Finder

Specialises in

• Applied Relaxation
• Behaviour Therapy
• Behavioural Activation (BA)

• CBT with Exposure and Response Prevention (CBT with ERP)
• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
• Mindfulness based CBT

• Motivational Interviewing
• Trauma focused CBT

About me

In today's modern world with life's many competing pressures and unwanted changes, it’s not unusual to feel worn down, overwhelmed, stressed and worried. You may feel like you are just existing, caught up in self-defeating behaviours or avoidance, struggling to get out of your head and on with your life... I believe I can help.

I am now offering face to face sessions again at the Beacon Clinic in Malvern, which offers a Covid Secure environment.
I will continue to offer online sessions using Doxy.me video communication App. This is a user friendly Secure system, requiring no accounts or downloads for you. No patient info or data is stored, GDPR and HIPAA compliant.

As an Accredited Cognitive Behavioural Therapist and Registered Mental Health Nurse I have many years of experience, working with people experiencing anxiety, depression and associated problems, within the local NHS Primary Care Mental Health Service.

With a thorough grounding in the evidence based treatment protocols of traditional CBT, I have increasingly found the benefits of working within an ACT model (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy). ACT trains you to navigate the difficult thoughts, feelings and sessions which get in the way of living the life you want. It enables you to reconnect with or clarify your values so you can use them as your motivator and your guide as you work through your difficulties.

My approach is also informed by Compassion Focused Therapy, which like ACT draws on current brain science to help us understand our 'tricky minds' and is particularly helpful for those struggling with shame and self-criticism.

My specialist interest area and an area in which I have considerable experience, is working with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). I also specialise in working with ‘Pure O’ (a form of OCD in which a person experiences obsessive, unwanted thoughts without visible compulsions or rituals).

My nursing background enables me to offer a holistic approach to your difficulties, taking into account physical health conditions and the role of medications prescribed for mood management.

What to expect when you come to Therapy

Research shows that the success of any therapy experience is very much related to the quality of the therapeutic relationship and I believe I bring a non-judgemental, warm and kindly approach to sessions, infused with a little humour!.

I believe that asking for help takes a lot of courage and can be a daunting prospect, so let me tell you a little more of what to expect should you decide to get in touch. Firstly we can arrange a free initial consultation on the phone, at a mutually agreed time, (or via email). This will give me a broad understanding of what you want to work on and whether I can help. It will also give you the opportunity to ask any questions and get a sense of whether you feel we can work together before committing to your first appointment.

CBT is very much a collaborative approach, so the first stage of therapy is to develop a shared understanding of your problem. The first couple of sessions will usually involve developing an overview of what is problematic in terms of thoughts, feelings and behaviour, identifying vicious cycles, as well as a consideration of the roots of the problem, how the past informs the present. We can then map out a tailor made Treatment Plan, based on your hopes for therapy and what is realistic within the agreed time frame. CBT is a proactive therapy so further sessions will involve you learning skills and strategies alongside values based goal setting and problem solving. You will be supported in actively practising these skills between sessions ready for further reflection and fine tuning when you return. CBT is all about coaching people to become their own therapist, so towards the end of therapy we will develop a plan for handling setbacks and promoting emotional resilience.

Areas of interest

'Third Wave' CBT (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy -ACT, Compassion Focused Therapy)

Managing Stress
Depression; OCD (including Pure 'O', Relational OCD); Panic disorder; Phobias; Health anxiety; Social Anxiety; Excessive Worry; Post Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD

an ACT approach can be particularly helpful with these difficulties:

Emotional regulation and Stress Management;
Managing long term conditions eg chronic fatigue;
Building self acceptance to boost self esteem;
Adjustment to life change: divorce, retirement, change of role;
Mood difficulties following bereavement;
Shyness or social difficulties relating to Autistic Spectrum Disorders
Managing hormone related difficulties

I am also trained in Mindfulness for Health and Mindfulness for Stress using the Breathworks Programme.

Clinic Times 9-5 Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 9-12 Friday

Specialist interests and expertise in the following physical conditions

• Pain management

• Psychophysiological disorders

• Physical disability