Fiona Watts

Hello - how can I help you?
If you are experiencing anxiety or depression, if you feel 'out of sorts' and struggle to cope with relationships at home or in work, if you feel stressed or overwhelmed with aspects of your life at the moment, then I can help you progress towards a happier and healthier outlook, where you can feel more confident about facing and coping with life's current and future challenges.

CBT is a highly effective, evidence-based talking therapy that can help you recognise, adapt and overcome your negative, self-limiting beliefs and change the accompanying automatic and often reactive behaviours that will be maintaining your distress. Our work together can help you develop more realistic, reasonable ways of thinking and behaving that will significantly improve your sense of well-being.

How will we work together?
Our work will be time-limited and solution-focused, identifying ways of overcoming the distressing emotional and physical effects of your current thinking and behaviour patterns. We will work together, as a team, to identify achievable goals and explore with warmth, humour, compassion, respect and sensitivity, the problems you are currently experiencing and how they impact on you. My aim is always to help you help yourself by becoming your own therapist, to empower you and help you take control of your life by showing you the tools to understand why you do what you do, and most importantly, what you can do about it. 

So we will typically write things down in session to help us explore and understand what is happening outside of session, and there will be things we've agreed could be helpful for you to practise between sessions, to allow you to experiment with different ways of approaching these problem situations. We will continually review how helpful these strategies are for you and identify how to build on the progress you've already made, as well as addressing potential for relapse behaviours, so you have a specific plan for successfully managing future difficulties.

Do I use any other approaches?
Whilst trained in CBT, I also integrate other approaches to tailor our work so that it best fits your needs. For example, TA explores relationship and interaction patterns; Mindfulness helps us focus on present moment experiences, rather than dwell on the past - which generates low mood, or worry about the future - which increases anxiety; and ACT helps us develop self compassion, identify and follow your values and to accept and detach from triggering thoughts.

What issues have I worked with?
I have over 15 yrs experience of working within a range of NHS, public sector, EAP and educational settings and have worked effectively with neurotypical and neuro-diverse individuals and couples of all ages, including young people, presenting with a range of issues. These include clinical depression, anxiety, confidence and self esteem, personality disorders, domestic and sexual abuse, OCD, trauma, bipolar, addiction, relationships, self-harm and suicidal thoughts, bereavement, sexuality, life-limiting health issues and work-related stress. 

Training & Qualifications
I am a trained and qualified Cognitive Behavioural Therapist and hold a Postgraduate Diploma in CBT. I am registered and accredited by the BACP and a member of the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies. I hold two first class Psychology degrees, which have given me an extensive understanding of the developmental, sociological, biological and psychological factors underlying the emotional difficulties we all face at times.

Are you looking for supervision?
l also hold a Postgraduate Diploma in Consultative Supervision, which enables me to work with supervisees in clinical and non-clinical settings. I currently provide ongoing supervision for individuals and groups within a range of organisations including the NHS, educational services, domestic abuse and child services, as well as those in training and private practice. 

I use the Hawkins and Shohet 7 eyed model and the Van Ooijen 3 steps model within supervision to provide a framework for exploration and reflection. I believe the restorative aspect of supervision is just as important as the developmental and normative aspects, so there will be a space for acknowledging and exploring the impact that life events may be having on you and your work.

I am fully insured and have monthly supervision with a BACP accredited supervisor. My fees are competitive, whilst reflecting my training, qualifications and experience, and I welcome referrals from individuals, couples, EAPs, GPs and other health professionals.

Please feel free to contact me at cbtherapysolutions@outlook.com if you would like to arrange a brief phone call to discuss working together.

Therapy : Individuals : £50 per 50-60 minute session

Supervision: Individuals - £55 per hr ( £82.50 per 90 minute session)

Organisations - Individual therapy /supervision or Group supervision- £60 per hr (£90 per 90 minute session)

I am still providing remote sessions, which offers you greater freedom to choose when and where you would like to engage with your sessions. There is no need to factor in driving times or parking issues - you are free to attend on your terms, at a time that better suits you, and from a place you feel is comfortable, safe and private. Clients who have transferred to remote working with me have reported our therapeutic relationship is still empathic and sensitively attuned to their needs and our work remains highly effective.