Benedicte Long

Benedicte works with adults from age 16, but also occasionally with children from age 11, offering both short-term and long-term therapy. She uses an integrative approach combining hypnotherapy with CBT, psychodynamic therapy, positive psychotherapy, EMDR and mindfulness, depending on the problem, the person and the stage of the therapy. She is offering therapy in both English and French.

About the treatments

Hypnotherapy uses trance to allow the mind and body to achieve a state of deep relaxation.  Whilst in this relaxed state, the mind can let go of anxieties and fear, allowing the conscious and the unconscious mind to work in harmony. It empowers people to discover and develop their strengths.

Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) is a process where unhealthy and healthy beliefs are identified, disputed and weakened or strengthened. This process continues through the application of the relevant homework assignment.

Mindfulness is an integrative, mind-body based approach. It educates and empowers people to change the way they think and feel about their experiences, in particular stressful experiences. The process involves paying attention to thoughts and feelings, becoming more aware of them and more detached, and therefore improving one’s ability to manage them.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a psychotherapy that enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing or traumatic life experiences. PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) may present as flashbacks or nightmares, and are thought to occur because the mind was simply too overwhelmed during the event to process what was going on. This therapy is based on the idea that negative thoughts, feelings, and behaviours are the result of unprocessed memories. Using the detailed protocols and procedures learned in EMDR therapy training sessions, clinicians help clients activate their natural healing processes. While it isn’t possible to erase these memories, the process of EMDR can alter the way these traumatic memories are stored within the brain, making them easier to manage.

Psychodynamic therapy is a talking therapy. This means that it is based on the concept that talking about problems can help people learn and develop the skills they need to address them.

It is an approach that embraces the multifaceted aspects of an individual’s life. It strives to help people understand the sometimes unknown or unconscious motivations behind difficult feelings and behaviours.

Positive psychotherapy focuses on strengths instead of weaknesses, building the good in life instead of repairing the bad, and taking the lives of average people up to “great” instead of focusing solely on moving those who are struggling up to “normal”.

“I am passionate about human nature and working prossees.  I believe that the more we understand how and why we do things, we think and we communicate, the more our lives can evolve to become more fulfilling.  Some parts of us might have been harm by unhappy experiences in our lives.  When we have healed them, we can become whole again allowing us to become who we really are”.

Areas of expertise

Benedicte is experienced in a wide range of issues, and has particular expertise in the following areas:

• Anxiety
• Stress
• Trauma, PTSD
• Depression
• Addiction and substance misuse
• ADHD
• High potential
• Pain management

Qualifications and experience

I am a qualified counsellor (CLER) and clinical hypnotherapist (LCCH) and a member of the British Society of Clinical Hypnotherapy (BSCH).  I am also a fully trained Mindfulness teacher (MBSR, MBCT, MBPM and trauma sensitive mindfulness) and have also completed various training in CBT, EMDR, ACT and addictions (CHU Paul Brousse).

After completing a Master’s degree in European Law specialising in ethics and humanitarian law, I worked for a few years in a law firm.  I then started a counselling course and specialised in addiction and ran for 6 years a charity for drug prevention and counselling in addiction, particularly with teenagers. I then worked for the NHS as a secondary care stop smoking advisor for 8 years.

I was born in France and lived in 5 different countries, amongst which 25 years in the UK.  My international culture and various work experience gave me in insight into our differences but especially into our common humanity.  It allows me to adapt to each individual, their back ground, cultures and problematics.

In addition to running private clinics for Anchor Counselling in Southfields, London, I volunteer with a homeless charity.  I also translate mindfulness books and am an interpreter (French/English) for mindfulness training courses.

Locations

Benedicte works as a counsellor, a hypnotherapist and psychotherapist at the following Anchor location:

• Anchor House, Southfields, SW19 6NX: Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays