Areas of Expertise
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Depression
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Generalised Anxiety Disorder (Excessive Worrying)
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Panic
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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
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Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
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Health Anxiety
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Social Anxiety
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Low Self Esteem
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Body Dismorphic Disorder
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Stress
My Approach
I am a fully accredited CBT therapist. I trained at the University of York, and qualified in 2011. Accreditation means that I have the recognised qualifications to practice CBT, that I have to have regular clinical supervision, and undertake continuous professional development on a yearly basis. Accreditation is through the BABCP ( British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy). Even if you decide not to use my services, please ensure that you use a therapist with BABCP accreditation if seeking CBT.
CBT is a talking therapy that is evidence based and is used primarily to treat depression and different anxiety disorders, such as Generalised Anxiety, OCD, Panic etc. In the first session I provide an initial assessment- this gives you an idea as to whether CBT is something that you would like to try, and to see if you feel you could work alongside me to help with any problems you may be experiencing.
CBT is a collaborative approach. We would initially work together to see how the problems started and also to see what is keeping the problem going currently. This may include things like avoiding certain situations, or having unhelpful ways of dealing with the situation. CBT then starts to look at changing some unhelpful behaviours and also challenges unhelpful ways of thinking, in an attempt to change how you feel.
It is a short term therapy - the number of sessions is typically between 6 to 20, the average being around 10. Please be assured that I will not suggest any more sessions are necessary as the aim of CBT is to enable you to become your own therapist.
I am also an accredited EMDR Therapist (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing). This is a treatment that is recommended for previous trauma. It uses eye movements to reprocess old memories and to file these away in the past, so they do not continue to affect your everyday life. If this is a therapy you are interested in, I am happy to give more information by phone, alternatively, you can look on the EMDR website: www.emdrasscociation.org.uk
My background is in nursing - I am a Registered General Nurse (RGN) and also a Registered Mental Health Nurse (RMN). I have worked in mental health for 25 years now. This has been in a variety of settings, but mainly as a Community Mental Health Nurse. I have experience of working with a variety of mental health issues, ranging from the mild to the very severe.
Working in Mental Health for 25 years has given me a wide and deep experience of the field. However, I never cease to be amazed by people's individual stories, and everyone is unique. I use an individualised approach with every client I see.
Fees
Fees .
Sessions last between 50-60 minutes and are charged at £85.
Late cancellations or non attendances may also be chargeable.
I am registered with BUPA for those with private health insurance and this is invoiced directly to BUPA.
Confidentiality
Sessions are confidential. The only exception to this is if I am concerned about either your safety or the safety of anyone else, in which case I would have a duty of care to share these concerns.
I would always discuss this with you in the first instance.
I also attend regular supervision sessions, which is a professional requirement. By its nature, I discuss my clinical work, but always maintain confidentiality by anonymising clients. My clinical supervisor is also bound by the same rules of confidentiality.
This is usual practice for most therapies.
