Therapy

Clinical  psychologists are trained in a number of different evidence based psychological models.  These can be offered on a short term or long term basis.  I work integratively to best meet your needs but the models I predominantly draw on are:

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)

CBT focuses on current difficulties and looks at practical ways to overcome problems. It helps you to identify unhelpful patterns of thinking with the premise that our thoughts and behaviours have an effect on each other. Through changing the way we think or behave in a situation, we can change the way we feel and can break negative vicious cycles.

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)

DBT is a structured therapeutic approach that focuses on reducing self-destructive, therapy interfering and quality of life interfering behaviours. DBT organises treatment using this hierarchy because usually individuals who would benefit most from DBT have difficulties in a range of areas and therefore the treatment tries to address problems in this order of priority.

DBT teaches clients skills to manage their emotions as it makes an assumption that individuals suffering from emotional dysregulation lack self management strategies. The four sets of behavioural skills that are taught in DBT are mindfulness, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness and emotional regulation.

DBT has a significant evidence base and has been shown to be effective in reducing suicidal behaviour, self harm, substance misuse, anger and depression. It is now recognised to be the gold standard psychological treatment for individuals with emotionally unstable personality disorder also known as borderline personality disorder.

Schema Therapy (ST)

ST is an integrative model of treatment that helps with life long patterns rather than current situations.  In comparison with standard cognitive therapy, schema therapy probes more deeply into early life experiences. It utilises experimental, cognitive, behavioural and interpersonal techniques, which promotes higher levels of affect in sessions and is somewhat longer-term. 

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is a psychotherapy that enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences.  Repeated studies show that by using EMDR therapy people can experience the benefits of psychotherapy that once took years to make a difference.  EMDR therapy shows that the mind can in fact heal from psychological trauma much as the body recovers from physical trauma.