Psychological Therapy 

Our Clinical Psychologists work with adults, young people, and families presenting with a range of psychological difficulties. 

We offer free, fifteen-minute phone consultations to discuss your needs and find out if they might be a good fit to support you. If you decide to proceed with therapy, your psychologist will complete an assessment of the presenting issues and will work collaboratively to establish a focus of therapy.

CBT is a widely used psychotherapeutic approach that focuses on identifying and challenging unhelpful thought patterns and behaviours to promote positive changes in emotions and behaviours. It is based on the premise that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours are interconnected, and by changing our thoughts and behaviours, we can positively impact our emotions and overall well-being. CBT is an effective in treating various mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety disorders, and PTSD, among others. For further information, visit the website of the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP).

EMDR is a psychotherapeutic approach originally developed for treating trauma and PTSD. However, its expanding evidence base highlights its versatility as a therapeutic approach that goes beyond trauma. With its ability to reprocess distressing memories or images, target negative beliefs, and promote emotional healing, EMDR has shown promise in treating a wide range of mental health difficulties. It involves a structured eight-phase process where the therapist helps the client process distressing memories and associated thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations. EMDR utilises bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements or taps, to facilitate the reprocessing of traumatic memories and reduce their emotional intensity. For more information, visit the website of the EMDR UK & Ireland Association.

ACT is a form of talk therapy that focuses on acceptance of difficult thoughts and feelings while committing to actions aligned with personal values. It emphasises mindfulness, acceptance, and behaviour change strategies to help individuals create a rich and meaningful life. ACT aims to help people develop psychological flexibility, enabling them to respond adaptively to life's challenges. For more information, visit the website of the Association for Contextual Behavioural Science (ACBS).

CFT is a therapeutic approach developed by Dr. Paul Gilbert, focusing on cultivating compassion for oneself and others. It aims to help individuals develop skills to alleviate shame, self-criticism, and negative self-perception, promoting emotional healing and well-being. CFT integrates techniques from cognitive-behavioural therapy, evolutionary psychology, and mindfulness to foster a compassionate mindset. For more information, visit https://balancedminds.com/what-is-compassion-focused-therapy-cft/

Mindfulness is an approach that can be integrated into other therapies (it is an important part of ACT for example). We often go about our daily lives 'on autopilot'. We might be driving in the car and barely remember how we got from one place to another because our minds were so caught up with worries about the past or the future. We spend so much time caught up with the busy thoughts in our mind that we rarely connect to the present moment, noticing our body, mind and the sensations and experiences around us. There is evidence that including more mindfulness in our lives can improve our wellbeing. It can be helpful for a broad range of difficulties including anxiety and depression.