Human Givens Therapy - Solution Focused
Counselling
What are
the human givens?
We all have basic physical and
emotional needs such as the need for:
Attention – to give and
receive
Love and security
Autonomy – to feel in
control of our life
Self-esteem – which
arises from competence
Meaning and purpose in our
life
Making a contribution to the
wider community
Nature also gave
us the resources to help us meet
such needs including:
Memory
Imagination
Problem solving
abilities
Self-awareness
A range of
different thinking styles to use
in various changing situations
The mind and
body as an integrated system
It is the combination of these
needs and resources, which are built into our biology,
that make up the human givens. When emotional needs
are not met, or when our resources are used incorrectly,
we suffer considerable distress, along with those
around us.
Human Givens Therapy encompasses
all effective approaches to helping people. It draws
on findings from psychology and neurobiology about
how people really function, and research studies
that have established which counselling techniques
are most effective.
This approach looks holistically
at the person from a point of view of what’s
missing in the lives. It does not however attempt
to dredge up real or imagined miserable memories
from the past, since research shows this tends to
confuse and upset vulnerable people. Neither does
it deal in time wasting, prolonged so-called voyages
of ‘self-discovery’. Instead, it offers
practical help that deals with mental and emotional
distress in the here and now.
Therapy focuses on helping clients
identify unmet emotional needs and empowering them
to meet those needs by activating their own resources
in new ways. To do this it uses a variety of up-to-date
and proven techniques aimed at problem solving.
Therapy is unique to each individual
because each individual’s life circumstances
are different.
Reduce
Anxiety This can take the form of generalised
anxiety, panic attacks, fears, phobias,
lack of confidence or overwhelming stress
and pressure.
Break the cycle
of depression Even chronic depression can often
be lifted quickly, and the meaning, purpose,
joy and happiness returned to life.
Resolve
trauma Human givens therapists can treat
post traumatic stress disorders effectively
and quickly.
Stop addictive
behaviour All forms of addiction or unwanted
habits can be helped – alcohol, drugs,
smoking, gambling, eating disorders, nail
biting – providing the person wants
to make the effort to stop.
Manager anger Anger disorders damage health,
increase the likelihood of an early death
and cause enormous misery among relatives,
colleagues and innocent bystanders.
Bereavement Grieving after the loss of a loved
one is always painful. Some people get ‘stuck’
in the process and need help to reinvest
in life again.
Human Givens Therapy
Resolving emotional distress
Depression, anxiety, anger, stress,
addictions and other mental health problems are
on the increase. Strong emotions such as these
can disrupt people’s lives. They may lead
on to panic attacks, fears and phobias, low self
esteem and confidence in one’s abilities
to lead a normal life. Once on the downward spiral,
it may seem to you that there is no way out. But
there is –
Your therapist will:
Make sure you feel better
after each consultation
Help you think about your
problems in new and more empowering ways
Help you to build on your
own resources
Increase your self confidence
Give information and advice
as needed
Not dwell unduly on the past
Understand depression and
how to lift it
Give immediate help with
panic attacks, fears and trauma
