Services – Bespoke, Tailored Support
Services Offered
I offer individual psychological support and treatment for anxiety related difficulties to teenagers and young adults between the ages of 13 and 25. I also provide school liaison when required.
Therapeutic Approaches
As a Clinical Psychologist, I only use evidence-based and recommended therapies. I develop personalised treatment plans aligned with guidelines, such as those issued by The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). These are then flexibly reviewed and tailored to your needs on a session-by-session basis.
I draw on my training in a variety of approaches, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT); Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP); and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
Difficulties Supported
In line with my specific interests, I spend most of my time working with individuals struggling with obsessions and compulsions (OCD); generalised anxiety; social anxiety; and phobias. However, I do also offer treatment for other common difficulties such as low mood/depression.
Treatment for Obsessions and Compulsions (OCD)
It’s common to have strange or unpleasant thoughts from time to time. Many people also worry about how their thoughts and behaviour might impact other people or themselves. However, for some people, this worry can become much, much bigger.
Distressing ideas, images or urges repeatedly enter the minds of people with OCD. They can take many forms, but common themes include contamination, forbidden or taboo subjects, and harm. This can lead to an intense fear for the sufferer, that they may do something that doesn’t fit with who they really are. It can also lead to mental or physical rituals designed to push their unwanted thoughts and feelings away, such as checking or hand-washing.
The problem is, these strategies actually makes things worse in the longer-term. This is because people suffering with OCD often feel compelled to repeat these rituals over and over again, because the thoughts and feelings keep popping back. This can take up a lot of time and cause a huge amount of unnecessary distress.
What people with OCD don’t realise, is that the extreme distress their thoughts cause is actually evidence that they were NEVER going to act on them.
I warmly invite you to contact me if this sounds like you. Supporting people to try out alternative, more workable, ways of understanding and coping with distressing thoughts is my main interest.
Treatment for Social Anxiety
Most people care about how they are seen by others. They feel embarrassed if they believe they may have slipped up. However, if the fear of being negatively judged starts to get in the way of your involvement in everyday activities (such as social events or attending school/work), you might need some extra support for Social Anxiety.
I have lots of experience in helping people face and overcome their fears. I take joy in seeing you return to doing the things that matter. Please do contact me if you’d like to discuss your own struggles in this area.
Treatment for Generalised Anxiety
Have your normal everyday worries started to snowball to the point where you worry about worrying? If so, you may benefit from treatment for Generalised Anxiety.
Generalised Anxiety involves the experience of persistent and excessive worry about a range of things, almost every day. It can lead to a variety of distressing physical symptoms, including: tiredness; muscle aches; irritability; difficulties concentrating; and mind blanks. These can disrupt relationships and make it difficult to get things done.
If you identify with the symptoms described above, I am here to help. Helping people manage worries is the mainstay of my specialism. There’s nothing I enjoy more than seeing people flourish beyond anxiety.
Treatment for Phobias
Lots of people have something they’d rather not come into contact with. However, when there’s something specific that you try hard to avoid (through fear that is out of proportion to the risk it poses), you might suffer from a phobia.
Treatment for anxiety related difficulties, such as phobias, is my specialism. Phobias can get in the way of doing the things you enjoy, so let’s conquer your nemesis together!
Treatment for Low Mood/Depression
Have you been struggling to enjoy the things you used to love?
It’s natural to experience some ups and downs in life, but if you’re feeling the balance keeps tipping downwards, I’m here to help.
Symptoms such as changes in sleep; weight; energy; concentration; and feelings of self-worth can have an impact on many important daily activities. These are tell-tale signs that it might be time to consider seeking extra support for your mood.
It is possible to turn things around, even if it doesn’t feel like it. Let’s get you back into the life you want to lead.