Talking therapies: All in the mind?

Anxiety, panic attacks, traumatic events… these things are never easy to deal with, and for some people the prospect of taking drugs to treat their symptoms is far more inviting than talking about their innermost thoughts. But some believe that talking therapies can actually be more helpful than medication. So what exactly do these therapies involve, and how do they work?

Talking therapies are all about going over your thoughts with someone who will listen to you. There are many different kinds of talking therapies: sometimes the therapist will aim to help rid you of your negative thoughts, and sometimes it’s simply about lending an ear. Counselling helps you find ways to tackle your feelings about current problems, while cognitive behavioural therapy aims to help you change your negative patterns of thought or behaviour. Many people find it easier to talk to a stranger about their problems, and this kind of therapy can benefit anyone – you certainly don’t have to have a diagnosis of mental illness to feel the effects.

But are talking therapies a realistic alternative to drugs? How do they affect the brain? Join us to find out more about how talking therapies work and what the benefits can be. You’ll hear from a panel of experts and get the chance to ask your own questions too.

Event organised by:
The European Dana Alliance for the Brain and the British Neuroscience Association

Speakers:

Chris Brewin, clinical psychologist, University College London
Brid Hendron, dentist and hypnotherapist, London
Hanno Koppel, Director, Dover Counselling Centre

Chairman:
Adam Zeman, cognitive and behavioural neurologist, Exeter University