Maria Fragkou

I am an experienced Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist, accredited by the BABCP, an EMDR therapist, and a clinical supervisor.

I offer CBT and EMDR, and I work collaboratively with the client to identify how therapy can meet the client's needs and goals and alleviate distress.

 I work with a variety of psychological difficulties including:

• Depression
• Anxiety Disorders: OCD, Social Anxiety, Generalised Anxiety, Health Anxiety, Panic Disorder and Specific Phobias
• Loss and traumatic grief 
• PTSD, Complex PTSD
• Childhood Trauma
• Complex Trauma
• Interpersonal difficulties and relationship issues 
• Autism Spectrum Condition and ADHD
• Perinatal Depression and Anxiety
• Perinatal Loss
• Parent support and Coaching

In addition to my core training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, I draw on a variety of cognitive and behavioural approaches, such as dialectical behavioural therapy, compassion-focused therapy, schema-based cognitive therapy, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).

 I also offer EMDR, which is a very effective and powerful psychotherapy that enable us to process the impact of past traumatic events. Traumatic events can cause disturbances or interrupt emotional development and can have long-lasting effects on emotional wellbeing and the way we relate to ourselves and others. EMDR helps us to process past trauma, find relief from emotional distress, and break unhelpful relational patterns.

I take a compassion-focused approach to mental health, where depression and anxiety are not viewed as an illness, but rather as a sign of a personal struggle, or a symptom of past distressing experiences. I work in a collaborative and accepting manner helping the client to explore and make sense of these difficulties. When we find ourselves in distress, we often get stuck in unhelpful patterns of thinking and relating to others. CBT helps us to develop alternative, more flexible and helpful coping mechanisms. Whilst CBT is very much focused on the here and now, sometimes, we may work on past experiences or past trauma to find relief of the present symptoms and improve relationships. Trauma-focused therapy, attachment-focused EMDR in particular, can be very effective in helping the individual acknowledge these experiences, and repair the  emotions, negative beliefs and unhelpful responses that lead to symptoms of depression, anxiety, and relationship issues. The pace of therapy and the focus of the work is tailored to the individual needs and wishes of the client.

Following extensive experience working with adults and young people with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC), I use cognitive and behavioural interventions for depression and anxiety, adapted to the specific individual needs of clients with such conditions. I take a strengths-focused approach, working with the client to identify both strengths and challenges and make best use of the person's positive qualities, to increase resilience and overcome existing difficulties. Both my private work and previous NHS roles involve adapting psychological therapy for ASC and ADHD. My work on ASC also includes specialist supervision and the development and delivery of training on adapting CBT for adults with ASC.  

I also work with perinatal depression and anxiety, focusing on helping parents to understand the young brain, and overcome challenges using reflective parenting and attachment-focused approaches. I take a trauma-informed approach when working with parents, exploring why certain situations or children's behaviours are particularly triggering and distressing. I help parents to process these difficulties, honouring their own needs and boundaries, whilst empathising with the child's state of mind, meeting the child's needs and maintaining connection. 

If you wish to book an appointment, please contact me using my contact form at the top of my profile.