about me

CFT is an approach developed by Professor Paul Gilbert as he found that for some people high levels of shame and self-criticism interfered with engagement with CBT. He developed CFT and Compassionate Mind Training (CMT) which has developed from various psychological approaches such as CBT, Attachment Theory, Neurological and Evolutionary theory. The approach takes a biopsychosocial focus on developing a shared understanding of the problem and using positive psychology to develop new pathways in the brain that are more self-compassionate and self-supportive. For more information on CFT and free video and audio resources, access www.compassionatemind.org.uk

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) are both a collaborative, confidential and non-judgemental approach. You are the expert on you, and I have completed extensive training and have over 18 years of working as a CBT therapist, so I bring the clinical expertise. We can work together to overcome the difficulties that have brought you to therapy. CBT is effective with the following problems: Depression or low mood. Anxiety symptoms such as Panic attacks, Agoraphobia, worry (also called generalized anxiety disorder) Phobias Social Anxiety Low Self-Esteem Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Sleep problems Physical health problems Stress Confidence and problems with assertion Difficulty with problem solving and decision making For more information on CBT access www.BABCP.com

I particularly have a special interest in OCD and work using exposure and response prevention. I have experience of working with chronic pain and staff support.

I also work with depression using behavioural activation and CBT for depression, I am well trained in mindfulness and Compassion Focused Therapy which is particularly helpful for people with high levels of shame and self-criticism. I am able to weave third wave approaches in CBT such as ACT and Mindfulness if clients would find this helpful.

I am a CBT Therapist who has been accredited with the British Association of Behavioural Cognitive Psychotherapists since 2004 and I completed the advanced CFT therapy training with Paul Gilbert and Mary Welford in 2015. Following this I have facilitated Compassion Focused Therapy groups. I continue to facilitate a Compassion Focused Therapy Graduate Group in York for The Retreat, York. I practice Yoga and mindfulness daily and completed an eight week MBSR course with The Northern Centre for Mindfulness in 2015.

I have had an extensive career working in mental health since qualifying in 1996 and working as a Psychiatric Nurse in inpatient and outpatient settings and then training as a Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist (CBT) in 2003. After many years of working clinically with adults in the NHS, I became a lecturer teaching CBT at The University of York, training clinicians to become CBT Psychotherapists. On leaving this and returning to practice in 2013, I found time to fully engage with Mindfulness and Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT). I have benefitted hugely from this and over the last 10 years this self-practicing using compassionate mind training (CMT) has become a vital part of my life and well-being. I continue to use CFT clinically alongside CBT within individual therapy, group therapy and through the training and supervision of other clinicians. During Covid 19 I worked for the NHS into ICU and Covid Red wards with staff working on those wards delivering CBT and CFT training and individual therapy. Over the last seven years I have been project lead for the Compassion in School project which is based on Dr Mary Welford's pioneering work using CFT as a whole school approach. I have led three projects in three schools and Mary has supervised me in this work. I continue to work closely with Bootham School, an independent Quaker school in York.

2015: Advanced CFT training with Paul Gilbert and Mary Welford CFT for groups with Kate Lucre 2017: Attended CFT for anger with Russell Kolts Self Practice three day training with Paul Gilbert 2018: One day BABCP workshop Compassionate Supervision with Tobyn Bell 2019: CFT conference in Edinburgh CFT in education conference 2020: CFT online training (during Covid-19) Deep healing with Paul Gilbert, Vidyamala Burch and Rick Hanson CFT online with Paul Gilbert and Choden CFT online Paul Gilbert Compassionate Mind training 2021: ACT online training 100 things Act with Richard Bennett and Joe Oliver CFT training online Russell Kolts anger

I have experience working within secondary and primary care with clients with anxiety and depression. I have lectured in CBT at the University of York and currently guest lecture at the University of Hull. I have also used Compassion Focused Therapy with individual clients since 2015 and use it on myself. I have been offering CFT whole school approaches for the past six years and this has involved large scale training of staff and students, as well as 1-1 therapy sessions, small group training, staff support sessions (individual and group), compassion based meditation sessions. I am self-employed as a CFT therapist and CBT therapist and I am able to offer therapy on an individual basis to adults and young people.