Evidence-based Clinical psychology
Therapies We Offer & How They Can Help.
We use a range of evidence-based therapies to support your goals and wellbeing.
Each person’s experience is different, so we take the time to tailor the approach that’s right for you. Whether that means processing trauma, navigating anxiety, or building practical tools for everyday life.
Below are some of the key therapeutic frameworks we may draw on in your sessions.
Schema Therapy
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We all have patterns of thinking and behaviour that shape our lives. Some of these patterns serve us well, while others can lead to recurring problems in relationships, work, or personal growth. Schema Therapy, developed by Dr. Jeffrey Young in the 1980s, is an innovative and integrative approach that addresses these deeply ingrained patterns, known as schemas, to promote lasting psychological change.
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Schema Therapy is a comprehensive approach to treatment that combines elements of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), attachment theory, psychodynamic concepts, and emotion-focused therapy. It was originally developed to treat personality disorders and chronic psychological issues that were not responding well to traditional therapies. The core idea behind Schema Therapy is that many psychological problems stem from unmet emotional needs in childhood, leading to the development of maladaptive schemas – deeply held beliefs about oneself, others, and the world.
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
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ACT is a type of therapy based on the idea that our thoughts and feelings are temporary and ever-changing. Just like the waves of the ocean rise and fall, ACT teaches us that we can ride out difficult inner experiences without being swept away by them. When we’re not so attached to our thoughts and feelings, we can make better choices that enrich our lives.
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ACT can give you strategies to deal with negative thoughts and accept the difficulties that come with life. For example, if you’ve been avoiding social events because of thoughts like 'no one likes me, I won't have anyone to talk to’, ACT can help you to build behaviours that will make it easier to go to social events. Or if your boss or coworker is a constant source of stress, ACT can give you strategies to be better able to cope.
How ACT Can Help
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
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Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based approach to treating a range of mental health challenges and conditions. It is a type of psychotherapy used to treat mental health conditions and challenges. CBT acknowledges that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviour all impact each other.
For example, if you have bad acne, you might avoid socialising. You might feel embarrassed and ashamed about your skin. You might be scared that your friends will judge your acne, so you avoid hanging out with them altogether. This is an example of how thoughts (that you will be judged) lead to feelings (of shame and embarrassment), and then to specific behaviours (avoiding hanging out).
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This is an example of how thoughts (that you will be judged) lead to feelings (of shame and embarrassment), and then to specific behaviours (avoiding hanging out). Equally, this behaviour (avoiding hanging out) reinforces the thought that people will judge you for your acne (because you don’t have the opportunity to prove the thought wrong), and contributes to those feelings (of shame and embarrassment). Initially, avoiding your friends provided a sense of safety. But in the long term, avoidance is an unhelpful coping strategy because it keeps harmful thoughts and behaviours going. How? By not allowing you the opportunity to prove your negative thoughts wrong.
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CBT can help in this situation by either:
Helping you challenge the thought that “my friends will judge me for my acne”, so you feel more comfortable going out
Helping you go out with your friends can demonstrate that they don’t actually care about your acne.
By using CBT, we can start to feel better by either changing our thinking, changing our habits, or changing our behaviour.