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At The Craigie Partnership, we frequently see clients with mental health or coaching concerns who may have been diagnosed with or suspect they might have ADHD.  This specialist condition requires a formal diagnosis from a psychiatrist or a specially trained ADHD health specialist. Unfortunately, we cannot offer a formal diagnosis of ADHD or other neurodevelopmental conditions in our practice.  However, we are an ADHD-friendly team and in this article we have collected a range of resources to help support adults looking for help with living with ADHD or who want to know more about it (including advice on how to get a diagnosis). Below, we cover the following topics: 1. What is ADHD and how common is it? 2. How do I get a formal assessment? 3. Understanding Inattention, Hyperactivity, and Impulsivity 4. What might be some of the positive aspects of ADHD? 5. Can I do a self-assessment? 6. BBC Panorama investigation on ADHD clinics (2023) 7. What does The Craigie Partnership offer? 8. Recommended resources   1. What is ADHD and how common is it? ADHD is short for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.  In the UK, the prevalence of ADHD in adults is estimated at 3-4%, with a male-to-female ratio of approximately 3:1* ADHD is classified as a neurodevelopmental condition and is part of the neurodiversity spectrum.  Every person is unique and will have different experiences; not all symptoms mean you have ADHD.  Common features may include restlessness, difficulty with attention and concentration, or acting on impulse.  At work, some people report issues with time management and organization, following instructions, or maintaining focus to complete tasks.  Symptoms may vary between individuals, with some showing more signs of inattention and others showing more signs of hyperactivity or impulsivity, or a combination of both.  Other factors like personality type and life experiences can also play a role. [*Source https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder/ ].   2. How do I get a formal assessment? The first step is to speak to your GP.  Note that your GP cannot formally diagnose ADHD. They will ask questions about your symptoms, their duration, and their impact on your daily life (work and/or relationships).  They might also assess risk factors such as driving. Unfortunately, waiting lists for formal assessments in the NHS can be long, often several years.  Nevertheless, if you believe you have symptoms impacting your life, speak to your GP and go prepared with relevant information.  The ADHD Foundation has produced an excellent PDF booklet ( Takeda ADHD in Adults - V5.pdf ) advising on how to prepare for your GP meeting, including listing reasons you think you might have ADHD and the impact on your life.  Refer to the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale  (ASRS) for more information on self-assessment (see section 5 below).    3. Understanding Inattention, Hyperactivity, and Impulsivity In a formal assessment, a psychiatrist or specialist will assess you against 18 symptoms, grouped into 9 areas of Inattention and 9 areas of Hyperactive or Impulsive behaviour. Here is a brief overview (remember, this is not a diagnosis): -  Inattention : Frequently failing to give full attention, making mistakes, struggling with longer tasks (e.g. lectures), regularly failing to finish tasks, struggling to manage time or meet deadlines, avoiding tasks requiring mental effort, being easily distracted, and forgetting things (e.g., paying bills). - Hyperactivity and Impulsivity : Feeling restless or fidgety, struggling to stay seated, being unable to do tasks quietly, feeling always "on the go," struggling to be still for extended periods (e.g., waiting in a queue), speaking excessively, interrupting others, and not giving others space to speak. Symptoms need to be present for at least 6 months , typically developing during childhood, at a higher level than most adults, and causing problems in life (relationships, work, etc.).  It's possible to be predominantly Inattentive, Hyperactive, or a Combined type.   4. What might be some of the positive aspects of ADHD? ADHD doesn't define who you are; everyone is unique (with or without ADHD).  If you've been living with ADHD, you've likely developed resilience and important coping skills.  Achievements should not be minimized, as living with ADHD can be challenging.  Many people with ADHD can live rich, fulfilling lives, just as many with undiagnosed dyslexia have achieved great things. The ADHD Foundation describes positives like this: "Hyperactivity can be viewed as being energetic, as having drive and enthusiasm.  Impulsivity can be viewed as decisiveness—willing to take a chance, seize an opportunity.  