About me

I completed my Post Graduate Diploma in CBT at The University of Hull over two years whilst working in the NHS. This is a "gold standard" training, enabling me to work with a wide variety of problems including anxiety disorders, depression, eating disorders, personality disorders and psychosis.

 

Since this time I have completed extensive additional training in Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), EMDR, Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) and attachment.

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I am experienced in working with a wide range of difficulties, including depression, low self esteem, anxiety disorders (such as phobias, generalised anxiety, OCD), eating problems, body image issues, relationship difficulties and trauma/PTSD.

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I accept self referrals and referrals from other sources eg GP/Health Visitor.

 

I am fully accredited and am registered with a range of insurers, including AXA, Aviva, Vitality Health, WPA and Bupa.

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I offer individual therapy to adults age 18+ and offer both time-limited and long term work.

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I am available weekdays 8-4.

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My background

I began working in the NHS in 2009, initially as a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP) and then as a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist (CBT)/Psychotherapist. From 2017 onwards I worked for The Retreat, York, offering therapy for NHS and private patients, before moving to full time private practice at Reflect in Pocklington, York in 2019 and continuing my training in EMDR and CAT.

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I believe my main strengths as a therapist are building a strong working relationship with my clients and together making sense of what is causing and maintaining their distress through collaborative formulation. Whilst my initial training was in evidence-based diagnosis "protocol" driven Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), I balance this with sound psychological "principles", drawing from different schools of thought to inform my clinical practice, putting my clients and their experiences at the very heart of my work.

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I have a particular interest and expertise in Compassion Focused approaches for shame-based difficulties and have completed a further two year training in Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT), which focuses on patterns of relating and linking current difficulties with past experiences. I have also completed an accredited 4 part training in EMDR, a therapy used to target traumatic memories and training in the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) and Dynamic Maturational Model of Attachment and Adaptation (DMM). 

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I am extremely passionate about what I do and I love my job; I feel privileged to be able to work with people in this way.

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My approach

I value the explicit and collaborative nature of CBT, and the importance of developing a shared understanding of what is both causing and maintaining distress, in order to move towards a process of change.

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CFT is an integrative therapy, drawing from a wide range of theories including evolutionary psychology and attachment theory, and was developed for problems related to self criticism and shame. This approach also emphasises the importance of the therapeutic relationship, which in and of itself can be a powerful vehicle for experimentation and change, particularly for example where people have had difficult early experiences and/or relational problems in their life.

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CAT is also formulation driven and relationally focused, and it too emphasises the use of the therapeutic relationship to facilitate a process of change.

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I typically offer therapy which "blends" these approaches, incorporating aspects of EMDR where appropriate: there is space to better understand our minds, our patterns and ourselves and why we feel as we do; to develop an understanding of our own unique story and experiences which have shaped these; to develop new skills; and to consider what changes we want to make to help us become "unstuck" and move forward in our lives and relationships.

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My therapy style is semi structured, including some "homework assignments", as well as offering space to connect with difficult feelings, and access emotional support.

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What to expect

I initially meet with individuals for an extended consultation, lasting 80-90 minutes, during which we can start to better understand your difficulties and whether we might be able to work together. If I feel that a different therapy would be a better fit for you I am up front about saying so and will suggest alternative sources of support.

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Ongoing therapy sessions last 55 minutes and are typically on a weekly basis.

 

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Please contact me for more information about availability and to discuss making an appointment.