The Happier Life Project

An Introduction to Somatic Therapy with Alex Bottomley

Somatic therapy operates off the idea that what happens to you in your life is stored not only in your mind, but also in your body. Somatic therapy aims to help release how our body holds on to stress, tension, and trauma; treating the effects of PTSD, trauma and other mental and emotional health issues, through the connection between the mind and the body.
Alex Bottomley is a highly experienced Somatic Therapist who works mainly with women to help them transform trauma and return to body connection. In this episode, which is the first of two episodes with Alex, she explains the basic principles of somatic therapy. Alex also shares her own personal story, about how somatic therapy was life changing for Alex to work through her own trauma and relationship with her body.
To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast
To learn more about somatic therapy and Alex Bottomley: https://www.alexbottomley.com/
 

Everything You Need to Know about CBT with Natalie Englander

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most common and best studied forms of psychotherapy. CBT is a talking therapy that can help you manage your problems by changing the way you think (cognitive) and do (behavioural) to improve how you feel. It’s NHS recommended and prescribed to treat a wide range of mental, emotional and physical health problems, but is most commonly used to treat anxiety disorders and depression.
Natalie Englander is a Principal CBT Therapist and Mindfulness Teacher with over 10 years experience in the practice of CBT. In this episode Natalie breaks down how CBT works, why and how it can be used to treat a wide range of mental and emotional problems, and shares some simple exercises based on the principles of CBT we can all do to help change out thinking and feeling.
 
To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast
To work with Natalie Englander: https://natalieenglander.com/
 

Tackling The Imposter Monster with Sally Heady

Imposter Syndrome is when you believe that you are not as competent as others perceive you to be, often doubting your abilities and feeling like a fraud. It's an internal experience that can effect anyone, but is particularly present in high achievers, who do not believe they deserve their success, or are capable enough to be where they are.
Sally Heady is a Mindset Coach and Cognitive Hypnotherapist who helps her clients move past imposter syndrome so that they can do what they love. Specialising in imposter syndrome, anxiety, fear of public speaking, low confidence and burn-out, in today's episode Sally discusses the differences between your inner critic and imposter syndrome, talks about why so many of us compromise on our hopes and dreams, and shares some useful techniques on how to liberate yourself from 'the imposter monster'.
To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast
To work with Sally Heady and sign up for the Liberate course: https://sallyheady.co.uk/imposter-syndrome/
 

A Beginners Guide to Breathwork with Jamie Clements

Breathwork is a term for various breathing practices in which the conscious control of breathing is said to positively influence a person's mental, emotional, or physical state. Some of the powerful benefits include reduced stress and anxiety, increased energy, pain management, lowering of blood pressure, management of ptsd, trauma and depression, and improvement of mood.
Jamie Clements is a leading ​​breathwork coach and founder of The Breath Space, which offers an accessible way to experience breathwork classes in London and beyond to improve physical, emotional and mental health.
In this episode of The Happier Life Project, Jamie walks host Gabby through how breathwork works, what some of the most common and beneficial exercises are, and where the best place is to start for those new to the practice.
 
To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast
 
To sign up to Jamie's 21 day breatwork course: https://thebreathspace.co.uk/21-days-of-breathwork
 

Let’s Meditate! with Andrew Swiney

Mindfulness meditation is a practice that teaches you to slow down your thoughts, let go of negativity, and calm both your mind and body. It combines meditation with the practice of mindfulness, which can be defined as a mental state that involves being fully focused on "the present" so you can acknowledge and accept your thoughts, feelings, and sensations without judgement.
 
In this episode of The Happier Life Project, host Gabby talks to mindfulness meditation teacher Andrew Swiney, founder of Mynd, who has been practicing meditation for more than 10 years. Andrew explains the science and purpose behind Mindfulness Meditation, dispels the common misconceptions, advises on to make the most out of the practice, and closes the episode with a short, effective Mindfulness Meditation exercise that has immediate positive effects.
 
