My Approach

I firmly believe in evidence-based therapy and therefore my main approach is Cognitive-Behavioural –Therapy (CBT). This uses research-based techniques to help people deal with their difficulties focusing on the “here and now” and adopting a goal-directed approach. However, my training involved a variety of different therapeutic approaches (i.e. counselling, gestalt therapy) so when more appropriate, I draw from other approaches too and integrate different techniques to facilitate progress. My philosophy is to be flexible as a therapist and respond to each individual’s needs and preferences. In order to achieve this, my primary goal is to build a strong therapeutic alliance where my clients feel comfortable and trusting before we are able to work together in solving any current or long-standing difficulties they are faced with. It has been established through several research studies that a strong therapeutic relationship not only assists therapeutic change but is a key determinant in any steps to be made forward.

Here is some more information on my predominant therapeutic approach:

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

CBT is a relatively short-term therapy which addresses a wide range of psychological problems including depression and anxiety disorders (generalised anxiety disorder, health anxiety, social anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). Contrary to other approaches that focus a lot on past experiences, CBT places emphasis on the ‘here and now’. Nonetheless, it still takes into account past experiences and can help you explore and understand how these have influenced your current thoughts and beliefs in relation not only to yourself but also to others. Within this context, it can then help you gain insight to how these affect your current thoughts and behaviours, thus placing you in a position to take action that will improve your quality of life.

One of the key elements of CBT is that it adopts a collaborative approach whereby therapist and client as seen as equals – you are the expert in what you are experiencing and your therapist is there to help you find ways to cope with any challenges more effectively. Another key feature of CBT is that involves homework – as we are learning new skills, it is very important to practice these in between sessions to master the art so to say. We will work together in setting homework tasks that relate to the content of each session and that will help you feel more in control of the situation at hand.

By teaching you new lifelong coping skills, CBT aims to help you become your own therapist so whenever you are faced with difficulties after the end of therapy you can refer back to the lessons learned and apply them to your new experience.