CBT for panic attacks, generalised anxiety and health anxiety - A testimonial

I have suffered with generalised anxiety disorder and health anxiety for most of my life. I came to Sarah for help as things got progressively worse and I was experiencing intense anxiety. I would wake up numerous times throughout the night with my body contracting and feeling incredibly panicky.  My guess is that these were panic attacks.  I was up night after night experiencing these attacks over and over again and would sit there on the sofa feeling very frightened and wondering what was happening to me, not having a clue how to stop or handle these sensations and feelings.  It was a very frightening and distressing experience.

Sarah taught me how to manage my panic symptoms and very quickly the panic attacks soon stopped.  I cannot tell you how relieved and grateful to Sarah I am to be free of the panic attacks.  I gradually started to sleep better too.

After that, we concentrated on helping me with my generalised anxiety and health anxiety. I can certainly say that CBT and working with Sarah has helped me enormously.  I no longer have generalised anxiety disorder and health anxiety. Having suffered for so long with a variety of anxiety symptoms, it is wonderful to be able to manage my anxiety really well. Sarah is always professional, trustworthy and an easy person to talk to.  Thank you, Sarah, for your expertise.

(Female, aged 51, virtual sessions, Nov 2020)

CBT for Depression and Anger - A Testimonial

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)

CBT for Anxiety and Worry

In the relatively short time I have been having CBT sessions with Sarah my outlook on life has changed hugely. When I first contacted her, I felt in a complete and utter muddle. I could not see the way forward and was unable to make decisions that really needed to be made.

With Sarah’s help and her suggested techniques, I am feeling vastly better and have been implementing big changes for the next period of my life. 

(Male, aged 61, virtual sessions, October 2020)

CBT for Anger and Stress

I had been working very hard and long hours. My life was go, go, go! Unfortunately, it was very money driven. The more you have, the more you want. It was affecting my relationship with my wife. I needed to put the brakes on in my life. I went from 0 to a 100 in seconds flat and would get really angry. I would judge everybody by my own standards and it used to wind me up if they were not as efficient and as fast. 

We identified the issues which were causing agitation and stress. Sarah drip fed remedies over 5 sessions, which have been applied daily. I completed a brief questionnaire for each session to assess my mood and week by week it was improving. As a very practical person I identified with the very practical adaptations of CBT and to date it has worked. 

I was very skeptical before starting. I thought how can someone from a non-engineering background possibly understand me? Actually, I found Sarah to be very understanding and empathetic. After all the sessions I have found my temperament to be much calmer. 

(Male, aged 60, October 2020, virtual sessions)

CBT for OCD - Sexual Content and Fear of Contamination

After having mild OCD for 6 years, which I thought I was managing properly, it suddenly got a lot worse, when the sexual intrusive thoughts became more frequent and distressing. They were causing me a great deal of anxiety and impacting my life to a great degree. 

I began Metacognitive Therapy (MCT) with Sarah. I noticed a great improvement and reduction in intrusive sexual thoughts after 5 sessions. In my following appointments we worked on contamination OCD, which has hugely improved. I have gained the tools and skills to prevent a relapse. I have also developed greater insight about what maintains OCD. I realised that I had not been managing my intrusions effectively or helpfully over the past 6 years which allowed them to increase.

I was very glad that I didn’t have to go into detail about my intrusive thoughts and I have felt very comfortable throughout my time with Sarah.  I was surprised how quickly I improved because I was initially concerned that it may take many sessions.  All of our sessions have been virtual as I don’t drive and I live some distance away. I have been pleased how accessible and easy it has been working this way. 

(Male, aged 18, September 2020, virtual sessions)

CBT for Depression

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 and EMDR for low self-esteem and social anxiety

I was feeling overwhelmed and had lost any ability to focus both professionally, and in my personal life. I was not thinking or behaving as I normally would and was catastrophising, with an inability to focus on anything. I had been experiencing some difficult life events and felt unable to cope, which triggered feelings of low self-esteem.  I had been signed off work. 

I had arranged to meet Sarah for a in person face to face session but to due COVID-19 social distancing we decided to have sessions via Zoom. I found it was still really engaging and supportive. 

It emerged through our sessions that I had social anxiety due to a past trauma in a difficult relationship, and that my social anxiety and low self-esteem were contributing to my overall sense of stress and being overwhelmed. 

Through sessions with Sarah involving both CBT and EMDR I have found that my social anxiety has gone, and my sense of self esteem and confidence has improved dramatically. I don’t just feel like I’m back to being myself again, I feel like I am an improved version of myself, equipped with a toolkit of creative resources I can use. Learning how to control the focus of my attention has been particularly impactful in my professional life.  Releasing the past trauma through EMDR has had a positive and life-changing impact on my self-esteem.

The person I was when I first spoke to Sarah is so different to the person I am now, and the journey has been an incredibly positive one. I now find myself excited for the future and embracing new challenges. 

(Virtual sessions, female aged 41, July 2020)

CBT for OCD – fear of acting on an impulse to injure myself

My mood has gradually got better over the 4 CBT sessions with Sarah. She used a type of CBT called Metacognitive Therapy (MCT). In the past I had general counselling, although this was good at the time, it was more of a short term fix. I think CBT suits me better. I like the fact that Sarah gave me techniques and skills to work on throughout my day. I was really impressed how quickly the CBT acted upon my behaviour when I changed my attitude to my thoughts.  I no longer have the fear that I might injure myself.

It worked really well having the sessions virtually, as I didn’t have to travel and could fit it in easily with my life.

(Male, aged 20, July 2020, virtual sessions)

CBT 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.

Remote CBT sessions to treat depression - a testimonial

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)