Robert Backai
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
Supervision details
I am able to offer supervision to qualified and trainee CBT therapists & students, and to therapists wishing to explore CBT therapy and supervision.
My personal preference is for traditional, Beckian CBT, the work of Christine Padesky, and a range of other CBT therapies such as:
- REBT (Ellis)
- CFT (Gilbert)
- ACT (Hayes & Harris)
- Emotional Schema Therapy (Leahy)
- Mindfulness (Williams, Penman, Segal, Burch)
When working with OCD, I employ traditional protocols (Salkovskis, Veale, Clark, Purdon) and alternative approaches (Schwartz's 4-step model), Metacognitive therapy (Wells) and ACT (Hayes).
When working with trauma and PTSD, I follow the Ehlers-Clark trauma-focused CBT model and Imagery work and Metaphors (Brevin, Holmes, Stopa and Havens), with additional techniques from somatic trauma therapies (Rothschild, Levin).
I am increasingly interested in transdiagnostic approaches such as The Unified Protocol (Barlow) and the Process-Based CBT (Hofmann & Hayes) models, and have introduced these in my private practice.
My work is further informed by person-centred therapy (Carl Rogers), the existential thought (Irvin Yalom, Rollo May, Ernesto Spinelli, Emmy van Deurzen), Expressive writing & writing therapies (James Pennebaker, Ira Progoff, Kate Thompson and Kathleen Adams) and Attachment theory (Bowlby) and the work of Susie Orbach.
I've completed additional training in single-session therapy, motivational interviewing, psychotherapeutic coaching and psychosexual therapy including working with infidelity & affairs, compulsive sexual behaviours & sex addictions.
When working with sexual addictions and compulsions, I follow a sex-positive approach leaning towards the compulsivity school of thought, however, I believe that, based on a CBT framework using the ABC model (Activating event - Behaviours - Consequences), interventions and ideas from both approaches combine with values exploration and CFT, can be helpful in addressing problematic sexual behaviours.
I have 5 years' experience of initial assessments and bereavement counselling at Cruse Scotland Bereavement Support (Edinburgh), delivering individual and group sessions for bereaved adults.
My work experience includes:
- Private practice
- EAP Initial Assessments
- Crisis counselling & In-the moment support
- NHS IAPT/Talking Therapies
- EAP Counselling/ Therapy
- Insurance companies
Completed training at:
Contemporary Institute of Clinical Sexology (Professional Certificate in Psychosexual Therapy)
The Centre of Therapy and Counselling Studies, Glasgow (CBT diploma)
University of Aberdeen (COSCA)
BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred). Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA). Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision. Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training. All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.
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.
Accredited register membership
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
