Steve Smith
Counselling and CBT in Balham and online
Useful further reading
Websites
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Books​
Introducing Mindfulness - a practical guide: Tessa Watt
A complete programme of simple Mindfulness exercises explained very clearly, simply and briefly.
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The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle.
Don't be put off by the word 'spiritual' - this a powerful account of how we make ourselves suffer and how we can learn to do that less.
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Overcoming Depression: Paul Gilbert. Robinson
A self-help guide using Cognitive Behavioural Techniques - one of the generally very good 'Overcoming'... series that includes titles on anxiety, obessive compulsive behaviour, anger and low self esteem and how to tackle them using simple CBT techniques.
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The Chimp Paradox: Prof Steve Peters
Useful guide to how you can recognise and disable your mind's most self-defeating habits. Steve Peters is most well know as sports psychologist but he has worked in mental health for many years and his advice is based on sound science and huge experience. It's a bit simplistic and tries too hard to make everything fit into the central concept, but it's also the kind of book you can dip into and take from it anything you find helpful.
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How to be an Existentialist (or How to Get Real, Get a Grip and stop making excuses): Gary Cox. Continuum.
Highly readable introduction to the philosophy behind existential counselling.
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The Upward Spiral: Using Neuroscience to Reverse the Course of Depression One Small Change at a Time: Alex Korb.
Highly accessible guide to what the latest neuroscience research tells us about the way our brains work and how we can use that knowledge in simple, practical ways, to make ourselves feel better.
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The Happiness Trap: Russ Harris
Very useful introduction to Acceptance and Committment Therapy (ACT). The central idea is that we waste time and energy trying to avoid difficult feelings at all costs and that this stops us from getting with what really matters to us in life. Using Mindfulness and other similar techniques Russ Harris shows how we can free ourselves from negative cycles that keep us stuck.
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readingagency.org.uk/readingwell
This site offers an extensive list of 'Books on Prescription': self-help books for a wide range of problem, endorsed by health professionals. You can usually find these titles in your local library. There is also a list of 'Mood-Boosting Books' - fiction titles that readers around the country have recommended.
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