CBT in Liverpool and online
Understand what’s getting in the way Work out how to change it
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Compassion Focused Therapy combine practical evidence-based strategies for change with a more constructive and balanced way of responding to difficult thoughts, emotions and patterns of self-criticism.
Who it’s for
You know you can’t go on like this, but you haven’t found a way through
You’re struggling with anxiety or work stress and find it difficult to switch off, even when the working day is over.
Impostor syndrome, self-criticism or fear of failure leaves you doubting yourself or feeling that you’re never quite doing enough.
ADHD makes it harder to manage your attention, emotions, organisation or competing demands.
You want to understand the links between how you think, feel and respond, and the patterns that may be keeping difficulties going.
You’re looking for focused, collaborative therapy with practical strategies you can put into practise between sessions and continue using after therapy ends.
How Therapy WORKS
Understanding what’s happening is only the beginning
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What is CBT?
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy explores how your thoughts, emotions, physical reactions and behaviours influence one another.
We’ll develop a shared understanding of the difficulties you’re experiencing: how they developed, what triggers them and the cycles that may be keeping them going. We’ll consider the meaning you make of situations, how you respond and why some understandable ways of coping may have become less helpful over time.
This understanding helps us identify specific patterns that can be approached differently. Rather than trying to change everything at once, we’ll focus on practical changes that are most likely to make a meaningful difference.
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What is CFT?
Compassion Focused Therapy is particularly helpful when shame, self-criticism or fear of failure leave you feeling under pressure or not good enough.
CFT recognises that our minds evolved to detect threats, pursue goals and seek safety and contentment. Our temperament and experiences shape these responses, sometimes contributing to perfectionism, self-blame or relentless striving.
We’ll explore these patterns and help you develop a more compassionate response to difficulties, drawing on courage, wisdom and care. This can help you manage difficult emotions and approach change without relying on fear or self-criticism.
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How CBT can help
CBT offers a practical approach to change, helping us identify the patterns keeping your difficulties going. Where self-criticism, shame or fear of failure are part of those patterns, we can draw on CFT to help you make changes without adding more pressure or self-criticism.
We’ll clarify your goals, whether that means feeling calmer under pressure, setting boundaries, trusting your judgement, recovering from setbacks or working more effectively with your attention and energy. We’ll then develop strategies for managing anxious thoughts, unhelpful coping patterns, avoidance and ADHD-related challenges.
The aim is not to eliminate every difficult thought or feeling, but to help you feel less controlled by them, respond more flexibly and build a life that reflects what matters to you.
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What to expect
Therapy is collaborative and focused, while flexible enough to respond to what is happening in your life. In the early sessions, we’ll explore what you’re experiencing, clarify your goals and agree where to begin. We’ll review progress and adjust our focus as needed.
Sessions usually involve agreeing a focus, exploring a particular situation or pattern and considering what might help. We may use CBT exercises, draw on CFT where helpful, practise a skill or identify a manageable change to try, while making space for immediate concerns when needed.
An important part of therapy happens between sessions. We’ll agree ways to put ideas into practice, try different ways of responding and notice what happens. This helps translate therapy into everyday change. As therapy comes to an end, we’ll consolidate what you’ve learned and consider how you can maintain the changes you’ve made.
CBT can help you:
Switch off more easily and feel calmer when life is demanding.
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Manage difficult emotions without feeling overwhelmed or reacting in ways you later regret.
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Develop more balanced ways of thinking about yourself and difficult situations.
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Find practical ways to manage your time, stay organised and follow through on what you need to do.
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Build confidence in yourself and your ability to cope with challenges.
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Respond to mistakes, criticism and setbacks with greater self-acceptance.
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Create a healthier balance between work, relationships, responsibilities and looking after yourself.
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Reconnect with enjoyment, a sense of direction and the parts of life that matter to you.
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A different way forward
It’s possible to change the patterns that keep you anxious, under pressure or never feeling quite good enough, without adding more pressure or self-criticism.
FAQs
COMMON QUESTIONS
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CBT often involves around 12–20 sessions, although the right length of therapy will vary from person to person. It can depend on what you’re struggling with, how long the difficulties have been affecting you, whether there are several things you’d like to work on, and how much you’re able to put into practice between sessions.
Some clients may only need around 6 sessions, while others may benefit from 30 or more. We’ll regularly review your progress towards your therapy goals and discuss together how long therapy is likely to be helpful.
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Yes, I am accredited as a Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist with the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP). I gained a Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapies, which fulfilled the BABCP’s training requirements. BABCP accreditation is a recognised standard of excellence in CBT practice and requires therapists to meet specified standards for training, clinical experience and professional practice.