Connie Poon
About me
I am a BABCP (British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapists) accredited cognitive behavioural therapist who has a wide experience offering Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) treatments to people who suffer from anxiety, stress and mood difficulties. I have over 16 years working in the health service.
I provide supervision to CBT trainees. I wad also a committee member of the BABCP Compassion Interest Group (SIG) whom support and encourage research and clinical practice with compassion-focused CBT. I have been invited to international companies to give presentations on CBT in my private work.
CBT has an empathises about helping people to become their own therapist. During the sessions, you will learn to identify the factors that contribute to maintaining your difficulties. You will be encouraged to work collaboratively with your therapist to try techniques to overcome the anxiety, depression, stress and other challenges that you have experienced. This is a space for you to feel heard, to feel safe to talk about challenges in life and to explore ways to overcome them. My role is to offer you guidance and support to achieve the above in the therapy journey.
I completed the CBT training at the Royal Holloway University and later completed further CBT training at the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London. These trainings were steeped in the evidence based CBT models, meaning these models have research evidence to support that they are effective treatments for people who suffer from anxiety and mood difficulties. I also have special interest in Acceptance and Commitment therapy (ACT) and compassion CBT where I incorporate these elements into therapy sessions in order to help clients to achieve their therapy goals and maximise the therapy outcome.
I receive regular supervision and undertake CPD to maintain my professional registration.
I am bilingual. I speak fluent English and Chinese (Cantonese).
I provide CBT treatment for a wide range of psychological difficulties including:
Generalised anxiety disorder/excessive worry
Panic attacks
Specific phobias
Obsessive compulsive disorder
Post traumatic stress disorder
Depression/ re-current depression
self esteem/ confidence building
Stress
Health anxiety
Trichotillomania
People who suffer from long term physical health problem may also suffer from sadness and anxiety ( long term physical health problems such as heart problems, stroke, IBS, diabetes..etc). I offer a CBT in conjunction with the acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) approach to this patient group, which has shown to be helpful in research studies.
Please note that free parking is available at request at my practice in Chiswick.
Training, qualifications & experience
Qualifications:
PgDip Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College,
PgDip Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Royal Holloway, University of London
BSc Occupational Therapy. Brunel University
Special interest:
Offering formulation driven CBT to help people overcoming anxiety and depression. Through this process, my clients can learn factors that contribute to their difficulties such as stress, anxiety, low esteem and depression. They also can learn techniques to overcome their difficulties and feel empowered by the end of therapy.
I also have special interest in Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and Compassion CBT, which I incorporate in therapy in order to maximize the therapy outcome.
I was a committee member of the BABCP Compassion Interest Group (SIG).
Experience:
My background is a senior occupational therapist. My experience of working in physical settings such as the stroke unit, the care of the elderly on the acute wards, orthopedics, and community rehabilitation have given me a good knowledge about how physical health conditions can impact on people's lives. I then specialised working as an occupational thearpist in mental health settings prior to becoming an accredited cognitive behavioural therapist. (Please also refer to my profile about my experience as a CBT therapist and the treatment that I offer).
Member organisations
Registered / Accredited
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies
The BABCP is the lead organisation for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in the UK.
Membership is open to anyone with an interest in the practice, theory or development of CBT. BABCP also provides accreditation for CBT therapists.
BABCP accredited members adhere to the Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics in the Practice of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies, and are willing to be scrutinised in this adherence as required.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
Anxiety and depression in relation to long term health conditions such as diabetes, heart problems, COPD and irritable bowel syndromes (IBS)...etc
Therapies offered
Fees
Additional information
The sessions are £95 for fifty minute. The assessment session would need to be paid by cash. We can then have an agreement about the payment for your following sessions.
I am a registered therapy with different insurance providers such as Bupa, Aviva, Cigna, Vitality Health..etc. If you would like to claim your sessions from a insurance company, please let me know in our first appointment. It is helpful to discuss with your insurance provider about the amount available for your psychological therapy prior to making your first appointment.
Availability
Free parking is available for the clients to be seen at the Chiswick Park.
Further information
I take referrals from G.P.s, private settings, psychiatrists. I also take self referrals from clients.