarded and anxiety or tension increases, (Phobias or low moods).

Secondly our brain associates any similar activity to the stress and triggers our flight and fight system in condition to this experience. These experiences can be associated to social, education, and in fact, to anything we experience in life.

Thirdly we can use quick fixes to lower anxiety such as substance misuse, gambling or over exercise, becoming withdrawn or extroversion to compensate for not being able to lower this increasing anxiety. This imbalance leads to problems maintaining stability in our environments or a feeling we need to avoid these negative experiences. Neuropsychology understands how these experiences change chemical releases and brain function.

Therapies can utilise medication that helps to change biological process whilst, changing a person's behaviours alongside talk and cognitive hypnotherapeutic interventions. Traditions such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, can help to change the way a person views themselves in the world and how they act, within it.

Please see Counselling traditions and Integrative Counselling techniques.