Metacognitive therapy (MCT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for Harm OCD and a chronic health condition

When I first saw Sarah, I was feeling really down and was dragging myself through each day not knowing how to cope with the OCD. I was overwhelmed with harm OCD and was hating myself because of the thoughts that were entering my mind. My chronic health condition makes life challenging for me and I felt so hopeless having both to cope with. 

I learnt that I do have agency over my compulsions, for example I used to try to block out the intrusions and would try to avoid anything that might trigger them. Whereas before therapy, they felt like they were out of control. With the help of metacognitive therapy and ACT (both forms of CBT) I have started to turn my life around. Sarah made me feel safe and heard throughout our sessions and her style of therapy really clicked with me. It allowed me to make the changes necessary to move forward with my life and learn to manage my health condition.

(Female, age 25, virtual sessions, April 23)

The treatment of PTSD using EMDR following a traumatic event.

 I was hit by a truck whilst riding my bike. I had been riding on busy roads for over twenty years and regarded myself as a competent and careful cyclist. I found this incident to be particularly traumatic. Along with physical injuries, I also experienced some psychological symptoms which affected my day-to-day life. I have always thought of myself as a headstrong and determined person, so I was taken by complete surprise, and this affected my belief in myself. 

I was a bit sceptical of EMDR at first and thought “is this really going to work?” Having completed the treatment, I think it is amazing and has totally changed my life. Before starting the therapy, I thought my love of riding a bike had passed and I would never get it back. Now, I am as passionate as ever about riding. I found Sarah to be very approachable and trustworthy. Even though EMDR seemed unusual, I felt safe in her hands.

(Female, aged 46, virtual sessions, March 2022)

MCT, EMDR and DBR for emetophobia and health anxiety

I suffered from emetophobia and health anxiety from the age of 13 following a traumatic experience. This affected my social life and my IBS. My preoccupation with this controlled a lot of my thoughts and my behaviours.  Throughout the sessions with Sarah I have learned how to control my worry about this using metacognitive therapy (MCT). 

EMDR helped me to unpick the traumatic experience in a subtle way and it didn’t feel overwhelming. I had initially felt hesitant about doing it for fears that it would rip a plaster off and open up lots of unpleasant memories in the session, which didn’t actually happen. The DBR was fascinating, gentle and calming. It helped me to process things in a subtle way.  I want to say it felt “non-invasive” and unconscious. 

Throughout the time I saw progress in my ability to travel, see friends and go out for meals. As I controlled my worry and managed my anxiety, my IBS symptoms eased. 

 (Female, aged 22, in person therapy, April 23)

Testimonial for CBT and EMDR for a re-occurrence of panic attacks.

Due to a combination of life events, and restrictive living due to the Pandemic, I unfortunately experienced a relapse in my panic and anxiety disorder.

I did not hesitate to contact Sarah, who once again was able to help me.

We explored what was currently maintaining my panic disorder and heightened anxiety.  We then processed some deep-rooted traumatic memories that were also contributing to the maintenance of my panic and anxiety. With a combination of talking, and lots of engaging exercises in order to not only compliment the fantastic work we had done in the my previous sessions, (when first diagnosed), but we went even further and explored new techniques and tools to help me normalise my feelings and thoughts, train myself to control activating the CAS – if you know, you know! – and turn a corner into believing that I truly do have the ability to control my thinking patterns, beliefs and behaviours which have been fuelling my problems.

(Female age 34, virtual sessions)

How CBT and EMDR can help with panic attacks

Both CBT and EMDR have been shown to be effective in treating panic attacks. The choice of which therapy to use will depend on the individual's specific needs and preferences, and may be determined in consultation with an accredited therapist.

CBT focuses on identifying the negative thoughts and beliefs and unhelpful coping strategies which maintain panic attacks. Once these have been identified, the therapist and the client work to make appropriate changes. This can help individuals learn to manage their panic symptoms and reduce their fear of panic attacks.

