Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a mindfulness-based psychological therapy focusing on acceptance of discomfort and commitment to what matters in your life. ACT provides psychological skills to manage unpleasant internal experiences (thoughts and feelings) by reducing their influence.  ACT also involves clarifying values to understand what is meaningful to you and guide you to change life for the better.  For further information click here.

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) focuses on challenging thoughts to gain a broader perspective and understanding of yourself, others and the world around you.  This is done by working to question underlying beliefs and associated thinking patterns, as well as a focus on changing behaviour in accordance with your goals.  For further information click here.

Dialectic Behaviour Therapy (DBT) focuses on core difficulties with emotion regulation. This can come about as a result of biological factors, and a toxic or traumatic environment. In early developmental years the interaction of these two factors can cause high sensitivity and high reactivity, as well as difficulties soothing your own emotional distress. People who have problems regulating their emotions can feel overwhelmed, or out of control at times of high emotions. DBT helps a person understand their Emotional Mind as well as their Reason Mind and help the two better communicate to be in a Wise Mind state.

DBT provides lots of practical skills to help manage distress, communicate emotional needs effectively, and also sooth and reduce high intensity emotions, so that they become more manageable. As a result people often find that they engage less in problematic coping styles (e.g., self-harm, and substance abuse) and have better relationships with others.

EMDR is a first line treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and is useful for various other problems including depression, self-esteem, anxiety, phobia, additions, pain relief and performance anxiety. The principle of EMDR is that the mind heals itself and bilateral stimulation (typically through a series of eye movements) facilitates this healing process within the context of a supportive therapeutic relationship. For further information click here and here.

Mindfulness is a training in self-awareness. It works by helping a person be able to redirect their attention to the present moment and to be able to accept, without judgement, that experience, so as not to get as caught up in the past or future. Mindfulness based interventions have originate in Eastern philosophy. Mindfulness practice helps to develop psychological insight and emotional healing through adopting a perspective of self as the observer of internal processes (thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations) without feeling overwhelmed.  To view these experiences as just that, internal experiences, without the need to control or get rid of, but to accept, giving as sense of distance and peace.  Mindfulness practices have been adapted to modern psychology and can be helpful with a variety of difficulties such as depression, anxiety, self-esteem and stress.

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Attachment focused therapy refers to interventions based on attachment theory – our basis of relationships and can relate to individuals, couples and families. Developing understanding of our attachment style and history, current impact and involvement in our relationships can help foster greater understanding and change. Healing attachment ruptures and developing healthy attachments, within a safe, therapeutic relationship can help change how we relate to others and bring about healing and growth.

Schema Therapy involves working with your psychologist to develop a deeper understanding of your underlying beliefs (schemas), the origin and impact of these. Schema Therapy can involve a number of experiential approaches, working with aspects of our personality to achieve lasting change on a deeper level.  For more information click here.

Play Therapy is the most developmentally appropriate approach for assisting children aged 3-12 years.  In play therapy toys act as the child’s words and play is the child’s language (Landreth, 2006). Play Therapy builds on the natural way that children learn about themselves and their relationships in the world around them and allows children to make their internal world external.

By creating a safe, free, and protected space, the child is provided the opportunity to work through deeper emotional fears, anxieties, and experiences that may be driving other behavioural symptoms. Children are given permission to express themselves in whatever way they are comfortable using the therapeutic selection of toys and creative materials in the special play room. Child Centred Play Therapy with a  Play Therapist is a special time in a special space where the unconditional positive relationship between the therapist and the child is of paramount importance.

Play therapy is suitable for children who have experienced social, emotional, or behavioural concerns such as: meltdowns, early trauma experiences and high stress environments, anxiety, separation anxiety, depression, hyper activity, concerns related to adoption or foster care, chronic illness or disability, inattention, trauma including abuse, oppositional behaviours, aggression, attachment issues, school refusal, attention deficit problems, violence, selective mutism, obsessive-compulsive behaviours or parents who are feeling overwhelmed, anxious and wanting to feel more confident in their parenting skills.

This form of therapy focuses on the person as a whole, rather than the problem by itself. This therapy is effective when a young person needs someone to talk to. It can be difficult for teenagers to open up to parents or other adults in their lives. Person centered therapy can give young people a safe space to talk about whatever issues are weighing them down.