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“I have learnt things about myself that I didn’t realise.”
My progress is remarkable in such a short time because when I came to see Sarah, I felt so low and there I felt there was no way out. An event had triggered historical experiences. CBT with Sarah has been a really good fit for me.
I am now better than my ‘normal’ before I started, because I have lots of little tools and I have learnt things about myself that I didn’t realise. I feel more compassion towards myself as I was quite hard on myself before.
(Female, aged 58, in person, July 2024)
“Through CBT and trying a range of tools and techniques, I was able to find some methods that worked for me.”
I started seeing Sarah when I was at a very low point. I was suffering from depression, and I was struggling with chronic work stress. It reached a point where it had affected my relationships. I had lost my direction.
Through CBT and trying a range of tools and techniques, I was able to find some methods that worked for me. I have been able to build some of these techniques into my daily life, which has helped with the stress, and I no longer have depression. I have also been able to gain a much better perspective of wider issues.
I felt comfortable with Sarah and was able to relate to the structure of the sessions, where we would have a bit of a catchup, practice techniques in the session which I could use in my life. She built the sessions around what worked for me. I liked the clear explanations and processes.
(Male, age 49, October 2021)
I am writing this during the third lockdown and yet I feel more resilient and better able to cope.
When I contacted Sarah, I felt panicky, down and exhausted. I had started to withdraw from others and felt hopeless. I felt flat although there was a feeling of being constantly wound up in the background. I have always been successful in my life and yet I just did not know how to deal with how I felt at the time, which was incredibly frustrating.
I had thought that it was my life situation which was largely contributing to how I felt. Working with Sarah
I developed insight into how I was approaching my current events and how to make the correct changes for myself.
I now feel so much more in control of my behaviour and thinking. I feel calmer and more positive. I am writing this during the third lockdown and yet I feel more resilient and better able to cope.
(Female, aged 45, February 2021, virtual sessions)
“I have learned how to change my thinking process”
I had let pressures in my life get me into a bad state where I felt I could no longer cope. I had spoken to a doctor. I decided not to take medication but instead to take his advice and get some CBT sessions. I had no idea what this would entail and I had never opened up to a stranger before. So this was quite daunting but necessary. That was when I phoned Sarah.
Sarah immediately put me at ease. We found some common ground which we could talk about, which was a bit of a leveler and I felt I could open up more. Sarah listened to my issues and instantly came up with some techniques, which I could easily apply. I have learned how to change my thinking process and how to allocate time to issues when appropriate. Since doing this I have been able to sleep much better and I am definitely calmer. My family are back to seeing the real me. I can’t thank Sarah enough!
(Male, age 50, virtual sessions, Oct 2020)
Not only have I recovered from my depression, I actually feel like a different person.
I have just had my final session of CBT. When I started I felt awful. If I am honest, I did feel a bit suicidal on occasions. I felt hopeless and I just felt I was never, ever going to be right again. I had lost my appetite and had no motivation to do anything.
I have been committed to therapy from the start and have practiced all the techniques and strategies that we covered in the sessions. Not only have I recovered from my depression, I actually feel like a different person. I have enjoyed the therapy. I have even caught up on modern technology e.g. listening to podcasts and using a smartphone. My family have seen a big difference in me, which is lovely to hear. Sarah is easy to talk to and I found that whatever issue I came up with, she always had a suggestion for how we could work on this.
I feel so much better. Life seems lighter and easier. I am over the moon and so grateful. I am determined to carry on with all that I have learned in the sessions with Sarah.
(Female, aged 73, virtual sessions)
CBT is the primary treatment for work-related stress
In 2017/18, the Health and Safety Executive estimated that nearly 600,000 employees suffered from work-related stress, depression or anxiety. This figure accounted for the greatest individual number of lost working days in the UK.
At some time in your working life, you have probably felt one or more of these common symptoms:
You feel like you have no resilience, can’t cope with work and are reacting badly to situations at work
You’re experiencing anxiety and/or depression
You’re taking lots of days off, or not working effectively
You are not as productive as usual
You’re having problems sleeping
If so, did you know that Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is the primary treatment for work-related stress as well as all forms of anxiety?
If you have been looking for help with your work-related stress, give me a call on 07817 223669 to discuss if we can work together using CBT.
After 12 sessions my depression scores have gone from severe to mild.
I went to my GP and was diagnosed with severe depression and anxiety. My employer provided me with 12 sessions. I had counselling when I was younger, but this didn't work so I didn’t expect CBT to work. But I was hopeful that it would. Due to COVID-19, we had all of our sessions online, which would not have been my original choice. However, it worked really well.
Working with Sarah I learned some valuable skills. After 12 sessions my depression scores have gone from severe to mild. My anxiety level is normal. I am impressed with how quickly and how well it has worked.
I felt I could trust Sarah. Although there was an age difference between us, I felt she understood me and was able to help me. I am definitely glad I gave Symmetry CBT a try.
(Male, aged 18, June 2020)
I felt so, so low and didn’t want to be around. In desperation I asked a friend for help and she recommended Sarah.
I learned very quickly that I could trust Sarah. She listened to what I said, processed it and then came up with relevant strategies to help me. She never judged what I said. Her focus was on using that information to help me move forward. After the first session I walked out of the door thinking “I feel safe. I’ve got someone to help me”.
Within 8 sessions of CBT, I no longer had depression and heightened anxiety. I decided to have some EMDR sessions to process some upsetting memories. Now I just feel completely different, which is wonderful. I feel more self-confident, calmer, resilient and I can speak up for myself.
(Female aged 48, November 2019)
I was in a very bad place. I was at an all time low and had reached the point where I felt incapable of doing anything. I was lucky to have support from work who were understanding and recommended Sarah.
Within a couple of weeks of CBT I began to notice a positive change. The first technique Sarah taught me just clicked for me. It felt like a light bulb moment.
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Here is a testimonial that a client has allowed me to share concerning CBT for the treatment of depression with anxiety
When it came to the time for the first appointment I felt anxious about opening up about myself.
Read more71 Plymbridge Rd, Plymouth, Devon, PL6 7LB