Therapy services

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a form of psychotherapy that encourages individuals to accept their thoughts and feelings rather than trying to change or eliminate them. Developed within the cognitive-behavioural tradition, ACT emphasizes mindfulness skills to help clients live more in the present moment and detach from unhelpful thoughts. It also focuses on clarifying personal values and committing to behaviours that are consistent with those values. ACT techniques include mindfulness exercises, cognitive defusion (detaching from thoughts), acceptance strategies, and commitment to action. This therapy is particularly effective for treating anxiety disorders, depression, chronic pain, and other conditions where emotional avoidance and rigid thinking patterns play a significant role.

Existential psychotherapies are approaches rooted in existential philosophy, focusing on the exploration of the individual’s unique experience of existence and the challenges of living authentically. These therapies emphasize themes such as freedom, responsibility, meaning, and the inevitability of death. Existential therapists help clients confront existential concerns, such as the search for meaning, anxiety about mortality, and the impact of isolation and loneliness. Therapy often involves exploring one’s values, choices, and the ways in which these shape personal identity and relationships. Existential psychotherapies are particularly beneficial for individuals seeking to deepen their self-understanding, find purpose in life, and come to terms with existential dilemmas.

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is a specialised cognitive behavioural therapy technique primarily used to treat anxiety disorders, particularly Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). ERP works by systematically exposing individuals to situations that trigger their obsessions or anxieties, while simultaneously preventing them from engaging in their usual compulsive responses or safety behaviours. Through repeated exposures, individuals gradually learn that their feared outcomes are unlikely to occur or that they can tolerate the anxiety without resorting to compulsions. This process helps to weaken the association between the feared stimuli and the compulsive behaviours, leading to a reduction in anxiety and symptom severity over time. ERP is typically structured collaboratively between the therapist and the individual, and involves developing coping strategies to manage anxiety effectively. Research consistently supports ERP as one of the most effective treatments for OCD, often leading to significant improvements in symptoms and overall functioning.