EMDR helps individuals process traumatic events that may be contributing to their panic attacks. Through the use of bilateral stimulation (such as eye movements, tapping, or sounds), EMDR helps individuals reprocess traumatic memories, reducing the emotional intensity associated with them. This can lead to a decrease in the frequency and severity of panic attacks.

Sarah begins using CBT as the primary treatment using an evidence based protocol. If there are still traumatic memories contributing to the panic attacks, Sarah will then change to using EMDR if the client wishes.

Metacognitive therapy (MCT) to help with heightened anxiety and low mood

I found Sarah to be warm and easy to talk to. She has a wealth of knowledge about the subject. She keeps herself very up to date with current techniques and research. 

 The CBT techniques totally made sense to me and encouraged me in new ways of thinking and breaking with old patterns of worry and ruminating. The way I have learned to shift my focus of attention easily and quickly has helped lighten my mood and stopped me from over-analyzing.  This has been noticed by family as well.

 (Virtual sessions, female aged 68, February 2023)

Metacognitive Therapy (MCT)

Metacognitive Therapy (MCT) is a psychotherapeutic approach that focuses on changing the way people think about their thoughts, rather than directly targeting the thoughts themselves. The underlying assumption of MCT is that negative thoughts and emotions are not the cause of psychological distress, but rather the way in which people respond to them.

The therapy aims to teach individuals how to recognize and regulate their thoughts and beliefs about their thoughts, also known as metacognition. This involves identifying and challenging maladaptive patterns of thinking, such as rumination or worrying, and developing more adaptive ways of responding to one's thoughts.

MCT has been found to be effective in treating a range of psychological issues, including OCD, generalised anxiety, panic attacks, health anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress. It has also been shown to be effective in reducing rumination, worry, and over-thinking.

Overall, MCT is a therapy that offers a unique approach to treating psychological distress. By targeting metacognitive processes, rather than the content of thoughts, MCT may provide a more sustainable and long-lasting solution for those struggling with negative thoughts and emotions.

CBT and EMDR for Social Anxiety

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) can be effective treatments for social anxiety.

CBT aims to help to identify and modify negative thought patterns and beliefs that contribute to their social anxiety. The therapy also involves exposure exercises that gradually expose the person to social situations they fear, helping them to build confidence and overcome their anxiety.

EMDR, on the other hand, involves using bilateral stimulation such as eye movements, sounds or taps to help the person reprocess traumatic experiences or negative beliefs related to social situations. This can help to reduce the intensity of negative emotions associated with social anxiety.

I always begin with CBT and may move on to EMDR depending on a client’s individual needs and preference.

CBT and EMDR for Social Anxiety

I was a nervous person who would avoid social situations and new experiences due to uncontrollable worry and a fear of embarrassment. I wouldn’t do anything that I had not done a multitude of times already, even that was still a struggle at times. I hated anything that was a break from my normal routine. Truth be told I was reluctant at first to see Sarah. However, after lockdown it became apparent that I needed to sort myself out and seek help.

Working with Sarah I learnt various techniques to help me manage my nervousness and social anxiety. I liked the fact that the sessions were structured and there was a plan. When I started, I had a bit of doubt and wondered if anything could help me.

 I have come back today to see Sarah for a final time after a break. I no longer feel excessively nervous in social situations and new experiences. I feel like a new and improved person. I don’t think I would have done half the stuff I’ve done in the last few months If I had not done CBT and EMDR.

 Virtual sessions, male client aged 22, February 2023

CBT and Flash Technique for OCD

It used to take me half an hour to leave the house because of all my checking. Sometimes I would leave the house only to come back a few minutes later and check everything again. I felt embarrassed and it was such a big hindrance in my life. I believed I would always have to rely on other people - for example, my husband to lock the door or to be there to make sure I had done it. 

Through working with Sarah, I learned what was maintaining my problem. I learned appropriate strategies so that I could make proactive changes. We also used the Flash Technique. This helped to reduce the intensity of some of my intrusive thoughts and helped me to manage my compulsions. It enhanced my belief in myself.

Additionally, I experienced a traumatic event during the time we were working together. Flash Technique helped me to deal with this.

(Female, age 34)