Integrative CBT and My Approach
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is an approach designed to develop new ways of thinking about ourselves and our environments. It helps us to learn that we are not our thoughts, and about how our thoughts, emotions, and behaviours interact. CBT tools help to identify strongly held, often unconscious, beliefs and coping strategies developed earlier in life, which can now be re-evaluated.
Therapy is not about being perfect or always happy, nor is it about never feeling sad or anxious. It is about creating an environment where you feel unconditionally accepted and you can practice that unconditional acceptance towards yourself.
CBT therapy involves exploring together what your values are, committing to practising how to live more in line with them, and negotiating the obstacles (internal and external) that get in your way. Your personal goals direct the course of therapy and these goals often evolve as the process unfolds.
My integrative CBT Approach
I call my approach integrative CBT because as well as CBT I also use tools from other approaches, such as Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), Internal Family Systems therapy, Gestalt, Non-Violent Communication (NVC), and what I have learned about power, privilege, and oppression from years of involvement in movements for social justice.
To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.Ralph Waldo Emerson
It is also crucial to keep in mind most studies into the effectiveness of therapy for various issues find that the quality of the relationship between therapist and client is the most significant factor, beyond any differences between different therapeutic approaches.1 Therefore, looking for the right match in personality, style, values and that gut feeling that someone ‘just gets you’ is more important than their therapeutic background. My About Me page includes my video introduction, which may help you get a sense of whether I am someone you think you could connect with.
Session Fees & Practicalities
The standard fee for a 55 minute session with me is £50. Financial accessibility is important to me, so I do operate a sliding scale. I trust people’s assessment of their financial capacity and welcome discussion of fees in our introductory phone call.
All of my sessions are online. My preferred platform is using Zoom but we can talk about other platforms if Zoom is not suitable for you.
There is more info about CBT and my personal approach in the FAQ page and my blog. If you have more questions or want to talk about how we can work together, visit the Contact Me page.