Inattention and mind wandering can be seen as having an imaginative mind, seeking ideas, inspiration, new experiences, and curiosity." Learning to embrace who we are, recognizing strengths and areas for development, is the first step towards moving forward positively with ADHD.   5. Can I do a Self-Assessment? While waiting for a formal assessment can be frustrating, it is essential not to self-diagnose without a trained professional.  Other conditions can appear similar to ADHD, and a formal diagnosis is crucial before any medical intervention.  ADHD can also coexist with other conditions, needing thorough exploration if you've been having difficulties. The Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS)  is a Self-Assessment tool frequently used to help as an initial indicator.  The ASRS won't definitively say if you have ADHD but may help you decide if you want a formal assessment and understand symptoms your GP might want to know more about.  The ASRS is a short questionnaire with 18 questions, asking you to rate how often you experience specific problems.  If you are working with one of our psychologists at the Craigie Partnership, we can assist you in understanding the ASRS and guide you through it during a session.   6. BBC Panorama investigation on ADHD clinics (2023) As professionals, we understand the frustration of long waiting times for formal assessments.  It can be tempting to seek alternative ways, including private clinics or online information.  While some private clinics offer excellent services, caution is also needed. In 2023, a BBC Panorama investigation looked into private ADHD clinics, sending an undercover reporter to three private clinics and an NHS assessment.  All three private clinics wrongly diagnosed the reporter with ADHD, offering prescription drugs.  The NHS correctly identified that he did not have ADHD. Read more: ADHD: Private clinics exposed by BBC undercover investigation - BBC News . We highlight this investigation to inform readers, not to scare them, but rather to help clients make informed choices impacting their lives and loved ones.  The Scottish ADHD Coalition released an official statement  in response to the BBC investigation, which helps give a balanced view. If you are looking for a private ADHD assessment, we advise that you carefully read the information provided, verifying if you are being offered an official assessment and diagnosis, and that the service provided is offered by suitably trained and qualified experts in the field.   7. What does The Craigie Partnership offer? Our team of highly experienced and qualified Psychologists, Therapists and Coaches help individuals through all walks of life, whether it’s dealing with mental health issues, career coaching or counselling.  As trained professionals, we use a blend of evidence-based, client-centred approaches to help people in life, including living with different conditions.  As previously mentioned, we cannot diagnose ADHD, but we can help individuals looking to manage their well-being and get the most out of life.  This includes helping with planning and organising, exercise, sleep, healthy habits, managing stress, improving communication and signposting to sources of helpful information.  We offer coaching and talking therapies such as CBT or ACT and tailor all approaches to individual needs.  We can also help you understand the ASRS self-assessment tool. Contact | Craigie Partnership   8. Resources We have gathered a list of resources to help you learn more about ADHD in adults for yourself or a loved one. Takeda ADHD in Adults - V5.pdf ( adhdfoundation.org.uk )   An excellent PDF full of useful information, including a short 15 question self-assessment. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) - NHS ( www.nhs.uk ) ADHD Foundation: ADHD Foundation Scottish ADHD Coalition - The Scottish ADHD Coalition   Neurodiversity resources for education, employment, students, employers and individuals: https://www.neurodiversityhub.org/resources Information and Resources from Education Scotland: Neurodiversity | Resources | Education Scotland

The Road Less Travelled  ‘Life is difficult’.  These were the opening words to a multi-million selling book in the 90s called The Road Less Travelled  by an American psychiatrist, Scott Peck.   This author painted a very authentic view of life in which we will all, at times, be faced with problems of varying severity.  Peck was insightful in stating that problems can offer us the opportunity to feel fulfilled and to experience growth.  However, he was accurate in stating that many people don’t take this opportunity; instead, their default position is to indulge in denial and avoidance.  Peck went on to assert that in avoiding problems people can end up experiencing more stress than that caused by their problems in the first place.   Peck captured his claim with these words,   This tendency to avoid problems and the emotional suffering inherent in them is the primary basis of all human mental illness. Some of us will go to quite extraordinary lengths to avoid our problems and the suffering they cause. . . . building the most elaborate fantasies in which to live, sometimes to the exclusion of reality.   