Therapy

Therapeutic approaches that are available:


Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT)


Therapy/Coaching for Neurodiversity


Compassion-focused Therapy (CfT)


Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MbCT)


Schema Therapy (ST)


Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)


Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET)

CBT

This is the standard, 'go-to' approach provided by most mental health establishments in the UK, including the NHS. Unfortunately, it gained a bad reputation, and most people don't like it and don't believe in its benefits. I'm afraid I have to disagree with this. CBT is a management set of tools that could help the mind become a bit more grounded by giving us a sense of control over our emotions and thoughts. It is easier to explore and work on deeper, more chronic issues with a settled mind.
I use this approach mainly with people with different forms of anxieties, such as generalised anxiety disorder, panic attacks, social anxiety, phobias, health anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder along with techniques from other therapeutic modalities, e.g., mindfulness, compassion-focused therapy, and schema therapy. I also use adapted versions of CBT for people with autism and/or ADHD.
It is recommended to have between 8 to 12 sessions for cases that don't involve comorbid conditions, i.e., more than one (diagnosed) mental health issue.
I am a CBT-accredited therapist with BACP.

Therapy/Coaching for neurodiversity

You have been recently diagnosed with ADHD and/or autism and you find yourself asking, 'what now', 'where do I go from here?'. Or perhaps you have been diagnosed a while ago and you are reluctant whether to seek help, what kind of help, and whether it's worth it all together.
It is worth it - and efficient - if you are:
*(A)mbitious to do the same/similar things a few times a week;
*(D)aring to say 'no' to random rewards;
*(H)onest with your expectations and personal limits;
*(D)iligent with your plans.
My approach is informed from CBT mainly, and I use tools to improve time management, planning and organisation; problem solving and multitasking; attention span; adaptive thinking; emotional regulation; anger management.

Compassion-focused therapy

This is a therapeutic approach that emphasises the interaction of three emotional systems, i.e., the threat system fuelled by fear and apprehension, the drive system fuelled by motivation and reward seeking, and the soothing system fuelled by compassion, kindness, empathy. It is so easy to lose ourselves in this frantic world and to constantly engage in activities that actually make us feel miserable. In my experience, people who fear or deny compassion the most, are those who most crave it. It is a particularly useful antidote for people with a risk for burnout, chronic stress, anxieties, and psychological-side effects of long-term medical conditions.
It is recommended to have at least 12 sessions.
I have post-graduate training in CfT from SDS Seminars.

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy - This therapeutic approach is an acquired taste.

One of the most common misconception related to mindfulness is that it is a relaxation technique. One (beneficial) side effects of mindfulness is that indeed it might induce a state of relaxation. However, its main aim is to ground the mind by making us more present, more aware of the current moment. It is common for a depressive and/or anxious mind to go back and forth over daily activities. Mindfulness aims to gather that scattered mind through increased attention and awareness for the present moment.
I mainly use this approach in group settings. In individual sessions, I pair it with other therapeutical approaches, e.g., CBT, DBT, NET. The duration is therefore set up by the main therapeutic approach.
I have post-graduate qualification in MBCT from Oxford Mindfulness Foundation and Ser Integral.

Schema therapy - This is my favourite one!

I generally use it with people with chronic emotional/psychological challenges, difficult personality traits, or a personality disorder. Usually, people undertake this therapy after they have unsuccessfully tried several therapeutic approaches for quite a while and 'nothing seems to work'. It explores some difficult relationships we might have had with our parents, siblings, relatives, or peers in the past, and how these patterns (i.e., schemas) might still impact on our current interactions with our partners, colleagues, friends, children. It helps us heal from painful memories, cope with difficult emotions on a daily basis, behave in a more functional way; and become more at ease with who we are as persons.
It is recommended to have at least 15 to 25 sessions.
I have post-graduate qualification in ST from Schema Therapy Institute of London.

Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)

I tend to use this approach with people who are quite unsettled emotionally, e.g., have suicidal ideation and engage frequently in parasuicidal behaviours, and/or present with a comorbid personality disorder (usually borderline personality disorder (BPD)/emotionally unstable personality disorder (EUPD)) and ADHD. It is a management-type of therapy, similar to CBT, but with a greater focus on the management of emotions.
It is recommended to have at least 24 sessions.
I have post-graduate training in DBT from SDS Seminars.

Narrative exposure therapy (NET)

I have learnt this approach in one of my previous NHS appointments where I got to see people with complex and enduring mental health problems. They had HIV, cancer, hepatitis C, neuropathy and chronic pain, and COVID among others. These medical conditions were severely traumatising and took a toll on people's psychological functioning and wellbeing. As a consequence, they experienced tremendous emotional pain and almost gave up living. NET helped them to make sense of their life again and to give a meaning to an unfair, random and uncontrollable illness.
NET is also very good for people who experienced extreme traumas, such as war, human trafficking, and/or modern slavery.
It is recommended to have at least 12 sessions.

This is a general presentation of the therapeutic approaches I use in my work and some general recommendations. However, every person has a distinctive psychological profile. Through my work I aim to have a personalised approach that is meaningful and helpful for each person.