Meet Sophie

As a person, I have always placed a high value on finding a profession that I find both meaningful and rewarding and I feel very fortunate to have found this in my role as a therapist. Having this passion for my work inspires me to do my best for my clients, to provide effective therapy and maintain high standards of care.

For me, one of the greatest benefits of CBT is that it helps people make sense of their difficulties. I find this process not only normalises and validates people’s experiences, but also restores hope. As difficulties become clearer so do solutions.

In CBT, people learn highly valuable skills for managing their wellbeing, skills that I wish we were all taught routinely because they cultivate inner resilience. Life can be tough, our modern world can be incredibly demanding and stressful, but if we can arm ourselves with the appropriate skills and knowledge, we can potentially adjust more easily to adversity.

One of the many misconceptions about CBT is that it is a cold, mechanical approach. I could not disagree more. In fact, I pride myself on providing therapy that is quite the opposite. I strongly believe that successful therapy depends on the quality of the relationship between a client and their therapist. Clients need to feel safe and at ease before exploring and addressing the very personal issues they bring to therapy. For this, they need to have confidence that their therapist will treat them with sensitivity, kindness, warmth and respect. Establishing this kind of relationship is always a priority for me.

As a CBT Therapist I have the privilege of being able to draw upon an extensive body of scientific research to guide my therapeutic approach, but this approach is always tailored to the individual and their unique difficulties and needs.

Get in Touch

So what exactly is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy?

CBT is a talking therapy based on the idea that our thoughts influence our feelings. Our perception of events, of ourselves, of others and the world around us plays a crucial role in determining how we feel emotionally. A second core principle in CBT is that our thoughts, feelings, actions and physiology are all interconnected and therefore all influence one another. This means that people can inadvertently get stuck in a vicious cycle of unhelpful thoughts and behaviours which perpetuates emotional difficulties. The first aim of CBT is to recognise and understand what these unhelpful patterns are. Then we seek to find exits to these by learning new skills and alternative responses.

What can I expect from CBT?

CBT IS?

A time-limited therapy.
A form of psychotherapy that focuses primarily on the present, on current challenges, rather than the past.
A more pragmatic approach compared to other therapies.
An approach that involves practice between sessions.
An model of therapy that is educative and involves learning new skills and different ways of doings things.

CBT ISN'T?

Suitable for everyone and all types of difficulties.
An exploratory approach that centres on childhood experiences.

My Experience

Over the past fourteen years I have gained a wealth of experience in a number of different mental health settings. Most recently I have been working in Perth, Australia, as a clinical supervisor for Low Intensity CBT practitioners. Prior to this I worked for several years in private practice in North London. I have worked in a number of NHS mental health services across London providing CBT, both in groups and individually, to clients with a broad range of psychological difficulties. I have worked in several IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapy) services including a psychological therapies service at the Maudsley Hospital, a clinical institution renowned for excellent standards of care. I have also worked for one of the leading private mental health hospitals in central London.

The high quality supervision and training I have experienced throughout my career have been instrumental in my development as a practitioner. I am committed to providing evidence-based therapy and always strive to deliver effective care.

I completed my CBT training at the Institute of Psychiatry where I was fortunate to be taught by leading experts in the field. Prior to this I trained in Low Intensity CBT at the University of Surrey.

In addition to my work experience and professional training I bring to my work with clients a rich and diverse range of life experiences. I have enjoyed living in various parts of the world immersed in different cultures; I have adjusted to numerous life transitions including recently, motherhood; I have navigated the challenges of a career change; I have lived through many losses; and I have overcome significant health challenges. Whilst we all experience life differently, these hardships and adventures have made me even more sensitive and attuned to the challenges faced by others and to the fundamental importance of showing empathy and compassion during these times.

I divide my working time between my private practice and a doctorate in Counselling Psychology. Outside of work I enjoy an active lifestyle made up of running, yoga and looking after my young family.

GET IN TOUCH

Academic Qualifications

Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) in CBT
Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) in Low Intensity Psychological Interventions
Postgraduate Conversion Diploma (PGDip) in Psychology (First)
Bachelor of Arts (BA) in French and Spanish

Professional Accreditation

Fully accredited by the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapists (BABCP). *BABCP accreditation is the CBT gold standard. It signifies a high level of training and clinical expertise.