The price for embracing avoidance when confronted with problems rather than trying to solve them is severe and Peck’s words are unambiguous,   But the substitute itself ultimately becomes more painful than the legitimate suffering it was designed to avoid.   It seems really quite self-defeating, but in choosing to avoid problems rather than tackle them we invite more suffering upon us.  Peck quoted Carl Jung to reinforce his theme – Jung stated that ‘neurosis is always a substitute for legitimate suffering.’  So, our tendency to choose avoidance can make us unwell.   So, how did Peck see a way forward?  He made two very basic recommendations. The first is the acceptance that life will always be characterised by occasional problems and the second is the need to ‘accept responsibility for a problem before we can solve it.’  Peck believed that many people complain of their problems, ‘as if life should be easy.’  Rather bluntly he stated that,   Life is a series of problems. Do we want to moan about them or solve them? Do we want to teach our children to solve them?   But some people seem unable to accept that life is a series of problems. They look through a distorted lens in which they assume that they should be inherently happy and if they’re not then life is unfair.  This is an inauthentic way of living.   The reluctance by many people to accept their own responsibility in dealing with problems only adds to their unhappiness. Peck noted that,   many, so many people seek to avoid the pain of their problems by saying to themselves – ‘This problem was caused me by other people, or by social circumstances beyond my control, and therefore it is up to other people or society to solve this problem for me.'   Peck was emphasising that a common disposition of people when confronted with problems is to (a) engage in a blame narrative and (b) to assume that they are a ‘victim of circumstances.’ This is a toxic combination that leads to increased suffering and stress.   Scott Peck was adamant that confronting our problems was the only real sensible option, but it calls for personal courage. Here are his key propositions.   When we avoid the legitimate suffering that results from dealing with problems, we also avoid the growth that problems demand from us. Problems call forth our courage and our wisdom; indeed, they create our courage and wisdom. It is in this whole process of meeting and solving problems that life has its meaning.   Peck emphasised the key opportunity that problems can offer us quoting Benjamin Franklin – ‘ those things that hurt, instruct.’ He followed this quotation with a challenging conclusion,   It is for this reason that wise people learn not to dread problems but actually to welcome problems and actually to welcome the pain of problems.  For Peck, problems are the solution to our problems. Written by Dr Alistair McBeath , Chartered Psychologist and Accredited Counsellor & Psychotherapist at the Craigie Partnership.

In this article, we are pleased to welcome a guest writer—Amzu Parpia. Amzu is a Registered Dietitian specialising in Mental Health, a member of the British Dietetic Association (BDA), and also registered with BUPA. She writes about our relationship with food and introduces the concept of Mindful Eating. She also highlights useful information if you are seeking a qualified Dietitian who specialises in Mental Health. Food Morality Have you ever wondered “Why do I eat what I do?” Sometimes life experiences and the media, which is flooded with conflicting advice, can cause us to lose our natural connection with our body.  Diet culture has a crucial influence on our food values, beliefs and behaviours as well as our body image and can have important consequences for physical and mental health and wellbeing.  Our relationship with food can easily become a victim of marketing, including public health messages which are over-generalised and can have a tendency to ‘moralize’ food. This is when we start assigning guilt to some foods and then other foods have a health halo.  The health halo effect is labelling foods as ‘good’, even when there is little or no evidence to support this claim.  For example “all-natural” may mean a food is free of artificial colours and flavours, but this doesn’t necessarily mean a food is nutritionally dense or has health benefits.   However, we then tend to overconsume these foods, believing them to be "good." This can form a fear-based mindset around food, which can trigger overeating, binge eating, or food restrictions. By moralizing food in this way, we pressurise ourselves to have the “perfect” way of eating which is linked to stress, feelings of failure, inflicting guilt and shame.  It also promotes ‘all and nothing’ thinking which is unhelpful.  Perhaps this might sound familiar - “I have been bad all day with my food choices so what is the point now?  Let me just eat what I want!”   