Psychotherapy / CBT / EMDR
A form of therapy that offers several modalities to ensure support for each individual in a personal manner. Each session is tailor-made to give you the best, expert, and confidential support, in a non-judgemental and safe environment.
What is CBT?
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is a form of evidence-based psychotherapy that is used to treat common mental health problems. CBT recognises the relationship between thoughts (cognitions), emotions, physical sensations, and responses (behaviours) and that this relationship can sometimes lead to maintaining problems, commonly called a ‘vicious cycle’.
CBT aims to identify unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviours and teaches the client interventions and techniques in order to break the cycle.
CBT is a collaborative therapy and the client’s active engagement is an essential part of the process – due to this, CBT can be referred to as not only a talking therapy but also a ‘doing’ therapy.
Often tasks will be collaboratively created to complete in between sessions and these building blocks form the structure of the therapy and contribute to the client’s therapeutic goals.
CBT is recommended by NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) as an evidence- based treatment that can help with depression, generalised anxiety disorder, health anxiety, social anxiety, PTSD, OCD & specific phobias.
What is EMDR?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing. It is a trauma-focused therapy developed to help people recover from distressing or traumatic life experiences.
When something overwhelming or traumatic happens, the brain can become “stuck” processing the memory. This means the experience continues to feel as upsetting in the present as it did when it originally happened. EMDR helps the brain to reprocess these memories correctly, allowing them to move into long-term memory where they feel distant, manageable, and no longer emotionally triggering.
Rather than focusing only on talking, EMDR uses bilateral stimulation(such as guided eye movements, tapping, or tones) to support the brain’s natural healing process.
How Does EMDR Work?
EMDR follows an eight-phase structured protocol that ensures therapy is safe, stabilising, and effective. During sessions, you will be gently guided to briefly focus on a distressing memory while simultaneously engaging in bilateral stimulation. This allows the brain to:
- Reduce emotional intensity
- Reprocess negative beliefs
- Form healthier perspectives
- Integrate memories in a non-distressing way
Over time, memories lose their emotional “charge” and become something that happened — rather than something that still feels like it is happening now. You remain fully aware, in control, and supported throughout the process.
- Feel calmer and less reactive
- Reduce intrusive memories, flashbacks, and nightmares
- Release emotional blocks
- Improve confidence and self-belief
- Reduce anxiety and fear responses
- Feel more in control of your emotions
- Improve relationships and quality of life
Many clients describe feeling lighter, clearer, and more emotionally settled as therapy progresses.
Details
Jessica Baines
Jessica Baines Psychotherapy, BABCP Accredited Cognitive Behavioural Therapist and EMDR Therapist
I have 10 years’ experience of treating people with common mental health problems and have worked in a variety of settings from Drs offices to community greenhouses!
I decided to train as a therapist after working for many years in a supportive role with people who were unable to work due to physical and /or mental health difficulties. I found that I became very interested in mental health and, more importantly, how to support people in addressing their problems and assist in achieving their goals.
I love to learn, so going back to university was a dream for me – one of my favourite elements of this career path is that there are always new developments in therapy and therefore, more to learn! I am committed to continued professional development to ensure that my knowledge is up to date so that I can best support the people that I work with.
I pride myself on creating a comfortable and safe environment for my clients in order to foster a positive and collaborative therapeutic relationship, which is an essential aspect of successful therapy.
I aim to be transparent with my clients and, following a (free) telephone consultation, if I feel that CBT, EMDR, or indeed I as a therapist, would not be the best fit for your needs I endeavour to signpost or refer to the most appropriate service.