About me
AT A GLANCE:
I am a friendly and experienced therapist but above all, I am a warm human being. I offer CBT, EMDR and Therapeutic Counselling for adults and young people for a wide range of wellbeing concerns. I work either in person or by video consultation. I charge £70 for a 60 minute session or £100 for 90 minute sessions. I am registered to work with BUPA and AXA insurance members and my contact details are W: abtherapy.co.uk T: 07801 434 050 E: aideen@abtherapy.co.uk
If you've been used to coping with things on your own for a while, coming to therapy might feel hard. My first priority is always going to be how I can make this process feel more comfortable for you. If you decide, I am someone you would like to work with, then we can make a start in making sense of what has been keeping you stuck before looking at practical ways in which to help you move forward.
What type of therapy do you offer?
I provide:
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Therapeutic Counselling
Together, we can decide which approach best fits your needs, goals and experiences.
What is CBT?
"It is not events that disturb us but how we perceive them to be" - epictetus
Patterns of unhelpful judgements, perceptions or beliefs to certain events can influence how you feel and what you do in negative ways that create vicious cycles that feel unmanageable. These patterns can keep problems like anxiety, depression or low self esteem stuck.
CBT is an evidence based therapy that helps you to identify and understand these patterns while developing more balanced, helpful ways of responding.
You will learn how to understand your reactions; discover ways to identify and manage overly harsh or distorted thoughts, beliefs and attitudes; discover alternative ways of managing situations and feelings with more confidence.
What is counselling?
Counselling assumes that we are born with a natural self. As we grow up, we often learn to put other people's expectations, needs or approval before our own. Over time, this can leave us feeling disconnected from who we really are, unsure of what we want, or living according to what we think we should do rather than what feels right for us.
Counselling provides the opportunity to understand these patterns, reconnect with your own values, feelings and needs, and develop the confidence to make choices that are authentic to you. Rather than offering advice, I work alongside you, helping you gain greater self-awareness, self-acceptance and a stronger sense of who you are.
What can I expect from my first session?
The first session will be spent introducing ourselves to each other. I will tell you a little bit about my role and how we can work together. I will ask you some questions about your safety and discuss the treatment and confidentiality agreement.
There is no one size fits all therapy which is why I dedicate our first few sessions to developing a shared understanding of what the main problems are, how they are affecting you and how you would like things to be different. We will then formulate a problem statement and agree a personalised treatment plan that targets the specific problems we have identified.
What can I expect from a typical session?
The general structure of each subsequent session will be to review how you have been during the week. We will explore any techniques you may have practiced in between sessions, any problems you experienced and agree on what to focus on in the current session before discussing a plan for the forthcoming week.
How long are the sessions?
50 minutes or 90 minutes dependent upon need. For most problems 50 minutes is sufficient. 90 minutes sessions are offered for people undergoing exposure therapy for phobias and fears or trauma focused therapy where reliving is a core component.
How are the sessions offered?
- One to one
- Secure online digital platforms using Teams or Zoom
- Face to face where possible
- Telephone
What if I don't like you?
Finding a therapist that you feel safe and comfortable talking to is vitally important. I offer an initial, 30 minute, no obligation, free of charge consultation in which to briefly discuss what you would like to achieve from your therapy. This will give you the opportunity to consider if I am the right therapist for you.
What if I am in crisis in between sessions?
I am unable to and not insured to offer a crisis or emergency service. It is understandable that you may experience distress at times but if you need to speak to someone immediately, please contact your GP, NHS direct 111 or the Samaritans 116 123
Do I need to know anything else?
Therapy can be challenging because it requires us to confront difficult emotions and experiences. Attending sessions can feel tiring and the emotional effects can be felt for some time afterwards. It is important to make sure you are patient and kind to yourself afterwards. I can help you with self-care strategies if self-compassion is something you struggle with.
What made you want to become a therapist?
I've always been fascinated by what makes us who we are. As a child, I was struck by how different my younger brother and I were. We grew up in the same home, with the same parents and many of the same experiences, yet we saw and responded to the world in completely different ways. That curiosity has stayed with me ever since.
It led me to become a therapist, but more importantly, it shaped how I work. I'm less interested in labels or symptoms than I am in understanding the experiences that have shaped you. Whether you're anxious or confident, withdrawn or outgoing, angry or overwhelmed, I want to understand why life has led you to this point—not to judge you, but to help you make sense of it.
Therapy is a collaborative process. Together, we'll explore the experiences that have influenced your beliefs, relationships and ways of coping, recognising both the strengths you've developed and the patterns that may no longer be serving you. Alongside this understanding, I'll draw on evidence-based therapeutic approaches tailored to your needs, helping you build on your existing strengths, develop new skills where needed, and create meaningful, lasting change.
For me, therapy is about understanding first. From understanding comes self-acceptance, and from self-acceptance comes the freedom to make different choices. I look forward to being part of that journey with you.
Training, qualifications & experience
Who am I?
I’m an experienced Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist, therapeutic counsellor and EMDR practitioner with over 16 years' experience helping people overcome anxiety, depression and the emotional challenges life can bring.
I’m accredited by both the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) and the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), reflecting my commitment to providing safe, ethical and evidence-based therapy.
Alongside my private practice, I continue to work within NHS services, supporting people aged 16 and over with a wide range of difficulties, including depression, anxiety, panic, phobias, OCD, PTSD and complex trauma, social anxiety, health anxiety, low self-esteem, body dysmorphic disorder, procrastination, sleep difficulties, emotional regulation and the psychological impact of long-term health conditions.
Member organisations
BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred). Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA). Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision. Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training. All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Photos & videos
Fees
£70.00 - £100.00
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
- 50 minute sessions are charged at £70.00
- 90 Minute sessions are charged £100.00