Food restriction can then lead to craving for avoided foods and over-eating, as part of a vicious cycle. Unless you have an intolerance or medical reason for avoiding certain foods, it’s not helpful to label food as “ good ” or “ bad. ”   Mindful Eating Mindful eating and Intuitive Eating can help improve our relationship with foods in different ways. Mindful eating is an approach to food that focuses on being present and fully engaged with your food, noticing the colours, smells, textures, flavours, and even the sounds of your food. It is about enjoying and appreciating food.  Eating mindfully may also help regulate appetite, aid digestion and make eating an enjoyable and pleasurable experience. Although some people may find that eating more mindfully leads to weight-loss, doing so with the expectation or intention to lose weight can be counterproductive.   You can read more about mindful eating on British Dietetic Association website Mindful Eating - British Dietetic Association (BDA) . A specialised dietitian can support you to practice mindful eating to foster a health-promoting environment to help how we think and feel about food and our bodies.   What is a registered dietitian? A registered Dietitian can support you navigate through these internal and external messages relating to food.  A dietitian doesn’t offer psychiatric diagnoses like eating disorders.  Rather, a dietitian offers a nutritional assessment and develops a realistic nutrition care plan taking into account the following: psychotropic medication side effects and nutrient interactions risk of co-existing physical health conditions, and relevant biochemical measures (including lipids, glucose, Liver Function Tests, folate, vitamin B12, and vitamin D) behavioural, motivational, social, and financial challenges concurrent addictions and substance use, disability, or cognitive impairment eating behaviours A dietitian can offer education and support in relation to cooking abilities, label reading, food budgeting, meal planning, and using visual aids such as portion sizes.   Training and registration To qualify as a dietitian, we are required to undertake an approved programme at a university. All dietetic programmes are approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and may also apply for accreditation by The British Dietetic Association (BDA).    Successful completion of university courses provides eligibility to apply for registration with the HCPC. It is a legal requirement that anyone who wishes to practise using the title dietitian is on the HCPC register.   Specialising in Mental health To specialise in mental health, a dietitian has to continue professional and personal development in mental health through work experience in the specialist team and training like trauma skills, self-harm, suicide prevention, behaviour change techniques, cognitive behaviour techniques for dietitians and many more.  The 2021 Scottish Government’s national review of eating disorder services recommended: “comprehensive training plan will be developed which will aim to equip the entire healthcare workforce which might see people with eating disorders and their families.”  The recommended training is accredited by the Eating Disorders Education and Training Scotland (EEATS) and training for health professionals by BEAT charity.   How do you know the person you are seeing is qualified? Check on the HCPC register and look for specialist training and experience that the dietitian has exhibited in their background information.  You only need the name and profession to check register. Check the Register and find a registered health and care professional: ( hcpc-uk.org ) .     Amzu Parpia , is a Registered Dietitian and member of the British Dietetic Association (BDA), registered with the HCPC (Health & Care Professions Council), has an MSc in Foods, Nutrition and Dietetics, and is an Accredited Practitioner in Eating Disorders.   You can read more about her professional experience here: Amzu Parpia Amzu Parpia - British Dietetic Association (BDA)

Edinburgh City Centre 2024 Season's Greetings from the Team at the Craigie Partnership The team at the Craigie Partnership would like to wish all our clients, supporters and friends a very happy Christmas and best wishes for 2025. In 2024 we celebrated a milestone birthday of 20 years , offering professional psychology services, including therapy, coaching, counselling, training, psychometrics and more. It has been a joy and a privilege to serve our community and provide access to high quality, compassionate and professional evidence-based support. We welcomed our newest team member, Dr Catherine Bois and said a fond farewell to Samantha Bennett, who leaves us after 7 years, but remains a "friend of the Craigie Partnership." We know that Christmas and holiday times can be a challenge for some, a much needed rest for others, and even business as usual for many. Whether you are celebrating with loved ones, catching up with family or retreating for a time of hibernation, we wish you all a time of rest and recuperation and an excellent 2025.

