Dr Adam Hastings-Cook

I am a Chartered Clinical Psychologist registered with the Health Care Professions Council and British Psychological Society. I completed my doctorate in 2010 with Birmingham University, I have post-doctoral training in eight different therapeutic approaches and prior to working privately I worked as the Lead Clinical Psychologist for community mental health services across two London boroughs in the NHS.  

Formally a CBT therapist, I now solely practice Intensive Short Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) which is a well-known and well-respected model of therapy that is founded in attachment theory. ISTDP restructures the personality in the shortest time-frame possible creating a deep and lasting emotional change and an ability to develop secure attachments to others. Research demonstrates positive outcomes continue to improve long after therapy ends. ISTDP is unlike the majority of other therapies I am trained in which aim to help a person to develop short term coping strategies, that usually are forgotten over time. 

Many individuals cut off from their feelings using a wide variety of automatic ways such as: self-criticism, judgement, worrying, self-doubt, pleasing others, fearing others. All of these automatic and habitual patterns aren't simply habit a person has to stop doing, they actively prevent the person from knowing how they feel within themselves and towards others. This then gives rise to symptoms such as anxiety and depression.   

An understanding of our emotions and the way we relate to others is essential in forming healthy secure and loving relationships with others. The reason for its unique efficacy is due to something which many people do not know, our ability to experience, process and express our emotions with others is the most important ingredient in our ability to experience happy and rewarding lives. Our ability to pay attention to and process our emotions, whether these are joy, excitement, anger, grief or love, is in itself a self-soothing / healing process and feeling our emotions to the fullest is what ultimately makes us feel alive. When we can do both of these, a person becomes an emotionally secure and healthy individual, by ourselves and in the company of others. Emotions are an essential tool that inform our decision making in all aspects of our personal and professional lives, enabling us to reach our full potential in our lives and enabling us to blossom. 

My preference is to practice Intensive Short Term Dynamic Psychotherapy which is a well-known, well-documented and well-respected model of therapy that focuses on creating deep and lasting change for individuals in the shortest time frame possible. It is an evidence-based approach shown to be effective and suitable for a broad range of psychological issues including but not limited to anxiety, panic attacks, treatment resistant mood disorders, PTSD, sexual problems, bereavement, substance misuse issues, personality disorder related issues and unexplained medical symptoms.

Transformative change can rapidly be seen in the character of the client. Research indicates positive outcomes are long lasting and most importantly improvements continue long after therapy ends.

During the assessment session we will establish appropriate treatment goals and will work in a collaborative and structured manner towards these. Issues are addressed systematically, with the greatest sensitivity and in a manner whereby you control the process ensuring you work at a pace that is optimal to you.

I receive regular supervision and have completed my own personal therapy, specifically (ISTDP).

Please feel free to contact me by email or telephone to arrange an initial assessment or ask me any questions you may have.