About CBT: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is an approach to help people experiencing a wide range of mental health difficulties. The basis of CBT is that what people think affects how they feel emotionally and also alters what they do.

During times of mental distress the way the person sees and judges themselves and the things that happens to them alters. Things tend to become more extreme and unhelpful. This can worsen how the person feels and causes them to act in ways that keep their distress going.

Therapists will aim to work jointly with the person to help them begin to identify and then change their extreme thinking and unhelpful behaviour. By doing this, the result is a significant improvement in how the person feels and lives their day to day life.

The approach usually focuses on difficulties in the here and now, and relies on the therapist and client developing a shared view of the individual’s problem. This then leads to identification of personalised, usually time-limited therapy goals and strategies which are continually monitored and evaluated. CBT is inherently empowering in nature, the outcome being to focus on specific psychological and practical skills (e.g. in reflecting on and exploring the meaning attributed to events and situations and re-evaluation of those meanings) aimed at enabling the client to tackle their problems by harnessing their own resources. The acquisition and utilisation of such skills is seen as the main goal, and the active component in promoting change with an emphasis on putting what has been learned into practice between sessions (“homework”). Thus the overall aim is for the individual to attribute improvement in their problems to their own efforts, in collaboration with the psychotherapist.

CBT can be used to help anyone irrespective of ability, culture, race, gender or sexual preference. Cognitive and/or behavioural psychotherapies can be used on their own or in conjunction with medication, depending on the severity or nature of each client’s problem. The effectiveness of CBT is supported by evidence from randomised controlled trials (RCTs), uncontrolled trials, case series and case studies.  It is used in the treatment of common mental health problems, including the anxiety disorders, generalised anxiety, panic, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, bulimia and depression as identified by a host of recent reviews by NICE, SIGN and other review bodies.  CBT models have also been developed for use in an increasing range of mental health and health difficulties including severe and enduring mental health problems, such as psychosis, schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, anger control, pain, adjustment to physical health problems, insomnia and organic syndromes, such as early stage dementia.

About EMDR

It is an innovative clinical treatment, which has successfully helped over one million people who have experienced psychological difficulties which originate from some kind of traumatic experience, such as sexual abuse, childhood neglect, road traffic accidents and violence. EMDR is also successful in treating other complaints such as performance anxiety, self-esteem issues, phobias, and other trauma related anxiety disorders.

EMDR is a remarkable treatment method used to heal the symptoms of trauma, as well as other emotional conditions.  EMDR is the most effective and rapid method for healing PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) as shown by extensive scientific research studies.

EMDR therapy uses bilateral stimulation, right/left eye movement, or tactile stimulation, or sound, which repeatedly activates the opposite sides of the brain releasing emotional experiences that are "trapped" in the nervous system.  This assists the neurophysiological system, the basis of the mind/body connection, to free itself of blockages and reconnect itself. 

EMDR allows a client to process an emotional experience that he/she cannot yet talk about, yet following an EMDR session find an ability to talk about it freely.  Most importantly, it can eliminate stress surrounding the traumatic event, with the purpose of allowing new life into the once traumatized and emotionally difficult memory.

How Does EMDR Work?

When disturbing experiences happen, they are stored in the brain, with all the sights, sounds, thoughts, and feelings that accompany them.  When a person is very upset, the brain seems to be unable to process the experience as it would normaly.  Therefore, the negative thoughts and feelings of the traumatic event are "trapped" in the nervous system.  Since the brain cannot process these emotions, the experience and/or its accompanying feelings are often suppressed from consciousness.  However, the distress lives on in the nervous system where it causes disturbances in the emotional functioning of the person (nightmares, vigilance, emotional numbness, avoidance of things that remind one of the trauma).

The EMDR technique does two very important things.  First, it "unlocks" the negative memories and emotions stored in the nervous system, and second, it helps the brain to successfully process the experience.

The therapist works gently with the client, guiding him or her to revisit the traumatic incident.  When the memory is brought to mind, the feelings are re-experienced in a new way.  EMDR makes it possible to gain the self-knowledge and perspective that will enable the client to choose their actions, rather than feeling powerless over their re-actions.  This process can be complex if there are many experiences connected to the negative feelings.  The EMDR therapy sessions continue until the traumatic memories and emotions are relieved.

What are the advantages of EMDR therapy?

Research studies show that EMDR is very effective in helping people process emotionally painful and traumatic experiences.  When used in conjunction with other therapy modalities, EMDR helps move the client quickly from emotional distress to peaceful resolution of the issues or events involved.

EMDR sessions work amazingly fast.  Processing even the most difficult memories can be achieved in a fraction of the time it would have taken with traditional therapy.

Traditional therapies often focus on memories from the unconscious mind, and then analyze their meaning to gain insight into the problem.  EMDR clients also acquire valuable insights during therapy, but EMDR can short-cut the process and go right to the releasing stage.  For more information on EMDR visit:

About Sensorimotor Psychotherapy

Sensorimotor Psychotherapy is a body-centred psychotherapy that makes it possible for clients to discover the habitual and automatic attitudes, both physical and psychological, by which they generate patterns of experience. This gentle therapy teaches clients to follow the inherently intelligent processes of body and mind to promote healing. It is particularly helpful in working with the effects of trauma and abuse, emotional pain, and limiting belief systems. Through the use of simple experiments, unconscious attitudes are brought to consciousness where they can be examined, understood, and changed. A synthesis of somatic therapy and the Hakomi Method of Body-Centred Psychotherapy developed by Ron Kurtz in the 1980's, and from which it evolved, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy has gained international acclaim.

In Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, the body is viewed as a living source of intelligence, information and change. The body, its sensations, and direct sensory experience are referenced throughout the therapy process. Sensorimotor Psychotherapy is based on and committed to principles of mindfulness, non-violence, organicity, unity, and mind/body holism. By proceeding slowly, gently, and non-violently, an atmosphere of safety is created in which the client's defences can be examined and willingly yielded, rather than confronted and overpowered and new resources, especially somatic resources, can be developed.

Although there has been no formal empirical research at this time, there are many anecdotal reports from both clients and therapists that attest to the efficacy of the technique. Professionals using Sensorimotor Psychotherapy report that it often reduces PTSD symptoms, and that the ability to track body sensation helps clients experience present reality rather than reacting as if the trauma were still occurring.

Your Name:


Your email address:


Contact Telephone Number::


Message to Harris Howard:



Enter the above number::