Haroon Afzal, Psychology MBPsS, BSc (Hons), MRes, PgDip CBT, PgCert

Training, qualifications & experience

Over 12 years of experience working with the National Health Service (NHS). Graduated within Psychology (BSC, hons and MRes Psychology) and further training as an accredited Cognitive Behavioral Therapist. Clinical supervisor. Please see further qualification and further training above.

• 8 years experience and practice in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• Registered member of the British Psychological Society (BPS)
• Fully accredited CBT therapist with the BABCP (British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapists)
• EMDR, 2018
• Compassion Focussed Therapy
• Mindfullness based CBT
• Applied Relaxation
• Behaviour Therapy
• Behavioural Activation (BA)
• CBT with Exposure and Response Prevention (CBT with ERP)
• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
• Motivational Interviewing
• Solution Focused Brief Therapy
• Trauma focused CBT
• Drugs and Alcohol
• Awareness in Bereavement Care

Typical presentations include:

Panic Disorder; Depression; Anxiety; OCD; Obsessive Compulsive Disorder; Trauma; Social Anxiety; BDD; Body Dysmorphic Disorder; PTSD; Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; Worrying; Low Self-esteem; Specific Phobia; Generalised Anxiety Disorder; GAD; Social Phobia; Behavioural Activation; Cognitive Restructuring; Behavioural Experiments; Exposure Therapy; ERP

Other areas of counselling I deal with

Panic Disorder; Depression; Anxiety; OCD; Obsessive Compulsive Disorder; Trauma; Social Anxiety; BDD; Body Dysmorphic Disorder; PTSD; Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; Worrying; Low Self-esteem; Specific Phobia; Generalised Anxiety Disorder; GAD; Social Phobia; Behavioural Activation; Cognitive Restructuring; Behavioural Experiments; Exposure Therapy; ERP

Further information

Starting your therapy

People can be anxious at the thought of starting therapy. This is understandable, however it’s important to remember that seeking treatment is no different to seeing your GP for a physical concern.

1 in 4 people attending GP services experience difficulties with their mental health.

Your first session will begin with an assessment which will be used to provide the basis for therapy. This includes your key concerns, general mood, any specific requirements and some background information. If suitable, we will start the therapy by showing you the interaction between your thoughts, feelings and behaviour. This should help start the process of reflection and understanding, which are key components of any therapy.

Therapy sessions

The therapy sessions are agreed, highlighting key areas to be addressed and helping to progress treatment. Therapy will involve numerous techniques to help aid recovery and provide you with ways of reducing and managing your concerns.

The sessions are undertaken on a weekly basis, for good initial outcomes and can then gradually reduce to fortnightly sessions, dependent on your personal choice. Most clients usually require 10 sessions and each session will last for an hour.