ABOUT

Rob Marks

Anxiety and Depression; these sneaked into my life a few years ago

I didn’t notice them for a while… then I had a panic attack—an utterly confusing and terrifying experience. And then the anxiety got worse and the depression got worse and the panic attacks continued.

How could this happen to me? I was a strong, independent person living a ‘normal’ life; a busy IT freelancer, mortgage, family, facing the same day to day challenges as pretty much everyone else right?

Ok, I’d been through divorce three years earlier, which, along with trying to build new relationships with my young children, had been very painful and challenging. But things seemed to be working out. So why was my head and my body making such a ‘fuss’?!

I decided I needed some help. I found a Human Givens therapist who quickly helped me to calm down. When I was calm she showed me that many of my emotional needs were being met poorly – my sense of security, control, my need to give and receive attention, feeling competent as a father – had all taken a huge knock. Coupled with excessive negative rumination these poorly-met needs were resulting in the depression, anxiety and panic that I was experiencing.

Armed with this knowledge I was able to start feeling better. My therapist showed me how my emotional brain was hijacking my rational one, taught me relaxation techniques, de-traumatised my panic attacks and helped me identify and practice using my own resources.

I started to focus on getting my needs met, setting positive, achievable goals, challenging my negative thoughts, and finding better ways to respond to stress. And I quickly began to feel calmer and more in control, to sleep better and get back on with my life.

I decided to explore opportunities to support others and at the suggestion of my therapist became a listening volunteer with the Samaritans, supporting callers on the phone, by text and face to face. I discovered that it’s a huge privilege to be invited into another person’s confidence and so I went on to train with and graduate with Distinction from the Human Givens Institute.

You can learn more about psychological needs and resources here.

I didn’t notice them for a while… then I had a panic attack—an utterly confusing and terrifying experience. And then the anxiety got worse and the depression got worse and the panic attacks continued.

How could this happen to me? I was a strong, independent person living a ‘normal’ life; a busy IT freelancer, mortgage, family, facing the same day to day challenges as pretty much everyone else right?

Ok, I’d been through divorce three years earlier, which, along with trying to build new relationships with my young children, had been very painful and challenging. But things seemed to be working out. So why was my head and my body making such a ‘fuss’?!

I decided I needed some help. I found a Human Givens therapist who quickly helped me to calm down. When I was calm she showed me that many of my emotional needs were being met poorly – my sense of security, control, my need to give and receive attention, feeling competent as a father – had all taken a huge knock. Coupled with excessive negative rumination these poorly-met needs were resulting in the depression, anxiety and panic that I was experiencing.

Armed with this knowledge I was able to start feeling better. My therapist showed me how my emotional brain was hijacking my rational one, taught me relaxation techniques, de-traumatised my panic attacks and helped me identify and practice using my own resources. With this help I got better.

You can learn more about psychological needs and resources here.

I decided to explore opportunities to support others and at the suggestion of my therapist became a listening volunteer with the Samaritans, supporting callers on the phone, by text and face to face. I discovered that it’s a huge privilege to be invited into another person’s confidence and so I went on to train with and graduate with Distinction from the Human Givens Institute.

I didn’t notice them for a while… then I had a panic attack—an utterly confusing and terrifying experience. And then the anxiety got worse and the depression got worse and the panic attacks continued.

How could this happen to me? I was a strong, independent person living a ‘normal’ life; a busy IT freelancer, mortgage, family, facing the same day to day challenges as pretty much everyone else right?

Ok, I’d been through divorce three years earlier, which, along with trying to build new relationships with my young children, had been very painful and challenging. But things seemed to be working out. So why was my head and my body making such a ‘fuss’?!

I decided I needed some help. I found a Human Givens therapist who quickly helped me to calm down. When I was calm she showed me that many of my emotional needs were being met poorly – my sense of security, control, my need to give and receive attention, feeling competent as a father – had all taken a huge knock. Coupled with excessive negative rumination these poorly-met needs were resulting in the depression, anxiety and panic that I was experiencing.

Armed with this knowledge I was able to start feeling better. My therapist showed me how my emotional brain was hijacking my rational one, taught me relaxation techniques, de-traumatised my panic attacks and helped me identify and practice using my own resources.

I started to focus on getting my needs met, setting positive, achievable goals, challenging my negative thoughts, and finding better ways to respond to stress. And I quickly began to feel calmer and more in control, to sleep better and get back on with my life.

I decided to explore opportunities to support others and at the suggestion of my therapist became a listening volunteer with the Samaritans, supporting callers on the phone, by text and face to face. I discovered that it’s a huge privilege to be invited into another person’s confidence and so I went on to train with and graduate with Distinction from the Human Givens Institute.

You can learn more about psychological needs and resources here.

This accumulation of experiences…

…means I can offer a brief-therapy approach, typically taking six sessions, which means it’s affordable and not unduly time-consuming.

I always aim to help you start feeling better from our very first session. You’ll learn techniques to help you relax, challenge your negative thoughts, and use your imagination in a positive way so that you start to sleep better, feel calmer and quickly regain a sense of control.

We’ll rehearse success so that you leave each session fully equipped to start making positive change and getting back on track.

Clients often tell me they don’t understand why this is happening to them when they have many good things in their lives – a loving partner, friends, a steady job for instance – to be thankful for. But this is far more common than you might think and most people I see say they’re able to make lasting changes after just a few sessions.

You can view my profile – MHGI, HG.Dip.P. – on the Human Givens Therapist Register here and be assured that I work in accordance with the Human Givens Code of Conduct and Ethical Foundations which you can see here. I have full professional indemnity insurance.

You can find out how Human Givens differs from other therapy approaches here.

TAKE THE FIRST STEP

If you’d like to take the first step we can have a no-obligation, no-charge fifteen minute chat on the phone or via email whichever you prefer, just to get to know each other and to help you decide whether you think I’m the right person to help you.

HELPING YOU DISCOVER YOUR CHOICES

LET'S TAKE THE FIRST STEP

CONTACT

07971 528178
rob@robmarks.co.uk
Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex

CONTACT

07971 528178
rob@robmarks.co.uk
Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex

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