As a Clinical Psychologist, I can work ‘integratively’ with my clients which means I use a number of therapeutic approaches to provide individualised, evidence-based therapy tailored to you. I draw on the following approaches in my therapeutic work:
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
I have completed accredited training in EMDR and so can offer this approach to certain clients depending on their presenting difficulties. EMDR is an approach that was originally developed to help with the processing of trauma memories in conditions such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), but has subsequently been found to help with a wide range of difficulties such as phobias, anxiety and OCD. Often when a traumatic or difficult event occurs, memories are not processed properly and so the brain keeps ‘reliving’ the memory as if it was still happening, which causes high levels of distress and symptoms such as flashbacks and nightmares. EMDR helps to reprocess the memory so it is ‘filed away’ as a memory so the flashbacks and ‘reliving’ no longer occur and the memory loses its emotional intensity.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)- this approach thinks about the relationship between our thoughts, feelings, physical symptoms and behaviour and aims to make changes to our behaviour or thoughts in order to relieve difficult feelings.
Compassion Focussed Therapy (CFT) was developed by Professor Paul Gilbert to help people with high levels of shame and self criticism which have been linked to mental health difficulties. Using ‘Compassionate Mind Training’, this approach allows clients to build a more compassionate way of connecting with themselves and others. CFT draws on principles from neuroscience, Buddhism and evolutionary theory,
Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT)– this approach is useful for thinking about the roles that we adopt when relating to others and ourselves and how these play out and impact our mental wellbeing. CAT helps us to notice these patterns and roles and then identify ways that these can be changed.
Psychodynamic therapy– psychodynamic approaches think about the inner conflicts we have between our unconscious feelings, the anxiety these feelings bring up and the defences we use to protect ourselves. The interactions between therapist and client provide information about how a client’s inner conflicts play out in their relationship with others. Therapeutic work centres around noticing these conflicts, identifying defences and regulating anxiety to access and understand the unconscious feelings underneath to resolve a client’s difficulties.