Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is a National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommended psychotherapy for depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress.
CBT is an evidence-based therapy that focusses on how our thoughts, feelings, physical reactions and behaviours are interlinked, as well as how they impact upon each other, maintaining the difficulties we experience, as quite often the things we do to try and cope can stop us from feeling better.
CBT is a very collaborative therapy, and we will work together to develop therapy goals. During the sessions, clients develop their awareness, learning to identify the links between thoughts, feelings and behaviours, with the understanding that, what you think and do affects the way you feel.
It is also a very practical intervention – there will often be tasks to complete outside of the session. CBT is also time limited and the skills you learn will effectively enable you to become your own therapist, utilising techniques and strategies beyond therapy.
CBT focuses on the here and now and current challenges as opposed to past experiences.
Trauma-focused CBT
This is a special type of psychotherapy that supports individuals who have experienced trauma and have acute stress disorder, adjustment disorder, PTSD or complex PTSD.
Trauma-focussed CBT supports clients to talk about their traumatic events in order to process the memories and reduce unwanted symptoms, such as nightmares, flashbacks, reliving, avoidance and hypervigilance. The process helps you to gain control of your distress and fear by exploring unhelpful changes in your beliefs about yourself, the world or other people as a result of your experience.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
As recommended in NICE guidelines, EMDR is used in the treatment of trauma and PTSD. I will support you to recall in your mind, the trauma whilst you make left and right eye movements.
These eye movements activate both the left and right sides of your brain (bilateral stimulation), changing the way in which your brain processes and stores trauma memories. As such, the intensity of the emotion associated with trauma memories reduces, helping you to come to terms with the trauma and reducing symptoms of PTSD.
Bilateral stimulation can also include tapping parts of the body such as your shoulders or knees.
This powerful psychological technique helps you to update your traumatic memories, processing them effectively, giving you more control over your emotional responses to the memory and helping you to reduce the negative emotions associated with the trauma.
Unlike CBT, EMDR does not need you to go into detail regarding your traumatic event. In addition, you are not required to complete any additional work outside of the therapy session.
EMDR is also used in the treatment of other difficulties such as depression, phobias and anxiety.
Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET)
Narrative exposure therapy is a short-term intervention used in the treatment of trauma, namely multiple and complex traumas. NET is also recognised by NICE as an evidence-based treatment for PTSD.
Treatment involves a detailed account of the trauma(s). I will support and guide you through the process of exploring your lived experience and the impact upon your sense of self and identity. Narrative exposure therapy will enable you to process the event, and reduce the negative emotion associated with the trauma(s) and associated reactions.
Fees & Information
Accredited BABCP Cognitive Behavioural Therapist and EMDR Europe Trained Therapist
Get In Touch
Fill out the form below with as many details as possible and I’ll be in touch as soon as I can.
Other Ways To Contact Me
You can also contact me via phone or email, as below:
Privacy statement: The information provided in this form will be used to reply to requests for information, queries or any other kind of request as indicated by the form’s name. Your information will not be shared with any other person or organisation without your knowledge or permission, unless there is a legal requirement or safeguarding issue. Please see our privacy policy for full details on how we look after your data and your rights.