A broad range of approaches is offered, which will be matched to your goals. This would follow a thorough assessment and understanding of your individual concerns and needs.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CBT is an evidenced based therapy used for a range of common mental health difficulties. This includes depression, anxiety (including phobias, panic disorder, social anxiety and post traumatic stress) and obsessive compulsive disorder. CBT is recognised by NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence).
Using CBT you work with your therapist to identify problematic negative thoughts and patterns of behaving which influence and maintain difficult emotions. Your therapist will support you to apply different techniques to try to modify difficult thinking patterns and behaviours.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
ACT is a mindfulness based cognitive therapy which focuses on valued living, separating from difficult thoughts, acceptance of difficult emotions and physical sensations, compassion and living in the present moment.
There is strong evidence for the use of ACT for persistent / chronic pain, depression, workplace stress, coping with cancer, anxiety and other difficulties.
Sarah has advanced training in the use of ACT.
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Sometimes problems are triggered by traumatic events in our lives. Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a powerful therapy to help people recover from traumatic events. It stops difficult memories causing as much distress by helping the brain to reprocess the memories. EMDR is best known for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) but it can also help with a range of mental health conditions.
EMDR is recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
Compassion Focused Therapy
CFT was developed for people who have high levels of shame and self criticism, which is common amongst people with mental health difficulties such as depression, anxiety or post traumatic stress. People who have difficulty with shame and criticism are often from backgrounds with high levels of criticism, bullying, neglect and with low warmth and affection.
CFT is routed in an evolutionary understanding of the development of the human mind, neuroscience, neurophysiology and attachment theory. CFT uses mindfulness skills, exercises and other practices to activate the ‘soothing system’ – our emotional regulation system associated with compassion. People learn new ways of relating to themselves and others with the aim of fostering and developing the ‘compassionate mind’.
