Preedy Psychology

03/11/2025

Do you have a teen who just seems to have lost their mojo? Who doesn’t want to do anything and for whom nothing is interesting anymore? They could be burnt out, and they (or you) might find our self-help book (by me and Eliza Fricker Missing The Mark) for burnt out teens helpful. Even if they won’t read it, it might help you to understand what’s going on.

It’s a non-pathologising look at burnout and it’s suitable for teens with and without a diagnosis. Our aim is to help teens see that it’s not just them, and that the way they are feeling is not their fault. Informed by psychology, clinical and lived experience, it helps you and them to see a way forward.

The most exciting news is that for the first time Amazon (UK) have made it 99p on Kindle. This will be time-limited so please share with any parents who might appreciate it.

https://amzn.eu/d/7em8DTV

01/10/2025

30/09/2025

I often work with parents who have followed advice to be very positive with their children. They give them lots of praise, they have reward systems and they ‘catch them in good behaviour’. Their children are surrounded in positive reinforcement, with a ‘well done!’ each time they do a somersault or draw a picture.

And then it backfires. They had thought that rewards would make their child more likely to do things, but in fact it works the opposite way. They offer a sticker or a reward and the child refuses to budge. The more positive they are, the less cooperative their child becomes. One family told me about their son who had loved painting – until he won a prize. From that day onwards, he stopped painting.

What’s going on? For some children, positivity can feel like pressure. They respond to pressure with avoidance, and so the more positivity there is, the more they need to avoid. The harder their parents try, the more entrenched the avoidance gets. The answer is to step back and resist the urge to praise. Don’t make a big deal out of their achievements. It feels strange, but sometimes being a bit more offhand gives them the space they need to do the things they want to do.

This is the Pressure Paradox, and it’s one of the three keys to understanding your demand avoidant child. If you don’t understand it, then the harder you try, the worse things get. You put so much effort in and yet everything seems to be stuck.

Come to my webinar next week to hear more about the psychology of demand avoidance. It’s about so much more than demands. There is a recording option.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/understanding-and-helping-your-demand-avoidant-child-tickets-1472494212829?aff=fb6

28/09/2025

🧠 How Does EMDR Actually Work? Let’s Talk About the AIP Model

If you’re curious about EMDR, one of the most common questions is:

"How does it actually work?"

At the heart of EMDR is something called the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model.

And don’t worry, we’re not going to dive into neuroscience jargon. Let me explain it the way I do in my training sessions.

👉 Here’s the idea:
Your brain is naturally wired to process experiences and make sense of them. Most of the time, when something difficult or upsetting happens, your brain can digest the experience over time – just like healing a physical wound. But when something is too overwhelming or traumatic, that process can get blocked. Instead of being properly processed, the memory gets stuck – along with the thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations that came with it. So even years later, something small – a smell, a sound, a look – can bring you right back into that moment.

It’s not just remembering it – it’s re-living it.

That’s where EMDR comes in.
Instead of focusing on changing thoughts or behaviours (like CBT), EMDR activates the brain’s natural healing process so that the stuck memory can be reprocessed and properly stored.

This is done through a structured, 8-phase approach and something called bilateral stimulation – most commonly in the form of eye movements, tapping, or tones. During EMDR, you hold the memory in mind while engaging both sides of the brain. And here’s the incredible part: as the memory reprocesses, it loses its intensity. The emotions soften. The meaning changes. The nervous system stops reacting as if the danger is still happening.

When you understand the AIP model, EMDR starts to make sense.

🎓 Want to learn exactly how to use EMDR with your clients – and see the AIP model in action?

My EMDR Europe Accredited training takes place in January 2026 in Torquay, with follow-ups in March & July.

✅ Live demonstrations
✅ Real client case examples
✅ Supervised practice
✅ Supportive learning environment

👉 Book your place or find out more:
drbutton-emdrtraining.co.uk/emdr-training-dates

15/09/2025

21/08/2025

📘 GCSE Results Day – A Message for Students and Parents

Today, many young people across the country will be receiving their GCSE results. This is an important milestone, and for some, it will bring joy and relief. For others, it may bring disappointment or uncertainty.

If the results are not what you or your child had hoped for, it is vital to remember that exam results do not define a person’s future or potential. There are always alternative pathways, opportunities to re-sit, and routes to success that may not be obvious right now.

Our Clinical Director is living proof of this: she left school without any GCSEs, later joined the RAF, returned to education in her twenties, and went on to build a highly successful career. Her journey is a reminder that resilience, determination, and the right support can lead to incredible achievements, no matter where you start.

To parents: it can be difficult to see your child upset or disappointed today. The most important gift you can offer is reassurance, understanding, and encouragement. Sometimes the most valuable lessons come not from success, but from setbacks—and knowing that their worth and potential are not defined by a set of grades can make all the difference.

✨ Whether celebrating or regrouping, today is just one moment in a much larger journey.