Psychotherapy services
Assessment is based on a detailed interview regarding mood, current stresses, and background issues. It will determine whether therapy is recommended, and will identify what problems therapy will focus on.
Psychological problems may include:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Obsessional Compulsive Disorder
- Stress related problems
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Adjustment to life transitions and grief
- Psychosomatic (functional) disorders
- Sexual and relationship problems
- Sleep management
- Alcohol dependency
- Young adult problems affecting relationships and academic work
Psychological Therapy
What I can offer:
I offer a flexible and individually tailored approach to the client's problems and the context in which these arise.
Every client is provided with an initial comprehensive assessment, looking at current problems and any relevant background experiences. If therapy is considered appropriate, the goals of therapy will then be discussed.
The therapeutic approach will depend on the client's specific needs and goals. I use an integrationist approach, which provides the individual with a range of therapeutic tools to enable them to manage difficulties when they occur.
Some clients choose simply to have a comprehensive psychological assessment of cognitive, emotional, or behavioural problems. Others may opt for either time limited problem-focussed therapy, or longer, open-ended therapy.
Psychotherapeutic approaches
My approach integrates a combination of evidence-based therapeutic techniques. These therapies are evidence based, and effective in treating anxiety, depression, phobias, and habitual behaviours.
My primary approach is:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT):
CBT aims to help you understand the thoughts and feelings that lead to problem behaviours. It is a practical approach that involves identifying unhelpful, negative thoughts, and finding more helpful, realistic ways of thinking. CBT involves challenging your automatic thoughts and perceptions and identifying the underlying beliefs that may shape thinking patterns. It involves active collaboration between client and therapist, and practical, homework exercises are a key component of therapy.
Other recent therapies which may be used in combination with CBT, or on their own, include: