While our principal psychologist uses multiple therapeutic techniques and modalities to support clients, principles of a client-centered approach provide the cornerstone for all sessions. This respectful approach ultimately recognises that client’s preferences, needs, and personal values crucially influence the therapy sessions, and that while they may require some guidance, the client is still the main ‘expert’ of their own life. This approach also recognises that each client has unique strengths that can be harnessed to help them flourish. Lastly, this approach recognises that the therapeutic alliance (or client-therapist relationship) is the most fundamental aspect of therapy, beyond any specific modality that may be used.

CBT helps clients to identify and challenge unhelpful thought patterns or behavioural patterns in their life (e.g., the tendency to ‘jump to conclusions’ or to ‘think in black or white’). CBT can be useful for instances in which the client could benefit from perceiving a situation or challenge through a different ‘lens’.

Sometimes in life, situations occur which cannot be overcome or ‘reframed’. This is where ACT can be useful - as it focuses on helping clients to gradually accept these situations and their related thoughts/feelings rather than ‘fighting’ with them.

Schema therapy helps clients recognise, and subsequently challenge, long-standing thinking patterns and self-focused beliefs (or ‘schemas’) which have stemmed from childhood and influenced them throughout most of their life (e.g., perfectionism, mistrust of others).

IFS therapy is based on the idea that all individuals have a selection of different “parts” within their personality (e.g., the self-critical part, and the fearful part). Just like within an actual family, these parts can sometimes cause distress when they do not ‘work well together’, and support is therefore needed to help create a harmonious ‘system’.

Following a stressful or traumatic event, an individual may experience symptoms of trauma (such as nightmares, flashbacks, fear, and/or mood changes). CPT helps to reduce trauma symptoms by helping clients identify and change their upsetting thoughts and beliefs relating to this trauma (e.g., “it was all my fault”, “I will be hurt again”).

SFBT is focused on providing clients with short-term, goal-focused support in order to help equip them to ‘solve’ or overcome a clear, specific problem in their life. Depending on the particular situation, sometimes even just a few sessions may be needed.

CFT aims to help clients reduce their distress by increasing their level of compassion held towards others and themselves (e.g., through self-care behaviours). This approach is often used to encourage individuals to respond to their self-critical thoughts in a kinder, more self-compassionate manner.

Somatic-based therapy recognises that stress is not only experienced as negative thoughts, but also through physical sensations (e.g., headaches, high blood pressure, chronic pain). Likewise, it recognises that these two components are tightly interconnected. Somatic therapy helps clients to ‘tune into’ their bodies when they are stressed, and uses techniques (e.g., mindfulness and breathing strategies) to calm these negative sensations.

Motivational interviewing is used to support clients to make a behavioural change (e.g., weight change, smoking reduction or cessation), particularly when they are struggling to put the necessary steps into action. This empathic, non-judgemental approach helps the client to feel empowered to explore and subsequently overcome any difficulties with motivation, and ultimately helps them to move closer towards their goals.

Positive psychology dispels the myth that psychology sessions are only valuable for those who are experiencing distress or mental health difficulties. Instead, this strength-based approach is focused on helping individuals to flourish and reach their highest potential (rather than just a ‘baseline’ level) in all areas of their life (e.g., work, relationships).