Delivered by Javeed Khan. Javeed’s qualifications are MSc, Postgraduate Diploma, and Postgraduate Certificate in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy; First Class BA Honours degree in Youth and Community Work, Youth Work Practice Diploma, PTLLS Award in Education and Training Level 4, Great Britain National Boxing Tutor, Gym and Fitness Instruction Y.M.C.A and CYQ 2. 

We have created a new approach to mental health support, with a trained practitioner offering therapy while people also learn boxing and self-defence, through a non-contact approach where no one gets hit or hurt.

We have developed Boxing Therapy to knock down the barriers that young people and adults face in gaining mental health support. In some neighbourhoods poor mental health is considered a weakness and not talked about. Clinic-based, talking therapy can be intimidating and prevent people from dropping their guard – few of the young people we work with want to sit in a room with somebody they barely know and start talking about the problems that they face.

Boxing Therapy offers people an enjoyable, non-stigmatising experience. Based in a gym, school or community centre, a qualified therapist offers therapy and coaching boxing and self-defence. Rather than access a clinic-based mental health service, people participate in sport and therapy, and gain support naturally. People learn to manage their thoughts and emotions, reduce negative behaviours and make changes in their lives to build good mental health.

Boxing Therapy is built upon several benefits for people. It enables people to:

• Hold natural conversations with a professional on neutral ground
• Quickly build rapport with a therapist
• Cathartically express emotions in a safe, controlled environment
• Make physiological changes through the release of ‘feel-good’ brain chemicals such as serotonin
• Build self-esteem and confidence through increased fitness and improved boxing skills

Boxing Therapy Curative Factors for PTSD, Trauma, Stress, Anger, Anxiety, Depression and Dissociation

Challenging behaviour is often underpinned by emotions, a lack of rationally processing thoughts and expressing emotions, and an absence of positive emotional outlet. Neuroscience informs us that the brains of people after having experienced a traumatic incident, can become trapped in a constant fight and flight state of hyperarousal, and excess amounts of adrenaline is produced causing the person intense symptoms of stress, anger, anxiety, depression and dissociation (strong feelings of disconnection from reality). As a result people suffer greatly, with this internal loss of control and dissociation from ones actual self, as in a trance and experiencing constant flashbacks.

However, boxing exercise is documented as extremely helpful for trauma recovery and overcoming these symptoms (which are commonly experienced as an overwhelming cluster of symptoms), as boxing provides people the opportunity to experience a type of fight and flight that the nervous system craves, whilst also utilising the excessive amounts of adrenaline and excess energy through a positive outlet, thereby reducing the related stress, anger, anxiety and depression. In relation to overcoming dissociation, boxing is also highly effective, as it helps people to achieve re-ownership of the body, the mind-body connection which can initially become severed as a result of the impacts of trauma. This connection is achieved through the sensitively applied physical exercises, and incorporated with breathing exercises that activate the neural pathway which results in people learning how to achieve a state of presence and re-ownership of their body.

The self-concept changes after learning boxing and defence, people no longer see themselves as weak and vulnerable, as a result anxiety is reduced and confidence increases – a confidence which is transferrable to personal, academic and professional settings. Changes in the self-concept also include learning methods for letting go of any inhibiting negative labels and views of the self for instance (weak, lazy, useless, incapable, challenging, thug) which are often a cause for challenging behaviour; and developing a new positive self-concept which includes contents such as (resilient, strong, motivated, skilful, empowered, capable, peaceful, dignified, athlete etc.).

Integrated boxing and therapy programmes provide an influential platform to explore thoughts and feelings, and facilitate rational thinking, emotional processing, emotional outlets, and behaviour change. Boxing combined with counselling, anxiety regulation exercises coupled with the new positive social experiences are also evidenced as curative factors for trauma, stress, anger, anxiety, depression, dissociation and overcoming mistrust; and the body’s natural production of endorphins through physical exercise is strongly evidenced as effective methods for overcoming depression, and experiencing a strong sense of happiness. 

Our sports-based approach is having considerable success. Young people and adults are achieving changes far quicker than in a clinic environment.

PACKAGES

All of our Becoming Champions programmes are delivered over a 20 week period.

Core:

Small group (4-6) or one-to-one

Frequency – 1 hour per week

Format – Our training programme in the familiar school settings

Intermediate:

Small group (4-6) or one-to-one

Frequency – 2 hours per week

Format – Core package + Following Content:

1. Physical Exercise & Education (Non-contact Boxing & Self-Defence)
2. Emotion Regulation & Attention and Concentration Methods
3. Talking Therapy & Psychological Education

Intensive:

Small Group (4-6) or one-to-one

Frequency – 3 hours per week (3 hours; morning or afternoon slots)

Format – Intermediate package + Additional Talking Therapy & Psychological Education, additional learning around understanding personal development, and healthy lifestyle.

• Tailored support based on group/individual needs
• Careers support to help meet statutory requirements

BENEFITS

Our programmes help to achieve several Ofsted Outcomes, including:

• Quality of education (Increased attention and concentration, and achievement of students at the school)
• Behaviour and attitudes (Improved behaviour, safety of students, attitudes to learning, attendance, exclusion prevention and bullying prevention)
• Personal development (Improved moral, social and cultural development, and health and wellbeing)
• Leadership and management (Improved health and wellbeing of students correlates with improved health and wellbeing of staff, and reduces staff workload which also correlates with improved health and wellbeing of staff)

Other proven benefits of our programmes include: 

• Increased confidence and self esteem
• Higher aspirations and motivation

Sheffield schools find reassurance in knowing that we are registered and approved on the SCC Approved Provider List.

If you would like to find out more about how we could support you or your organisation please contact us.

Fees for individuals / groups / organisations:

Fees for Boxing Therapy are by negotiation based on your needs. Please contact us to discuss your requirements. Questions are always welcome.