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.

I am passionate about CBT because it is an active, practical, solution-focused approach. It teaches people how to take care of their emotional wellbeing by learning about themselves, the patterns they fall into and methods for breaking free from those patterns. CBT is an empowering approach because it is designed to help people become their own therapists by learning new skills and knowledge that they can use both now and in the future.

CBT is well established as an effective form of therapy, but in my view what really makes therapy effective is the relationship a person forms with their therapist. When I work with clients this is a priority for me. The values that define my relationships with clients are trust, care, compassion, honesty and respect. It is important to me that my clients feel confident that I will be sensitive to their experiences, empathetic and supportive.

By working collaboratively, I aspire to help people gain a better understanding of their difficulties and find new and more helpful ways of dealing with them.

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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 short-term therapy.
A form of psychotherapy that focuses primarily on the present, on current challenges, rather than the past.
A pragmatic approach.
An approach that involves ‘homework’ – the practice of putting the content of sessions into action between sessions.
An model of therapy that 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 thirteen 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 treatments and always strive to deliver effective interventions.

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 navigated the challenges of a career change; I have lived through and adjusted to numerous life transitions including recently, motherhood. I aspire to bring a blend of empathy, sensitivity and compassion to my work with clients alongside my clinical knowledge and experience.

I divide my working time between my private practice and further doctoral studies. Outside of work I enjoy an active lifestyle made up of running, yoga and looking after my young family.

My special interests include men’s mental health, maternal and paternal perinatal mental health, PTSD and social anxiety.

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Academic Qualifications

Postgraduate Diploma in CBT
Postgraduate Certificate in Low Intensity Psychological Interventions
Postgraduate Conversion Diploma in Psychology
BA in Modern Languages

Professional Accreditation

Fully accredited by the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapists (BABCP)