In an emergency - dial 999 The Craigie Partnership does not offer emergency or crisis services. However, we suggest the following sites: Samaritans The Samaritans is a support organisation available to listen over the phone, via letter, email, or face to face. For people who urgently feel they need someone to talk to. Lines open 24/7 116 123 https://www.samaritans.org Free. NHS 24 A helpline and website to answer questions about your health and offer advice. The website also provides links and contact details for health organisations. For people who need health problems diagnosed and advice on what to do next. Dial 111 or visit https://www.nhs24.scot Free. Support Line This site provides information about and links to support numbers for a wide range of serious problems. For example, information about and support agencies for anorexia, bullying, cancer, debt, exam stress, health, loneliness, pregnancy, and many more. https://www.supportline.org.uk/ Free. Breathing Space A confidential phone and web based service for people in Scotland experiencing low mood, depression or anxiety. Breathing Space specifically, but not exclusively targets young men who are experiencing difficulties and unhappiness in their lives. The focus is to provide skilled assistance at an early stage and prevent problems escalating It supports those living with mental health problems and those experiencing emotional distress, family members, partners and friends who are concerned about their own wellbeing and that of people they care about. 0800 83 85 87 https://breathingspace.scot Free.

This October 2024, the Craigie Partnership celebrated a milestone birthday, as we marked our 20th anniversary of offering professional Psychology Services to help with health, well-being, careers and relationships. Here are some of our highlights of our 20 years: 10 Associates have worked with us as Psychologists, Therapists and Coaches, and we've valued each and every one of them. Since we took on our first Associate Practitioner in 2011, we have given over 8,000 hours of client support, helping people in need and offering a listening ear, support and guidance. Our team has helped clients process trauma, loss and navigate difficult life events. As a team, we adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic by offering online sessions and hybrid working, helping our clients (and practitioners) through some very difficult times. We've supported students and graduates looking for careers in psychology with mentoring, volunteering and friendly chats over coffee. We have helped multiple organisations with Employee Assistance (EAP), psychometrics, leadership development, recruitment and staff training. Our Career Coaching services have helped hundreds of clients with CVs, interview techniques, personality testing, job search and Career Counselling. We have received deeply moving client feedback and testimonials of transformed lives (we love hearing back from clients to hear how they are getting on). You can read some of our favourite comments here: Testimonials ( craigiepartnership.co.uk ) . We finally learned how to use AI to make clipart cakes for our blog... But in all seriousness, it has been a real joy and privilege to provide the highest quality of professional Psychology services to help improve lives across the country. What started in a small boxroom in a tenement flat in Edinburgh, hiring meeting rooms in church halls has turned into a well-established, values-driven team of dedicated professionals, based in the beauty of Edinburgh city centre. With values at our core, we pride ourselves in practising what we preach, ensuring all Practitioners are supported and encouraged in their own professional development and pastoral needs. At times it feels more like an extended family than a workplace. This care is matched by every team member bringing the highest level of professional expertise to each and every client. We are diverse, creative, caring and passionate about helping others. Thank you to all our supporters, clients and friends who have been part of this journey.

