Mickel Therapy is a talking based treatment for conditions including Anxiety, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), Depression, Fibromyalgia, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, M.E / Post Viral Fatigue, Stress & other chronic illnesses.

Mickel Therapy is a treatment developed in 1999 by a medical doctor (Dr David Mickel) which seeks to address problems with the Hypothalamus gland in the brain. This gland which normally regulates everything in the body becomes overactive creating a wide range of symptoms.

As with all treatments we have evolved, refined and developed Mickel Therapy, partly under the influence of Psychologist Professor Cowie of Queenʼs University Belfast. Rather than concentrating on the stand alone function of the Hypothalamus they began to see it as part of a network of brain systems involved in emotion (they are often called the limbic system – the term is dated, but still useful).

A convenient way to put this it is that Mickel Therapy seeks to draw a distinction between the thinking brain and the core emotional mid-brain or body which generates emotions independently of thought (this is often referred to as the body-mind). The therapy teaches clients to translate their symptoms back into emotions and take corrective action so the symptoms no longer need to occur.

Another way of putting it is Mickel Therapy works by identifying the emotional, mental and behavioral factors which drive the hypothalamus into overdrive, and consequently create physical symptoms.

Think of it like this…

If you were to sit on a pin, your body would send you clear messages of pain. You could try thinking positively, tell someone you were in pain and you might even cry out, but until you listen and act and remove the pin, only then can your body get the message and stop sending the symptom. Mickel Therapy teaches clients to understand these useful messages from the body and translate them into action.

What can I expect?

Sessions are delivered face-to-face. Or, if you live remotely, treatment is available by phone or Skype.

Sessions typically last an hour. Most clients need just a few sessions though every client will differ.

Clients will be asked to keep notes about frequency and situations when symptoms arise and given other activities to work on outside of sessions.

Will it work for me?

The best way to answer that is by reading some of the amazing success stories from our clients. You can also read some of our stories featured in the media.

The therapy is very much a team effort between yourself and your therapist. Some clients report great benefit.