Mind over matter

Do you drink/smoke/eat too much? Are you too timid to get what you want at work? Do you have trouble saying no, even when you don't want to do something? Repeating negative patterns of behaviour can leave you feeling stressed, dissatisfied and unhappy. If this sounds like you, it could be time to seek some complementary help to enable you to achieve your full potential.

E8 HOLISTIC HEALTH At this peaceful oasis in the heart of East London, they may just be able to help you transform your life. Metamorphic practitioners believe that we live our lives in accordance with the way we were born. So if yours was a complicated birth, you may find that difficult issues keep repeating themselves for no apparent reason. By using light touch on the spinal reflexes found along the inner border of the foot, the thumb and certain parts of the head, the Metamorphic practitioner acts as a catalyst, effecting physical and emotional change. Enthusiasts claim that results can be felt overnight. 64 Broadway Market, E8 (020-7275 8434). www.holistic-health-hackney.co.uk.

WC2 THE GREEN ROOM Have you vowed to give up smoking, yet continue to light up on a daily basis? Or have you been on a diet for more years than you can remember? A session with one of the Green Room's hypnotherapists could help to boost your resolve and shore up your willpower. Not only an effective way to break habits, hypnotherapy can also help to boost feelings of well-being, confidence and self-worth. The Body Shop, 23 Long Acre, WC2 (020-7379 9600). www.thegreen-room.co.uk.

W1 JOSHI CLINIC Popular with Kate Moss and Cate Blanchett, the Joshi Clinic is the place to go if you want to reinvent your life. Resident life coach Merry Graham offers four basic courses spanning six to eight weeks: Life Balancing And Coaching, during which you'll assess your life and implement long-term plans for change; Leadership Skills, aimed at improving managerial abilities; Body Confidence And Presentation, suitable for performers and business people; and Counselling, to help uncover deep-rooted issues behind everyday problems. 57 Wimpole Street, W1 (020-7487 5456). www.thejoshiclinic.com.

N16 SHINE HOLISTIC Is your self-esteem flagging? Has your confidence taken a nosedive? Do you want to improve your performance at work, in business or in a creative endeavour? Hypnotherapist and NLP (neuro-linguistic-programming) practitioner Susan Beer says her ' solutionfocused therapy' will give you the tools to strengthen areas of weakness, such as low self-esteem. Beer claims you will notice changes after just one session, although a course is usually advised. 52 Stoke Newington Church Street, N16 (020-7241 5033). www.shineholistic.co.uk.

SW3 BALANCE Getting out of a rut can be difficult as many of our attitudes and feelings are often deeply ingrained. Vortex healing is thought by some to be an effective way of getting to the roots of negative conditioning. During a vortex treatment, the practitioner will focus on a specific issue, such as fear, old relationships, repeated patterns of behaviour - even if you don't have a clear understanding of what's blocking you. Up to 44 different types of vortex light are then used on the body, each with a different function to quickly shift you to a more positive state. 250 King's Road, SW3 (020-7565 0333). www.balancetheclinic.co.uk.