Back in 2014, one of our team (Dr Alistair McBeath) wrote a highly popular blog piece on Misophonia. Here is it below: Sounds Bad I recently came across a condition that was completely new to me; it is called misophonia. The word itself literally means ‘hatred of sound’. Now, there are sounds that most of us dislike e.g. nails screeching across a blackboard but misophonia is something much more intense and potentially quite problematic. The term misophonia was first described by American scientists in 2001 and has some very interesting features. Sufferers of misophonia typically experience intense anger and rage towards certain sounds. Chewing and breathing figure very high as ‘trigger sounds’ The closer, emotionally, a person is to the person making the sound – the more intense the reaction tends to be. Typical onset age is around 12 years of age. There is evidence that misophonia can ‘grow’ if untreated to include more sounds and even behaviours associated with certain sounds. From reading misophonia sufferers’ accounts - one puzzling fact emerges. It’s not the sound that is hated but the person making the sound. As one might suspect, there are varying opinions regarding the cause of misophonia and this is reflected in the array of treatment options currently offered. There is one very basic difference in opinion – is misophonia a physiological condition (with hypothesized autonomic nervous system dysfunction) or is it a psychological condition? Among the treatment options currently offered for misophonia are Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), habituation therapy and what’s termed neural “re-patterning” technique. With misophonia being such a recently recognized clinical condition, there are two major consequences – there is little or no information on the incidence rate of the condition and there is scant awareness of the condition amongst clinicians. For more information check out the UK misophonia self-help group. We also found this page helpful: https://soundslikemisophonia.com/. A BBC article from 2017 also explores this topic: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-38842561

March 2024 Are you an HCPC registered Psychologist, looking to join a team of supportive colleagues based in Edinburgh? We have space in our team of self-employed Associates for a qualified Psychologist (HCPC registered) looking for flexible working (can be hybrid or online therapy, daytimes, evenings or weekends). We are a team of 7 psychologists, therapists and coaches.  We are passionate about self-care and offering a highly supportive environment, tailored towards practitioner well-being, to offer the highest quality service to clients.  Whether you are new to private practice or are seeking to join a team after years of solo working, this might be the opportunity for you! The Craigie Partnership (Psychology Services) is 20 years old this year and we have a proven track record of supporting individuals and organisations with well-being and coaching.   You can read more about us here:  https://www.craigiepartnership.co.uk/ For an informal chat, please contact David Craigie on david@craigiepartnership.co.uk. [Unfortunately, we do not currently have student placement availability and are specifically looking for an HCPC registered psychologist at this moment in time]

On behalf of all the team at the Craigie Partnership, we wish all our clients past, present and future a very happy Christmas and best wishes for 2024. As the sun sets on 2023 we thought we would share some of the kind words clients have given in testimonials this year. As practitioners who devote our lives to helping and affirming others, it is a real boost when we receive such words of affirmation. Thank you! What did you find particularly helpful about sessions? "Too much to describe! I attribute my greater ability to fathom a path through the farrago of corporate, domestic and familial pressures singularly to Sheila. Her patience, intelligence, empathy and inspiration make her very rare and very talented." "Being able to speak freely about my situation with no fear of judgement." "Helped me to deal with a very difficult period of depression and anxiety." "I found it helpful that the sessions were so flexible. When I needed to talk about developing situations in my life, I was given the space to talk and received helpful guidance. Whilst David also managed to keep focus on the goals and issues I presented in the first session. David made sure to give me techniques I could take into my daily life from the very beginning. I particularly enjoyed the mind map activity, which allowed me to continuously consider all aspects of my life throughout our sessions. Sessions were professional, yet friendly and informal. I looked forward to them every week." "I always felt like I was really being listened to, and Jenny would make sure that our sessions gave me exactly what I needed." A big thank you to everyone who took the time to write these testimonials. We wish all our readers a joyful and peaceful Christmas and may 2024 bring new adventures, fresh perspectives, renewed hope, and good health in all its forms.

