About Me
Atlantic CBT & EMDR is a professional, compassionate and confidential psychotherapy service offering evidence based and effective psychological therapies.
I am based in Cornwall in-between Truro and Newquay and offer online secure video therapy sessions using Zoom. Myself and many other therapists have found online sessions to be as effective as face to face. I can work with you if you live anywhere in the UK. Other benefits of online sessions include saving time and money on travelling and you can have therapy in the comfort of your own home. This can be particularly helpful if you have mobility issues or limited access to transport.
I have over 20 years of experience working in mental health services in the NHS. I started my career as a mental health nurse and became interested in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) as an empowering treatment in which people can learn to manage their own mental health.
I have been using CBT since starting my training in 2007 and completed my Masters in CBT in 2012. Since then I have also trained in Eye Movement and Desensitization Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) and Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT). I have worked in both primary care mental health services with people with mild to moderate mental health difficulties and in secondary care, with people with severe and enduring mental health difficulties.
My Approach
Life can be joyful but it can also be incredibly stressful and challenging. I don't believe any of us can navigate life without experiencing difficult and painful life events. As with our physical health, maintaining our mental health and wellbeing is a lifelong commitment.
I believe given the right set of circumstances any of us could experience mental health difficulties. There are so many factors that can influence how we are thinking, feeling and behaving. In addition, life can be incredibly stressful for us all, with events occurring frequently out of our control. We can experience traumas and adverse life events which can significantly impact our mental health and lives.
At these times, having a safe therapeutic space in which to start to understand how we are thinking, feeling and behaving can help us to start to make changes and move forward. In therapy you can learn new skills and ways of understanding yourself that can help you to feel more stable and in control of your mental health and life.
Coronavirus - Impact on Mental Health
The impact of the Coronavirus has been traumatic across the world. We know traumatic experiences can cause mental health problems which manifest in many ways, and may include PTSD, depression and anxiety problems including OCD. The virus has had a huge impact on everyone, both directly and indirectly. Through physical illness, threat to life, loss of loved ones, loss of finances and loneliness and isolation. Our sense of threat has been triggered. If the impact of the virus is affecting your mental health then this is something I can help you with.
I can work with people experiencing the following difficulties:
- Anxiety
- Agoraphobia (fear of going out)
- Panic Attacks
- Health Anxiety
- Social Anxiety
- Generalised Anxiety (excessive worry)
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder OCD
- Phobias
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD
- Impact of trauma or adverse life events
- Depression
- Low mood
- Low self-esteem
- Difficulty coping with and managing emotions
- Stress
- Problems with assertiveness
- Lack of confidence
- Work related stress
- Impact of bullying
- Eating Disorders
Qualifications
Diploma in Mental Health Nursing - 1997 - University of Nottingham
BSc (Hons) in Professional Practice - Community Mental Health Nursing Specialist Practitioner - 2003 - University of Nottingham
Post Graduate Certificate in Education PGCE (Post Compulsory Education and Training) - 2006 - University of Plymouth/Cornwall College
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Skills and their Application to Mental Health Problems - 2008 - University of Plymouth
MSc in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy - 2012 - University of Plymouth
EMDR Training - Parts 1 & 2 2016, Part 3 2018 - Richman EMDR Training
Accreditations
I have been accredited as a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist with the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) since 2015.
 
I am an EMDR Europe Accredited Practitioner.