Dr B Bhanot

About me

About Me

Dr Bandhana (Benny) Bhanot, Clinical Psychologist (CPsychol, DClinPsych, HCPC Registered, BPS Accredited).

I am based at:

Water Lane Cottage for Counselling and Psychotherapy
12 Water Lane
Bishops Stortford
Hertfordshire
CM23 2JZ

My contact details are: b.bhanot@aol.com 07731698444

I am an experienced Clinical Psychologist, registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and a Chartered member of the British Psychological Society (BPS).

I have worked for the NHS since 1999 as a qualified Clinical Psychologist, within a London specialist service for people with severe mental health difficulties. I have gained a wealth of experience working with the complex needs of service users, from the ages of 19 years to their early 60s, in a wide range of care settings.  Forming a trusting relationship with individuals who have experienced trauma in their early life is paramount and a particular skill I have as a therapist.

I can communicate fluently in Punjabi and well in Hindi.

My Work and What I offer

A significant number of the people I have worked with have been people who struggled to seek help for mental distress such that their difficulties escalated further. In my private practise I am committed to working with people such that this is less likely to happen. From the provision of a thorough psychological assessment using psychometric tests (e.g. questionnaires) as required, I provide a shared understanding of the individual’s difficulties (formulation) and therapy to address the goals of therapy. I use a range of therapeutic models including traditional Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), third wave CBT- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Psychodynamic approaches and Behavioural Therapy. I tailor the approach to each individual’s specific needs.

My Interests and Areas of Expertise include:

• All Mental Health difficulties including anxiety, depression, fears/phobias, obsessions, low self-esteem, childhood or more recent trauma, substance abuse, difficulties related to regulating mood (be this related to anger or lows/highs), work-related stress, bereavements and more complex mental health difficulties (such as psychosis).
• Relapse prevention work such that once recovery from a mental health difficulty(or addictive behaviour) has occurred, the risk of re-experiencing future difficulties is reduced.
• Family/Couples work – focusing upon the provision of psycho-educational materials (e.g. about different psychological difficulties) and facilitating communication (e.g. sharing relapse prevention plans) between family members effected by clients difficulties.
• On an organisational level, providing a support group, or a reflective space to think about the impact of work/organisational issues on people’s well-being, with the aim of reducing burn-out in the work context. I am also trained in the provision of ACT in the workplace.

Why see a Psychologist?

You may be asking yourself why seeing a Clinical Psychologist may be the best way forward for you. At some point in their lives around half the UK population will experience difficulties that might benefit from professional help. It is also true that many people do not seek help because of fears and stigma around mental health difficulties.

Coming to see a Psychologist does not mean that you are weak or a failure, in fact recognising that you may need help often takes courage and can be the first important step to overcoming your problems. There is now extensive research evidence showing that psychological therapies are effective, and so you do not continue to struggle feeling that nothing can be done to change your situation for the better.

You may feel both nervous and you be in two minds about coming to talk to someone you have never met before about your problems. This is understandable.  I aim to provide a evidence-based psychological therapy, that is collaborative and within a non-judgemental therapeutic space in which you are able to talk about what is troubling you, irrespective of your gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, nationality, religion or any other individual differences. I focus upon attempting to identify and build on your strengths and resources whilst at the same time helping with your difficulties.