We pride ourselves on building trusting and professional relationships with our clients, be they large organisations or self-funding individuals. Owing to the nature of private practice and client confidentiality, it can be difficult to provide testimonials. However, we are delighted that the following clients have agreed to share their views about our service. Names have been modified to protect anonymity. Alistair combined Psychological Therapy with Career Counselling: "I found it helpful that the sessions were so flexible. When I needed to talk about developing situations in my life, I was given the space to talk and received helpful guidance. Whilst David also managed to keep focus on the goals and issues I presented in the first session. David made sure to give me techniques I could take into my daily life from the very beginning. I particularly enjoyed the mind map activity, which allowed me to continuously consider all aspects of my life throughout our sessions. Sessions were professional, yet friendly and informal. I looked forward to them every week." Kieran came for Anxiety and Stress Management "Natural, professional and about me. There was no rush and time to explore my thinking and reflections which was such a powerful tool for me. Couldn't tell you how often I had "light bulb" moments. It was very interesting because we started out on actions to tackle my anxieties head on and soon moved to in depth conversations about me and why I felt the way I did. We tackled my life rules and challenged where it all came from and where it was going. For me, our discussions and what we recorded were so positive. This was not an overnight success story and needed a lot of work from both of us, but so worth it." Annabelle came for Career Coaching: "David provided a safe space to talk and was a compassionate listener. He offered helpful advice and strategies that helped greatly. I would continue to recommend his services to others." Sean came for therapy: "The sessions were transformative. They allowed me to own and articulate my recovery in an atmosphere of intelligent open enquiry, straightforward practical feedback and warm, empathetic support. I'm amazed at the speed of my journey from desperation to genuine wellbeing - I didn't expect to achieve anything like this, and definitely couldn't have done it without these sessions. Being able to get an initial appointment so quickly was also crucial." John worked with us for Career Counselling: "I found David's explanation and pace spot on and the sessions both affirming and insightful. Also, completely tailored to my needs." Sarah saw us for well-being coaching: “I very much appreciated the professional skill and sensitivity enabling trust to develop. Handouts [were] clear and concise. Having the opportunity to put advice into practice and then reflect upon outcome invaluable. I am aware that the emphasis of your work is towards work situations. There is a huge need for counseling and personal development, not work related, in which you could be of great assistance to others." Helen saw us for career coaching and CV preparation: “CV much improved. Would absolutely recommend this service to others. [You] provide good service tailored to individual needs." Michael saw us for a combination of help with depression and career advice: "Very helpful. The sessions provided me with practical advice and the results were tangible.” Jo asked for some career counselling sessions, and when asked what was particularly helpful, wrote: "Looking at the practical implications of changing career and helping me believe that it was possible to move jobs after 25 years in the same place." Martina came for career counselling and general counselling/therapy "Very friendly and approachable but also more professional than previous places I have attended. A comfortable environment for discussion without the overdose of empathy that can seem condescending..." Gina asked for a CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) assessment "The time and interest and making the session relevant [was helpful]. I felt at ease and the therapist was genuine and really showed he wanted to help." Gordon worked with one of our team for therapy and commented that it was worth more than the price he paid. He also added... "Judy just made the environment feel very safe, like I could say anything and that would be ok, also her ability to pinpoint the problems was amazing, very friendly, comforting and overall very good at her job" Martin came for career coaching and help overcoming worries. Like Gordon, he felt it was worth more than he paid. "I was challenged at a very early stage and made to confront some of my fears preventing me from taking meaningful action towards moving out of my stuckness and confusion. Such as more flexible thinking approach and getting out of my socially phobic comfort zones. I knew I would be challenged and I needed a bit of a push that I couldn't provide entirely myself due to inbuilt psychological resistances." Tina came for stress management "Understood situation, was able to ask questions to help me assess myself to take action going forward. Direct approach which was helpful with understanding and support." Sarah wanted to talk about some stresses she was going through "Being able to talk about my issues and having an unbiased, non-judgemental approach to understanding what is going on for me in my mind. Understanding more on the physiological and psychological effects if stress on emotional well being." Rose came for CV and interview preparation "I found it helpful to review my CV and hear about how to make sure you are only saying positive things that reflect well on you in interview situations." Alex came for help with anxiety and panic attacks "Life-changing isn't a strong enough phrase to describe my experience, I cannot thank the partnership enough." Steven came for low self-esteem and anxiety issues "David was a good sounding board and I learned a lot through listening to him." We ask all our clients to rate us on a 5 point scale. The vast majority has given us full marks, rating our service as "very helpful." One of the reasons we have so many overwhelmingly positive comments about our range of services is that our job as professional psychologists and coaches is to work collaboratively with the client to ensure we work together in a way that is meaningful to the client. If we don't believe that our approach is right for you, we give advice towards finding the right support.

