How I work

The therapy I provide is based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), which aims to explore what maintains anxiety and depression. Changing behaviours or thought processes can then help to break the maintenance of the problem, thus reducing the experience of anxiety or depression.

Our sessions will be at the same time every week. I recommend booking weekly sessions to see the most benefits from therapy, as this helps build consistency and momentum. I follow NICE guidelines for recommended treatment for depression and anxiety disorders, which suggests between 15 to 18 sessions depending on the difficulty. For low self-esteem, research suggests up to 20 sessions, with over 20 sessions for chronic self-esteem issues.

In our sessions, we will focus on understanding the here and now to make changes. Our sessions will be time-limited, which will depend on how you progress towards your set goal. The number of sessions will be discussed, agreed and reviewed as we work together.

We will work together collaboratively. What this means is in the earlier sessions, we will focus on gaining a mutual understanding of what the problem is. After this, we will agree on strategies that can help, based on adapting your thoughts or behaviours.

There will be an expectation that you complete tasks in between our sessions (known as "homework") which will ensure we make the most of our time working together. This may include trying out new ways of coping with the problem using strategies or new approaches we agree are helpful.

Throughout my work, I receive regular supervision with an experienced CBT Therapist to ensure I can deliver the best possible therapy to you. In the meetings with my supervisor, I will discuss the work we are doing together. Your identity will remain anonymous to the supervisor.

My approach

I can help you to explore your thoughts, feelings and behaviours to help you understand how they impact mental health. I believe being compassionate and non-judgemental are key factors to helping you to be as open and honest as you can. We will consider your cultural needs and the influence they have.

I will work collaboratively with you to ensure that you play an active role in working towards your goals to make progress and achieve long lasting change. Whether that's dealing with stress from work, unhealthy relationships, worry about loved ones or feeling demotivated, we will work together and address the root cause of these difficulties before finding ways to empower you to overcome them.

Who I can help

I can support you with the following difficulties:

• Depression

• Generalised anxiety

• Social anxiety

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

• Panic disorder

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

• Health anxiety

• Body dysmorphia

My speciality is to help you to recover your confidence by supporting you. We may address low self-esteem if we agree it is an underlying cause for the above problems.

Do it for you!

I understand that seeking help and going through the therapy process can be daunting and challenging, having used therapy myself in the past. But rest assured that by starting therapy, you are taking the first steps to improve your mental health and set yourself free from what is holding you back.

What you can expect

Assessment

Once you have got in touch, I will arrange a convenient time and date to have a free 15 minute telephone call with you. I will ask you some questions about what you would like support with. I will also ask you to complete some forms requesting information about you.

Consultation

If we agree that my services are most suitable for your needs, we will agree to meet either in person or online to have up to 6 therapy sessions to better understand your difficulties.

Treatment

Once we have developed a good understanding of your difficulties, we will continue working together to determine and implement how you can make changes to what you do or how you think.