How CBT Can Help

OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder)

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) can trap you in a powerful and distressing cycle of intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviours or mental acts (compulsions). The goal of a compulsion is to reduce an unwanted emotion such as anxiety, guilt or disgust, and restore a sense of safety, but this only strengthens the obsession over time, increasing the overall sense of threat. The most effective way to stop obsessive thoughts and compulsions is a specific type of CBT called Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) or through tailored Behavioural Experiments (BE), which helps you break the cycle and regain control from OCD.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Social Anxiety can make everyday interactions feel intensely intimidating, causing you to fear being judged or scrutinised by others. This can lead you to avoid social situations, which only makes the anxiety stronger over time. CBT is a highly effective treatment for social anxiety. It helps you identify and challenge the negative predictions you make about social situations and gradually build your confidence through practical exercises, allowing you to engage with others more freely and with far less fear.

Panic Disorder

Panic Disorder involves sudden, overwhelming surges of fear, known as panic attacks, that can make you feel like you are losing control, having a heart attack, or even dying. The fear of having another attack can become so intense that you start avoiding places or situations where you think one might occur. CBT can help you break this cycle of fear. We work to understand that the physical sensations of panic are not dangerous, and use proven techniques to reduce your fear of them, stopping the panic attacks at their source.

Constant Worrying (Generalised Anxiety Disorder)

Constant worrying, or Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD), can feel exhausting and uncontrollable, affecting your sleep, concentration, and ability to relax. CBT helps by giving you practical strategies to understand and challenge these anxious thought patterns. We work together to help you manage uncertainty and reduce the physical and mental grip that worry has on your life, so you can focus on the present.

Health Anxiety

A key sign of health anxiety is a persistent fear that you have a serious illness, often leading you to misinterpret normal bodily sensations and seek constant reassurance. Therapy can help you break this cycle of worry and checking. Using CBT, we will work together to challenge catastrophic thoughts about your health and build trust in your body, freeing you from the constant state of high alert.

Misophonia

Misophonia is a condition where specific sounds (like chewing or breathing) trigger intense emotional reactions such as anger, disgust, or panic. While we can't eliminate these sounds from the world, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy can effectively treat misophonia. We focus on proven techniques to change your reaction, reduce the distress and anger you feel, and decrease the powerful, disruptive impact these sounds have on your daily life.

PTSD & Trauma

Dealing with past trauma and PTSD can leave you feeling stuck, anxious, and isolated, as if the past is constantly intruding on the present through flashbacks, nightmares, or intense memories. As a specialist therapist in Oxfordshire, I use Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT), which is recognised as the best and most effective therapy for these difficulties. It provides a safe, structured way to process traumatic memories, reduce their emotional impact, and help you move forward.

Depression

Depression can make everything feel difficult, draining your energy, motivation, and sense of self-worth. It is often maintained by negative thought patterns and withdrawal from life's activities. CBT is a highly effective, practical therapy for depression, and extensive research shows that online sessions are just as successful as in-person ones. We will focus on challenging the thoughts that keep you stuck and gradually build positive routines to lift your mood and help you reconnect with your life.

Low Self-Esteem & Confidence

Low self-esteem often stems from deeply ingrained, negative beliefs about your own worth that can hold you back in relationships and your career. You can build lasting self-esteem and confidence with a therapist by using CBT to identify, understand, and challenge this critical inner voice. Together, we will work to build a more compassionate and realistic view of yourself, allowing your confidence to grow on a solid foundation.