my approach

I believe that every person will have their own unique journey through therapy. Just as we all have different tastes in food, wine, and chocolate - some therapeutic approaches or techniques will resonate more with a person than others will. As a therapist, I always want to work with my clients to find out what strategies work best for them, and then help to develop further and generalise these skills to enable them to manage their own mental health.

To do this, my approach is to tailor evidence-based treatments to the individual’s needs. I have experience utilising Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and CBT-Enhanced for the treatment of eating disorders.

I take a client-centered approach which means I will regularly check in with you to see how your experience in therapy is going. My aim is to create a space where you feel comfortable being yourself and will frequently ask how you feel that you are progressing toward your therapy goals.

  • What is CBT?

    Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on the relationship between an individual's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It is based on the idea that negative thoughts and behaviors can contribute to the development and maintenance of emotional and behavioral problems.

    The primary goal of CBT is to help individuals identify and change their negative patterns of thinking and behavior. With CBT, I will work with you to help identify and challenge negative thoughts and beliefs and replace them with more positive and realistic ones.

    CBT is typically short-term and focused on specific goals. It often involves homework assignments and skills training to help individuals learn how to manage their emotions and behaviors more effectively. CBT can be used to treat a wide range of mental health conditions, including anxiety disorders, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

  • What is ACT?

    Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on increasing psychological flexibility and improving mental health and well-being. ACT is based on the idea that the avoidance of painful emotions and experiences can contribute to the development and maintenance of psychological problems.

    The primary goal of ACT is to help individuals learn to accept and embrace their internal experiences, including thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations, rather than trying to avoid or control them. With ACT, I work with the individual to identify their core values and commit to actions that align with those values, even in the presence of uncomfortable emotions or difficult life circumstances.

    Like CBT, ACT is typically short-term and focused on specific goals. It often involves mindfulness and acceptance-based exercises to help individuals develop a more accepting and compassionate relationship with their internal experiences.

  • What is DBT?

    Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy that was originally developed to treat individuals with borderline personality disorder. DBT combines elements of CBT with mindfulness-based techniques to help individuals regulate their emotions, improve their interpersonal relationships, and develop coping skills.

    DBT focuses on four main components: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. Mindfulness practices are used to help individuals become more aware of their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors without judgment. Distress tolerance techniques help individuals learn to tolerate and manage intense emotions without engaging in harmful behaviors. Emotion regulation skills help individuals identify and change patterns of emotional reactivity. Finally, interpersonal effectiveness strategies help individuals improve communication and relationship skills.