Therapy

There are a range of therapeutic models available which inform our current understanding and treatment of mental health difficulties (some listed on the right of this page). The most important thing is finding a model which works for you, your presenting concerns and which can be tailored to your unique experiences in life.

I tend to work in an integrative manner to ensure treatment is tailored, meaningful and, ultimately, useful. The information I consider when recommending a type of therapeutic approach (or related skills, strategies) include: your goals, the difficulties you are experiencing and what published research says might work for you (e.g. guidelines published by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence). Of utmost importance to me is creating a space where you feel comfortable and safe.

 

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

CBT is a highly researched model of therapy with a proven track record of helping people suffering from depression and anxiety. For several mental health conditions it is recommended as a first line intervention according to guidelines published by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE). It is, generally, a ‘here and now’ focussed approach which endeavours to understand emotional distress according to the interplay between how we think, feel and what we do in response. It is active, highly collaborative and skills-focussed.

Especially useful for: depression; generalised anxiety; social anxiety; panic; health anxiety,


Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)

DBT offers a range of methods for understanding and working with experiences of heightened, hard to manage (and tolerate) emotion states. It is a structured, skills-based approach offering the means by which one can start building a life worth living. Its core components include:

  • Mindfulness

  • Interpersonal effectiveness

  • Distress Tolerance, &

  • Emotion Regulation

Especially useful for: self-harm; understanding and reducing unwanted impulsive behaviours; heightened or intense, distressing emotional experiences; relationship difficulties, building assertiveness. Click here to learn more about DBT and how I use it in my practice.


Compassion Focussed Therapy (CFT)

CFT is:

“an evidence-based form of psychotherapy that draws upon our evolved capacity for compassion to facilitate the alleviation of human suffering” (CMF-USA).

Especially useful for: self-criticism, perfectionism, shame