To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast
 
For more Mindfulness Meditation practices with Andrew: https://www.mynd.uk/

Therapeutic Tarot: Counseling In The Cards with Steve Hounsome

Tarot decks, with their easy-to-understand symbolism, can be useful and cathartic when it comes to healing. As holistic therapies are increasing in popularity, a trend is arising with more people turning to tarot to help support their mental health. While therapeutic tarot is by no means a substitute for medication or working with a professional therapist or counselor, using tarot in an appropriate way can enhance therapy.
In this episode host Gabby talks to Steve Hounsome an Author, Healer, Psychic and Tutor at Tarot Therapy Ltd who offers Tarot and Psychic Readings, working from a healing, personal and spiritual development perspective.
Steve explains how the cards can hold up a mirror to reflect what is happening in his clients life, why he personally doesn’t agree with using the cards for ‘fortune telling’ and dispels a lot of the myths and skepticism surrounding the use of tarot. Steve also talks about how we can all develop our own psychic and intuitive abilities, gives an overview on the 22 Major and 56 Minor Arcana cards, and demonstrates how if we use therapeutic tarot in a safe, objective way it can help us navigate in our response to situations, circumstances and challenges we are facing.

Simple Steps For Rebuilding Self Esteem with Natalie Englander

Self-esteem is how we value and perceive ourselves. It's based on our opinions and beliefs, which can sometimes feel really difficult to change.
Having low self-esteem isn't a mental health problem in itself, but they are closely linked. If lots of factors affect your self-esteem for a period of time, this might lead to mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, social phobia, an eating disorder or substance abuse. So it’s important if we are suffering with our self-esteem we don’t ignore it.
Natalie Englander is a Principal CBT Therapist and Mindfulness Teacher specializing in helping millennial women overcome perfectionism and build self-esteem.In this episode Natalie helps explains to host Gabby why having healthy self-esteem is so important, the most common ways we might experience low self-esteem, and why setting boundaries with others can help us on our quest to building a happier life. Natalie also shares her top 5 ways to tackle low self-esteem and sets some simple homework to help build confidence and feel better about ourselves. 

Release The Stories That Screw Up Your Life with Ernest Holm Svendsen

In the second of this two part conversation with author, trainer and coach Ernest Holm Svendsen, we journey deeper into how to free yourself from your limiting beliefs and let go of your painful stories. Some of those stories and beliefs go as far back as our early childhood, and we may not even realize that our map of reality has been groomed from those around us, to lead us to believe we are not good enough as we are. The good news is that we can shift our perceptions and point of view, through the simple and powerful approach of self enquiry. 
Ernest Holm Svendsen is the bestselling author of ‘How To Live in the Now’ and ‘How to End the Stories that Screw up your life’. He is also a sort after trainer that leads workshops around the world and chairman at the Institute for The Work of Byron Katie. 
To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast
And to find out more about Ernest Holm Svendsen and register for his online course on the work of Byron Katie: https://www.theartofbeinghuman.com

How To Identify and Challenge Limiting Beliefs with Ernest Holm Svendsen

In a world full of challenges, worries and stress, we can limit our own potential and growth if we do not believe in ourselves. That negative voice in our mind that tells us 'we’re not good enough, we’ll never get that promotion, new partner, are too fat, too thin, too ugly'… can override our self belief, and if we do not believe in ourselves, then how can we expect others to?
In the first of a two part conversation with Ernest Holm Svendsen a bestselling author, trainer and a master of ‘The Work’ of self help guru Byron Katie, you will learn how to identify and challenge these pessimistic thoughts. Ernest guides host Gabby through the simple and effective process that will provide immediate positive results, by using the powerful method of self-inquiry.
To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast
And to learn more about Ernest Holm Svendsen and the work of Byron Katie: https://www.theartofbeinghuman.com

Masterclass: Unhooking Yourself from Unhelpful Thoughts with Dr. Russ Harris

We all suffer from negative thoughts and thinking, in fact over 80% of our thoughts are negative. If we pay too much attention to them, they can contribute to problems such as social anxiety, depression, stress, and low self-esteem. And whether these thoughts are true or untrue, we believe them, letting them take over our lives and emotions, making us deeply unhappy.
Dr Russ Harris who is author of the international best-selling self-help book 'The Happiness Trap', a world-renowned trainer of ACT (acceptance and commitment therapy) and consultant for the World Health Organization, believes the key to managing these pesky voices in our heads is to accept them and defuse ourselves from the unhelpful ones.
In this conversation you will learn some simple strategies on how to do this, whilst being guided by Dr Russ through a couple of the exercises to try out.
 
To download the free My Possible Self App and Dr Russ’s ‘Dropping Anchor’ exercises: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast
And to learn more about The Happiness Trap: https://thehappinesstrap.com/