Therapy Approaches
In my practice, I use several approaches to psychotherapy so I can adapt the way I work to each client’s needs and difficulties. The main approaches I use are cognitive behavioural therapy, schema therapy, hypnotherapy and EMDR. They can be used on their own or in combination, depending on what you’d like to work on, your therapy goals and your preferences.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive behavioural therapy is one of the most extensively researched approaches to psychotherapy. It looks at how our thoughts and beliefs influence the way we feel and act. In therapy, we talk through these patterns and use practical exercises to explore how they might change. CBT is a structured approach that invites you to take an active role in the work.
Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy is the use of hypnosis, a state of focused attention and heightened receptivity to suggestion, for clinical purposes. In a therapeutically guided trance, people can explore and develop alternative experiences, behaviours and ways of thinking, which can then be linked to specific stimuli. Hypnosis is the subject of scientific research, including studies using neuroimaging. It is studied and used clinically at Stanford Medicine, where psychiatrist and researcher David Spiegel is among the leading specialists in the field.
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Schema Therapy
Schema therapy builds on CBT and helps us work with deeply rooted emotional and behavioural patterns. It draws on research and explores how early experiences and unmet emotional needs shape the way we respond today. Alongside exploring thoughts and beliefs, we use techniques that help you work directly with the emotions behind these patterns.
EMDR
EMDR has become widely known for its effectiveness in processing traumatic experiences and treating post-traumatic stress disorder. Its use has since expanded to other psychological problems and disorders. Reprocessing is emotionally focused and takes place through the activation of the person’s own information-processing mechanisms. The therapist supports this process through bilateral stimulation, guiding instructions, questions and other interventions. The effectiveness of EMDR is supported by a substantial body of research, primarily in PTSD, with research also supporting its use beyond PTSD.