Therapeutic Approaches
Our psychologists use a range of evidence-based therapies all of which have a practical problem-solving approach and focus on teaching people skills to assist them to find solutions to their problems.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
There is extensive research supporting the effectiveness of CBT in treating a broad range of mental health issues including anxiety and depression. CBT is a talking therapy where an individual learns to identify and challenge unhelpful thoughts and/or behaviour patterns that contribute to low mood. They are then helped to identify alternative, more realistic, helpful and positive thoughts. CBT also teaches individuals skills to improve coping- for example, relaxation, assertive communication, problem-solving, pleasant event scheduling, goal-setting skills.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
ACT has been shown to be effective in treating a broad range of mental health issues. ACT is a form of CBT where individuals learn strategies like mindfulness and acceptance to reduce the impact that unhelpful thoughts and unwanted feelings have on them. They also learn strategies to distance themselves from unhelpful or painful thoughts. Individuals are encouraged to identify their values and to take positive, committed action toward their core values.
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)
DBT is a type of CBT that was initially developed to help treat Borderline Personality Disorder. However, DBT is now used to help in the treatment of a range of other mental health conditions like depression, suicidal thoughts and behaviours, problems with sense of self, eating disorders and unhelpful relationship patterns. DBT teaches individuals how to deal with and reduce high risk behaviours, develop coping skills like those taught in CBT and ACT, work on building better quality relationships and identify personal strengths and things that are helpful and meaningful to them in their lives. It is about learning to balance acceptance while also accepting that some change is required if you want to get the life you want.
Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT)
ITP was initially developed as a brief treatment for depression, however is now used to treat other mental health issues like anxiety, social phobia, bipolar and disordered eating. IPT focuses on relationships and improving communication patterns. It aims to understand how issues developed and how they relate to your current relationships and personal life. ITP also helps people to identify, label and express painful emotions in a healthy, more direct way. It also aims to teach people how to better accept painful feelings.
Play Therapy
Play Therapy is a way to use the creative, non-verbal capacities of children in order to engage and work therapeutically with them. Through Play Therapy, children can express their emotions in a way that builds insight and capacity. It helps them to regulate their emotions and to practice new and more effective ways of communicating. It is especially helpful for children who find it hard to verbalise/ articulate their feelings and what they find challenging in their young lives.
Trauma Focussed CBT (TF-CBT)
TF-CBT is a treatment approach developed over the past 25 years to help children and adolescents recover from traumatic experiences. It expands on traditional CBT techniques and incorporates developmental and family-based approaches to treat the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It also helps to address symptoms that commonly accompany a traumatic experience, such as depression, anxiety and behavioural problems. It equips parents with skills to support their child following a traumatic experience.