Personal Counselling and Psychotherapy

First step – Make the call 028 7126 3439 or 077 7979 1495. 

The NHS still has limited resources and may have long waiting lists for treatment. This practice provides CBT privately, as a self-employed therapist. We do not require a referral from your doctor or other health professionals—we will accept self-referrals.

Is something just not quite right in your life? Is it something you might really need to talk about to someone objective to you in your life? I am an experienced and effective counsellor and psychotherapist, and I may be able to help you. We will work together in a confidential, supportive and private environment at your own pace, to explore your dilemmas to build and open up choices to gain a more authentic and better quality of life. CBT is particularly helpful for those with specific issues. This is because it is very practical (rather than insight-based) and looks at solving the problem. Some of the people that may benefit from CBT include those suffering from: 

  • Anxiety panic attacks, agoraphobia.

  • Depression, post-natal depression.

  • Phobias, childhood traumas 

  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder 

  • Post-traumatic stress disorder 

  • Poor health and illness 

  • Low self-esteem.

  • Relationship issues

  • Insomnia 

  • Domestic violence and coercive control

  • Unhelpful thinking patterns and negative feelings.

Living with mental distress can be difficult. While the topic of mental health and the importance of speaking up is becoming normalised, stigma still exists and it can make it difficult to know where to turn for support. If you're not comfortable talking to friends or family, you may want to speak confidentially to a professional - like a doctor or counsellor. This can be done from your own home interactively online through Zoom.

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a talking therapy. It helps you manage problems by helping you recognise how your thoughts can affect your feelings and behaviour. CBT combines a cognitive approach (examining your thoughts) with a behavioural approach (the things you do). It aims to break overwhelming problems down into smaller parts, making them easier to manage.

CBT has become one of the most popular forms of talk therapy and is now offered through Zoom online . It is recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for common mental health conditions, like depression and anxiety.

During the treatment, your therapist will work with you to help you focus on the "here and now". They will help you recognise how past events may have shaped your thinking and behaviours, teaching you how to not only adapt your thoughts but manage them.

CBT combines two approaches for practical and solution-focused therapy. The therapy is very active by nature, so you may be expected to take a proactive role and complete tasks at home. The therapy examines learnt behaviours, habits and negative thought patterns with the view of adapting and turning them into a positive.

Unlike some other therapies, CBT is rooted in the present and looks to the future. While past events and experiences are considered during the sessions, the focus is more on current concerns. During a CBT session, your therapist will help you understand any negative thought patterns you have. You will learn how they affect you and most importantly, what can be done to change them. These are long established neuro pathways that can be changed to more efficient and effective ones so you can get better outcomes.

CBT looks at how both cognitive and behavioural processes affect one another and aims to help you get out of negative cycles. The emphasis on behavioural or cognitive approaches will depend on the issue you are facing. For example, if you are suffering from anxiety or depression, the focus may be on the cognitive approach. If you have a condition that causes unhelpful behaviour (such as obsessive-compulsive disorder), the focus is likely to be the behavioural approach.

In some cases, CBT is used for people with long-standing health problems, such as chronic pain or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). While the therapy cannot cure physical illness, it can help people cope better with the symptoms and lower stress levels.

We know how daunting it can be to reach out and seek help, but help is available. If you're looking for support, you can find a counsellor you resonate with and begin your journey.