Therapeutic approaches
Approaches selected for the person, not the diagnosis alone
Therapeutic approaches are selected according to the individual's needs, goals and clinical presentation. No single method is applied to everyone, and the plan is discussed openly and reviewed as the work progresses.
How the approach is chosen
Assessment first, method second
An initial assessment clarifies what you are experiencing and what would be useful. Only then is a therapeutic direction proposed — including whether a different professional or additional care would serve you better.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
A structured, goal-focused approach that examines how thoughts, emotions and behaviour maintain a difficulty, and tests more workable alternatives in daily life.
Often considered for anxiety, low mood, panic, worry and avoidance patterns.
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Builds psychological flexibility: learning to relate differently to difficult thoughts and feelings while acting in line with personal values.
May suit long-standing worry, self-criticism, stress and life-direction concerns.
DBT-informed approaches
Skills-based work drawing on distress tolerance, emotion regulation, mindfulness and interpersonal effectiveness.
Considered where emotional intensity or regulation is a central difficulty.
Psychodynamic approaches
Explores recurring relational patterns and earlier experiences that continue to influence present-day emotional life.
Useful where difficulties repeat across relationships or over many years.
Humanistic & existential approaches
A collaborative, person-centred stance focused on meaning, self-understanding and personal growth.
Considered for identity, purpose, self-worth and life-stage concerns.
Systemic & relationship-focused work
Looks at difficulties within their relational and family context rather than in isolation.
Relevant to couples work, communication difficulties and family dynamics.
Integrative psychotherapy
Combines elements of more than one approach where the formulation indicates that a single model would be too narrow.
Common where presentations are complex or overlapping.
Clinical hypnotherapy
Focused attention and guided relaxation applied within a psychological plan, with realistic expectations discussed in advance.
Considered for sleep, stress, habits, confidence and specific fears where clinically appropriate.
Listing an approach does not mean it is used with every client, and no approach is presented as a guaranteed outcome. Where a concern falls outside the scope of this practice, referral to another healthcare professional is recommended.
Explore hypnotherapy