Nishat Ahmed

“A good therapist is someone who joins you in your deepest darkness with a flashlight to help you find your way out”.

My name is Nishat and I’m a Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist accredited under the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies.

I am currently involved in both private practice and the NHS as a Senior CBT Therapist specialising in Neuropsychiatry at the Maudsley Hospital.

What to expect from therapy

The main Psychological approach I practice is High Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. I am also able to incorporate Third Wave approaches such as Mindfulness and Compassion-Focused therapy in order to compliment the individual's therapeutic experience.

In therapy, we will focus on helping you to make positive changes within your life by shifting negative or distorted thinking and behavioural patterns, which may otherwise be contributing or maintaining your difficulties.

I like to take a practical approach in sessions and therefore therapy will be supplemented by resources and in-between session tasks to ensure you are able to consolidate and reflect on any learning from sessions. We will also use Psychometric Outcome Measures to assess and monitor your symptoms and progress throughout therapy to ensure you are meeting your goals.

Evidence-based

CBT is evidence-based. This means it's been clinically proven to work. The best thing about CBT is that it aims to reduce Psychological distress on a day to day basis.

NICE is responsible for recommending national healthcare guidance on the prevention and treatment of ill health. They continuously recommend CBT for many issues. Therefore there is substantial research and evidence to support CBT theory and practice.

Psychological techniques used in therapy consist of but are not limited to:

• Socratic Questioning / Guided Discovery
• Exposure Therapy
• Behavioural Experiments
• Exposure/Response Prevention
• Behavioural Activation / Activity Scheduling
• Cognitive Restructuring
• Metacognitive
• Narrative Expressive Writing
• Reliving and Memory Rescripting / Updating
• Visualisation / Guided Imagery / Relaxation
• Mindfulness / Detached Mindfulness
• Compassion Focused Techniques
• Acceptance and Commitment Techniques

Background

I have worked in the NHS since 2014 and in private practice since 2018 delivering evidenced-based interventions to individuals presenting with Depressive and Anxiety disorders. I am currently a senior clinician specialising in Neuropsychiatry. Prior to this, my experience revolves heavily around Neuro-Cognitive Rehabilitation within the Royal London Hospital. I have also worked in the community helping clients with severe and enduring mental health difficulties to integrate back into the community and live a well and meaningful life. 

I have a proven track record of helping clients to achieve their goals, relieve symptoms of Depression and Anxiety, and support them in maintaining a journey of well-being and clarity within their lives and future.