The ‘PICT’ therapy process at 1066 Therapy
covering East Sussex, Battle, Hastings, Bexhill, Rye, Heathfield, Hailsham, Eastbourne, Crowborough, Brighton, Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge, Ashford, Maidstone and Kent.
At 1066 Therapy I specialise in helping people who have experienced some form of adverse experiences in their life. This is often in childhood but it can also be in adulthood. The in-depth, versatile, specialist psychotherapy skills training I have undertaken to do this puts me in a good position to also help people who perhaps remember having had a generally good childhood, but who nevertheless have unwanted behaviours, feelings and problems that they would like to resolve.
PICT Therapy
‘PICT’ is short for Parks Inner Child Therapy. The following brief description is from the PICT website. “PICT is a powerful and versatile visualisation-based therapy model. It is an evolving form of cognitive therapy with a foundation in Transactional Analysis that incorporates Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) to aid rapid positive change.”
I am a fully qualified and certified PICT practitioner.
Penny Parks originally devised the PICT psychotherapy therapy process over 25 years ago. She regularly updated and developed the model while still alive. Penny created the therapy to help victims of child abuse (of whatever type) to overcome the challenges and trauma they experienced. Their adverse experiences may have been caused deliberately and directly. Or they may have been affected by something ‘indirect’ such as neglect, especially emotional neglect.
Unresponsive parenting
However, many long-term problems such as anxiety and related problems can result simply from somewhat insensitive or unresponsive parenting. The parenting was perhaps well-meaning but often ‘mis-attuned’ so this still had a negative effect on the child. This may be because the parents were not emotionally available enough for the child. However, they were probably caring parents otherwise, perhaps providing a lovely family home, holidays, and so on for their child(ren). Two examples of insensitive or unresponsive parenting styles are overly strict/disciplinarian Authoritarian parenting (too many rules). Or, conversely, overly liberal Permissive parenting (too few rules). And there are other parenting styles which can also cause problems in later life.
One example: a child is angry with a parent. This happens for many reasons as is completely natural. The parent cannot tolerate their child being angry with something they’ve said/done. The child is then perhaps sent to their room, or told not to speak to the parent like that etc. So, instead of responding to the child’s feelings/needs in that moment, the parent is tending to their own discomfort. They are also giving the message that the child is not acceptable to them with such feelings.
Attachment Relationship Ruptures
Such moments cause ruptures in the parent / child relationship, otherwise known as the Attachment relationship. Ruptures are inevitable in any relationship, through all of our life. The ruptures only cause lasting issues IF they are not repaired, in this case, by the parent(s). A baby / infant / child can tolerate a certain amount of unrepaired ruptures in the Attachment relationship but they really suffer if too few, or none at all, are adequately repaired.
Many people find the concept of certain parenting styles having the potential to cause long-term problems, difficult to accept or believe. However we know from research and studies over many decades that the various negative effects of less-than-good-enough parenting are carried into adulthood. The negative effects can cause many problems, such as low self-esteem, confidence issues, a negative self-concept, anxiety disorders, problems with food, drink, or drug use, and problems with relationships, to name just a few.
Other problems
Events outside of the immediate family environment can also cause problems. Events such as bullying; or the child having an operation or accident which needs a stay in hospital away from home. Sometimes the parents may indirectly cause problems because they have their own issues, such as anxiety, stress issues, depression/emotional problems, or having a problem with drink, say. Or the loss of one or both parents/caregivers through divorce or death can of course cause difficulties.
So, while it is true that the majority of parents care very much for their children and have the best of intentions for their children, sometimes their own lack of resources can lead to the sorts of (unintentional) parenting mistakes which will unfortunately have a lasting impact on the child. And sometimes problems can arise from situations outside of anyone’s control.
As you can see, it is not ‘mandatory’ to have experienced significantly traumatic childhood experiences for this particular psychotherapy approach to help. PICT can be effective for many people wishing to address any emotional problem or unwanted behaviour. No matter what their early experiences were like.
People don’t connect their past to their present problems
Most adults, in fact, do not connect their present day problems with their early experiences. They tend to think that ‘it was such a long time ago so it can’t be that’, or that they are ‘over all of that now’, or ‘it wasn’t that bad, people have worse’. They often conclude that ‘it’s just the way I am’ or ‘I am an anxious person’ or ‘there must be something wrong with me’ etc. However, as well as the decades of research and studies, recent advances in neuroscience are able to show us the impact on the developing mind of unhelpful experiences. The studies also show connections and correlations specifically between difficult childhood experiences and a wide range of problems in adulthood. This is where PICT psychotherapy and other therapy models like Lifespan Integration Therapy come in.
Kevin’s experience of ‘PICT’ at 1066 Therapy
Note: the “issues” Kevin mentions in the second half of the video are everyday issues, such as work problems etc. Not on-going emotional/psychological issues.
What can PICT help with?
The PICT psychotherapy model encompasses everything needed to help people who have:
- adverse childhood experiences
- anger management problems
- anxiety & fears
- compulsive behaviour disorder (OCD)
- confidence problems
- drugs and/or alcohol issues
- eating problems (including weight control)
- emotional problems, e.g. depressed feelings
- grief and loss issues
- PTSD type problems
- psycho-sexual problems
- relationship difficulties
- self harming behaviours
- self-esteem problems
- unwanted behaviours
- and many more.
Wendy’s experience of ‘PICT’ at 1066 Therapy
Note: When Wendy says she has lost 2 stone easily, she means that she has achieved this without consciously following a calorie-controlled diet of any kind. She has done this naturally, alongside an exercise regime which she enjoys.
Alongside PICT, I also practise other therapy approaches which may be better for some people and/or some problems. Everyone is different. I tailor therapy to the individual.
Call or text me now on 07722783490 to book your free 30 minute initial consultation.
