Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
I'm a qualified, experienced Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist, fully accredited by the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy Visit BABCP.
In addition to my Private Practice, I worked in the NHS as a CBT Psychotherapist 2010-13.
I work within the BABCP code of ethics and offer CBT in an empathic and non-judgmental environment. I've worked as a qualified Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist with people experiencing a wide variety of life challenges since 2010.
Why Cognitive Behavioural Therapy? It's evidence based Therapy for Anxiety & Depression
It is part of our nature to feel low or anxious at times. The fight/flight response is an instinctive survival reaction, for example it can galvanize us to jump out of the path of an oncoming car.
However, frequently experiencing low mood or high anxiety is challenging and debilitating.
What issues have I worked with?
There is a great deal of research evidencing the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in addressing both depression and a range of anxiety disorders, including panic, post traumatic stress, obsessive compulsive disorder, social anxiety, general anxiety, health anxiety and phobias. Common issues that arise for people experiencing depression or a particular anxiety disorder have been systematically identified and there are tried and tested ways of addressing each issue.
How we would work together using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Some aspects of our lives are in our control. Others are not. Responding to what life brings our way can be very challenging.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is very practical. It involves identifying:
- the current problem, that is most getting in your way in life, in terms of the thoughts and behaviours that do not help you respond to the challenge you are facing, but keep you stuck
- your goal, or what you would be doing differently if you were not stuck
- what steps you can take to start to experiment with change
The Unhelpful Cycle: For example: Someone has frequent self critical or fearful thoughts and so feels low or anxious. They avoid doing things and seeing people. But less activity and contact makes their mood worse, so that they are even less inclined to do things or see people. Avoiding things may reduce their anxiety in the short term, but makes it harder still to take that step in future.
And so an unhelpful cycle is set up. In therapy we think about how to break this unhelpful cycle.
We work together to identify what your goals are, and what you feel is getting in the way of these. We focus on a recent time this block occurred, looking at your thoughts, emotions, behaviours and body sensations at that time. We work through any unhelpful thinking to find more balanced ways of looking at things. We look at any behaviours that aren't working for you, and try out alternatives. Any shift in perspective, or behaviour, increases your ability to respond differently, freeing you up.
We periodically review the therapy in terms of whether it is helping you move towards your goals.
Training and Qualifications relevant to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
I had completed an Advanced Humanistic Integrative Counselling Diploma, gained British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy accreditation, and worked in private practice for two years before I began training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in 2008.
I completed Oxford Cognitive Therapy Centre's Introduction to CBT series of workshops in 2008-9.
I achieved a Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, with Merit, at Canterbury Christchurch University, 2009-10.
I was accredited by the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy in 2011.
I completed a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Supervisor training at Oxford Cognitive Therapy Centre 2012-13.
Location, duration and fees
My Psychotherapy, Counselling and Supervision Practice is based in Swanage, Isle of Purbeck, Dorset. Since the pandemic I work online, which means distance is no object.
We can work on a time limited or open-ended basis, depending on your needs and preferences.
The initial consultation is free. This is an opportunity to get a sense of how we would work together.
My fees for subsequent sessions are £50 per hour. Some concessions are available for people on low incomes, please ask.
Getting in contact
If you would like more information, or to book a free consultation, please call or text me on
07960 391357 or email me using the short form available by clicking the email button on the right.
If I miss your call, please text me with a good time to call you back. Thank you.
It is part of our nature to feel low or anxious at times. The fight/flight response is an instinctive survival reaction, for example it can galvanize us to jump out of the path of an oncoming car.
However, frequently experiencing low mood or high anxiety is challenging and debilitating.
What issues have I worked with?
There is a great deal of research evidencing the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in addressing both depression and a range of anxiety disorders, including panic, post traumatic stress, obsessive compulsive disorder, social anxiety, general anxiety, health anxiety and phobias. Common issues that arise for people experiencing depression or a particular anxiety disorder have been systematically identified and there are tried and tested ways of addressing each issue.
How we would work together using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Some aspects of our lives are in our control. Others are not. Responding to what life brings our way can be very challenging.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is very practical. It involves identifying:
- the current problem, that is most getting in your way in life, in terms of the thoughts and behaviours that do not help you respond to the challenge you are facing, but keep you stuck
- your goal, or what you would be doing differently if you were not stuck
- what steps you can take to start to experiment with change
The Unhelpful Cycle: For example: Someone has frequent self critical or fearful thoughts and so feels low or anxious. They avoid doing things and seeing people. But less activity and contact makes their mood worse, so that they are even less inclined to do things or see people. Avoiding things may reduce their anxiety in the short term, but makes it harder still to take that step in future.
And so an unhelpful cycle is set up. In therapy we think about how to break this unhelpful cycle.
We work together to identify what your goals are, and what you feel is getting in the way of these. We focus on a recent time this block occurred, looking at your thoughts, emotions, behaviours and body sensations at that time. We work through any unhelpful thinking to find more balanced ways of looking at things. We look at any behaviours that aren't working for you, and try out alternatives. Any shift in perspective, or behaviour, increases your ability to respond differently, freeing you up.
We periodically review the therapy in terms of whether it is helping you move towards your goals.
Training and Qualifications relevant to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
I had completed an Advanced Humanistic Integrative Counselling Diploma, gained British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy accreditation, and worked in private practice for two years before I began training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in 2008.
I completed Oxford Cognitive Therapy Centre's Introduction to CBT series of workshops in 2008-9.
I achieved a Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, with Merit, at Canterbury Christchurch University, 2009-10.
I was accredited by the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy in 2011.
I completed a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Supervisor training at Oxford Cognitive Therapy Centre 2012-13.
Location, duration and fees
My Psychotherapy, Counselling and Supervision Practice is based in Swanage, Isle of Purbeck, Dorset. Since the pandemic I work online, which means distance is no object.
We can work on a time limited or open-ended basis, depending on your needs and preferences.
The initial consultation is free. This is an opportunity to get a sense of how we would work together.
My fees for subsequent sessions are £50 per hour. Some concessions are available for people on low incomes, please ask.
Getting in contact
If you would like more information, or to book a free consultation, please call or text me on
07960 391357 or email me using the short form available by clicking the email button on the right.
If I miss your call, please text me with a good time to call you back. Thank you.
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