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Stage fright
In an article in The Times on 23 April 2020, the actress Olivia Colman revealed that she has used hypnotherapy to overcome her stage...
Mark Brafield
Apr 24, 20212 min read
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In the interests of disclosure
My profession is as a lawyer, so naturally I am interested in the disclosure of information. However, my practice as a hypnotherapist is...
Mark Brafield
Jun 8, 20203 min read
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Hypnotherapy for musicians
When I am not practicing as a hypnotherapist, I am practicing and performing as a classical concert organist. Here is an article I have...
Mark Brafield
May 24, 20201 min read
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The Nix - living with choices
I have recently finished reading 'The Nix' by Nathan Hill, an exceptional book - wise, artful, psychologically profound, huge in scope,...
Mark Brafield
May 6, 20203 min read
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Managing the virus
We are now - hopefully - about half-way through the most serious period of lockdown to try and contain the corona virus, having completed...
Mark Brafield
Apr 18, 20202 min read
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Quiz
The TV series, 'Quiz' has been captivating television this week, reminding us of the story of the 'coughing Major' and how he won one...
Mark Brafield
Apr 18, 20202 min read
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Laughing at the dinosaurs
In my consulting room I spend a lot of time explaining how the mind works to my clients, in particular, the 'fight or flight' mechanism....
Mark Brafield
Feb 13, 20202 min read
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Merry Christmas everyone !
In his excellent book 'The Examined Life' (Vintage Books, 2013), Stephen Grosz, a practicing psychoanalyst, gives a penetrating analysis...
Mark Brafield
Dec 15, 20192 min read
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Prince Philip, psychotherapist
I have been a latecomer to 'The Crown', having taken out a subscription to Netflix last year after so many of my friends and family had...
Mark Brafield
Nov 30, 20192 min read
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Put down that biro !
Today, being the first Friday in November, is National Fountain Pen day. My love affair with fountain pens started when I was at school...
Mark Brafield
Nov 1, 20192 min read
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Bodyworlds
I had a few hours spare in London this week so I visited the Bodyworlds exhibition. It really is extraordinary and I would strongly...
Mark Brafield
Oct 23, 20193 min read
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Is it difficult ?
As a musician, I spend a lot of time talking to other musicians and a question that often arises is 'whether a piece is difficult'. Only...
Mark Brafield
Sep 14, 20193 min read
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Cave of dreams
A few weeks ago we were on holiday in the Dordogne, and I took the opportunity to see the remarkable cave paintings at Lascaux. The cave...
Mark Brafield
Aug 16, 20194 min read
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What do you feel about what you feel ?
A client came to see me about a compulsive behaviour, but within just a few sessions we had both worked out that we actually had two...
Mark Brafield
Aug 4, 20192 min read
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The giraffe's neck
Much of my time in my consulting room is spent explaining to clients how the conflicts in our minds often result from the drives of our...
Mark Brafield
May 30, 20192 min read
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Alastair's jam jar
This week (13 - 19 May 2019) is Mental Health Awareness week, which has been marked by a number of documentaries on television, all of...
Mark Brafield
May 22, 20192 min read
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Oprah and the shadow
Carl Jung often wrote about the Shadow, that dark part of ourselves that we must come to terms with and assimilate if we are to become...
Mark Brafield
Apr 17, 20192 min read
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Learning to drive with the Buddha
My son has just passed his driving test, so naturally I am very proud of him. When I was young, I used to think that learner drivers...
Mark Brafield
Mar 31, 20192 min read
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Synchronicity at the Tate
There was a good example of what Jung called 'synchronicity' or meaningful coincidence in my consulting room this week. I was working...
Mark Brafield
Mar 8, 20191 min read
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Let's get things in perspective
I have just been reading Ruby Wax's excellent book on mindfulness 'How to be Human - The Manual' (Penguin, Random House, 2018) and I...
Mark Brafield
Feb 14, 20192 min read
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