People I work with seek help from me with a range of issues which include:
- Specific Problems, Behaviours or Symptoms such as low mood, low self esteem, feelings of anxiety, phobias, self-harm, emotional instability, anger, stress and disordered eating.
- Life stressors such as work or relationship issues and adverse life experiences including bereavement and loss.
- Coping with past experiences which are causing problems in the present including childhood abuse and trauma, the impact of parental conflict or separation, bullying, discrimination.
- Diagnoses including depression, anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, personality disorder, eating disorder
- Interpersonal issues such as problematic repeating patterns in friendships, intimate relationships, or at work.
- Personal growth and change.
- Training Therapies for Cognitive Analytic Therapy trainees.
Following assessment, I draw on different therapeutic approaches and techniques to develop an individually tailored intervention plan. The two main psychotherapies I offer are:
- Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT)
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
If my assessment indicates that your needs are not best met by my service, I will offer advice and sign posting about services that may be more appropriate.
In order to ensure that my therapy service is as acessible as possible I do offer some concessionary fees.
What is Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT)?
CAT therapy can be a very helpful approach in understanding and changing recurring problematic patterns and ‘roles’ in our lives. Examples include repeatedly going into destructive relationships or working too hard to compensate for feelings of insecurity or worthlessness. CAT is what’s called an ‘integrative approach’ which reflects that it was designed to combines features of both CBT and psychodynamic therapies. It is used to help people with a wide range of difficulties. The therapist will help you ‘map’ the current difficulties and identify what keeps these patterns and issues going. The therapy will also look at the possible impact of earlier experiences, both positive and adverse. Together with the therapist, ways of doing things differently which might bring about positive changes are explored and a plan is developed of how this can be achieved.
For more information please see ACAT website
What is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy?
CBT explores the relationships between how we feel, our bodily reactions, how we think and how we respond (behaviour). Often clients present with difficulties in one of these areas but may be less aware of other symptoms and how they interact with each other. Together we explore how thoughts and responses might be contributing to these feelings and then work on changing our thinking or responding or both. The main focus of CBT is on the present but understanding past experiences may help to make sense of your difficulties and provide ideas for how to make changes.
