Posted March 25th, 2022
According to the mental health charity MIND, one in six people per week report experiencing a mental health problem such as anxiety or depression in England. If you suffer from depression, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can help you break negative thought patterns and aid recovery. Research has found that people with depression may inadvertently suppress positive emotions, instead focusing on thoughts such as ‘I don’t deserve to be happy’ or ‘This good feeling won’t last’. This is called ‘dampening’, a negative defence mechanism to protect ...
Continue Reading
Posted March 7th, 2022
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a popular psychological treatment which has been shown to be effective in treating common disorders such as anxiety and depression. CBT is not a new therapy by any means and it has a practical structure which makes it easily measurable. These factors have resulted in a large body of successful clinical trials which, more recently, have secured its position as one of a range of recommended treatments on the NHS. What is CBT?
Cognitive behavioural therapy is a type ...
Continue Reading
Posted March 5th, 2022
Having trouble controlling your negative thoughts? Feeling anxious or depressed and wish you could switch off those thoughts? Sometimes, it’s those thoughts, rather than a particular situation or incident that may be causing anxiety or depression. What are Cognitive Distortions/Errors?
Thinking errors happen when your thoughts and reality don’t match up, often without you even realising. These are also called ‘cognitive distortions’. They’re faulty patterns of thinking that are self-defeating, meaning it’s possible to get caught in a loop of negative thinking that can end up becoming a ...
Continue Reading
Posted January 25th, 2022
It’s a new year and with that comes the desire to transform ourselves with lofty goals and resolutions. But as anyone who has previously set New Year’s resolutions will know, sticking to these big plans can be tough. You might be so overwhelmed that you don’t even start, or you might meet a hurdle after a few days or weeks which throws you off your stride, so you give up completely. Luckily, making positive changes that will impact your mental health and physical wellbeing doesn’t need to be complicated. It’s simply ...
Continue Reading
Posted January 17th, 2022
2021 was a complicated year and some of the things that made it complicated have not been resolved. So, we’re starting this year with uncertainty. Some of us are facing significant challenges in the health, social, and financial spheres. Out with the Old
Perhaps a good starting point as we commence 2022, is to recognise and say "well done" for getting through 2021. On-going concerns about the pandemic mean that we can’t guarantee this year will be better, but we can still try and make the most of ...
Continue Reading
Posted November 23rd, 2021
Climate change feels like an insurmountable challenge for all of us right now, and with daily updates in the media about the state of the planet, it’s unsurprising that eco-anxiety is on the rise. In particular, eco-anxiety is something affecting younger people who are feeling intense worry and depression about the climate crisis. It’s understandable that we should be feeling this way with so much to contend with. But positive action can feel harder to achieve when you’re struggling with your mental health. So, with ...
Continue Reading
Posted November 8th, 2021
How “to do” relationships well, is frequently asked about in the therapy world, with monogamy or non-monogamy often being raised as concerns. The last few years has allowed a more inclusive and open discussion about this subject, as for many years there was a prevailing view that to be a “valid” relationship, it must be monogamous. The clear implication of this position was that any person who wasn’t monogamous was in an inferior or invalid relationship. So, many of us grew up hearing that the only socially acceptable model for ...
Continue Reading
Posted November 2nd, 2021
The average person spends 26 years of their life sleeping. Surprisingly we also spend 7 years trying to get to sleep, so that’s 33 years spent in bed. So, sleep is pretty special as it boosts our mental and physical well-being, including immunity, weight regulation and even fertility. Why can't I sleep?
There are many reasons for not sleeping, which may include distress, physical discomfort, or illness. Our sleep needs may also vary, for example, a baby starts life needing 16 hours or so of sleep, ...
Continue Reading
Posted October 19th, 2021
If you’re looking for help with a problem, then finding the right therapist to work with you is key. For some, this can be challenging. There may not be many therapists working in your area, or you might feel like you’re not connecting with the therapist you do find. However, a skilled therapist can help you develop skills and confidence. The therapy can support you to address problems that may have affected you for years. So, finding the right therapist is important and worth the effort. As you start your search, ...
Continue Reading
Posted October 16th, 2021

Does CBT work for anxiety?
When you suffer from anxiety, it is natural for you to want to feel better as soon as possible. Many people seek cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) as their treatment of choice for anxiety issues. This is because evidence-based research demonstrates that CBT for anxiety can be a highly effective treatment; in fact GPs often recommend it. But how long will the treatment take? It’s a question that many people ask ...
Continue Reading