We are delighted to announce the launch of our new website. Our new, simplified layout showcases our amazing team and allows you to access the support you need quickly. You can see more about our Edinburgh Psychology Services for help with CBT, therapy, counselling and psychology support. Our Edinburgh Coaching Services offer help with career counselling, coaching, CVs, interview preparation and psychometric testing. Why not read some of our testimonials here, or find out more about our Vision or the differences between types of practitioners (coaches, psychologists, counsellors etc.)? You can get in touch by our form here.

How do we respond to boastful people? I’m sure we all know one - that person, perhaps a family member, friend or colleague who always seems keen to impress others. Perhaps it’s a regular name drop, a frequent retelling of some “impressive” achievement or yet another example of how clever they are. We all respond to these people in different ways, and often it depends on our energy levels or mood. Two classic responses are to ignore them or to try to find a way to put them down, bringing them down a peg or two with mockery or arguing to prove them wrong. However, while these might bring us temporary relief, it’s possible that this will actually maintain the problem. Low Self-Esteem Many people who regularly boast or constantly try to impress, do so in response to a deep need to be accepted and loved by others. An inner vulnerability and low self-esteem can result in over-compensating behaviour. The logic makes some sense – if I feel unloved or unappreciated, then telling a story of how impressive I am or sharing some personal achievement should result in me getting the praise and affirmation I so deeply long for. When talking to someone who doesn’t know me well, the chances of this happening are higher. I get the buzz of being the centre of attention and being admired. My vulnerable self-esteem gets a temporary reprieve. However, when others mock me or don’t seem impressed, this causes me a problem. My self-esteem takes another hit. This perpetuates the cycle, as I now have a greater need and so will continue to seek affirmation in the way I know best – try harder to impress. Pre-emptive Appreciation What should we do if someone we genuinely care about continues to be, let’s be honest, just plain annoying? Well, firstly, we need to recognise that our negative response to their behaviour is also connected to our own self-esteem. When someone tries to puff themselves up and impress, if we are totally secure in our own identity, then we should be able to remain unaffected. The problem is that if we have hidden our own lights under a bushel, or have had our own achievements overlooked, then another person’s boasting can be hurtful. It is a reminder of how we have made our own sacrifices and our humility in the face of their apparent arrogance results in an emotional response. Our actions then follow on from these emotions. However, a second approach is counter-intuitive. This is to give genuine, pre-emptive praise to the person who normally seeks it out by impressing others. This suggestion can be difficult to stomach, as it feels like we are rewarding bad behaviour. However, as many parents will know, when a child is hungry, their behaviour can deteriorate. To reward bad behaviour with some kind of treat will only reinforce that bad behaviour. However, a good parent will learn to identify the patterns and by ensuring the child doesn’t go hungry in the first place can vastly reduce the bad behaviour. This isn’t rewarding behaviour that we don’t like, as the child hasn’t yet engaged in the negative behaviour designed to find a solution to its deeper need. It is prevention rather than cure. How does this translate to our situation in practice? Well, it means thinking about the person we care about and finding genuine points of praise and validation for them. This isn’t the same as flattery or buttering someone up (that would be giving sweets to a toddler to keep them full). Instead, it is recognising the deeper insecurity (that they are likely to be unaware of) and showing them that they are valued, appreciated and loved for who they are, not what they do. The more you can do this for others, the more their sense of self-worth can grow. They will still occasionally boast and continue in their previous behaviours, but over time, you might find that this need decreases. Good relationships require many more positive affirmations than criticisms to flourish. Redressing this balance by pre-emptive affirmation can help. It also role models to other people the behaviour of genuinely praising others, and this can result in a culture shift. It certainly makes a change from the previous pattern. The final benefit is for ourselves. When we train ourselves to seek out positives in others so that we can genuinely praise them, we rewire our brains to look out for positives. Research into cognitive bias modification is showing promising signs that focusing on positives can have a beneficial effect on our own mental well-being. Article written by David Craigie, Chartered Psychologist and co-founder of the Craigie Partnership (Job title and qualifications written to impress?) ---------- To find out more or book an appointment, email us at info@craigiepartnership.co.uk or call 0131 215 1066 www.edinburghpsychologyservices.co.uk www.edinburghcoachingservices.co.uk