Evidence-based therapy to transform your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours
Hi there! I'm Claire Dougherty, a BABCP Accredited Cognitive Behavioural Therapist with a background in Mental Health Nursing and extensive experience across mental health settings. I am also an NMC Registered Mental Health Nurse (RMN). I'm passionate about helping people like you improve their mental health and wellbeing.
I believe that everyone deserves to live a fulfilling life, free from the burdens of anxiety, depression, and psychological challenges, so you can be your best self. As a therapist, I deliver the most up-to-date and effective mental health strategies to help you achieve your goals.
I am qualified in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and I specialise in Trauma Focussed CBT (TF-CBT). CBT is an evidence-based approach that helps you understand and reverse unhelpful patterns of thinking and behaviour. I am also trained at Diploma level in Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) and EMDR, enabling me to offer a flexible, tailored approach to each individual's needs.
I have a particular specialist interest in working with people experiencing PTSD and complex trauma, including survivors of childhood trauma, sexual abuse and assault, and attachment trauma.
I know that seeking therapy can be a daunting experience, but I'm here to support you every step of the way. By working together, we can identify the beliefs and behaviours that are holding you back and develop new, healthier patterns to improve your psychological wellbeing. I'm committed to helping you achieve lasting change and live your best life.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a highly effective style of therapy which looks at how your thoughts, feelings and behaviours impact each other and maintain difficulties which can hold you back in your life.
Our thoughts impact how we feel and what we do, which creates our world. CBT helps you create a life you love.
Trauma‑focused CBT is a structured, time‑limited therapy that helps clients:
It is recommended by NICE for PTSD.
Sessions are usually 60-90 minutes, with 90-minute sessions used when processing traumatic memories.
It is a collaborative therapy, so you work with your therapist to develop new understandings of your experiences and then develop new, more helpful ways to move forward. This is often achieved through experiments and testing things out in-between sessions until you reach your therapy goals.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is an evidence-based approach recommended by the NICE guidelines. NICE stands for the National Institute of Clinical Excellence and are the standards set out by the government for the treatment of all illnesses.
CBT has been found to be effective in hundreds of clinical trials for many different disorders.
I am passionate about supporting people with a wide range of mental health challenges
Generalised anxiety, social anxiety, health anxiety, and panic attacks
Low mood, loss of interest, and feelings of hopelessness
Obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours
Post-traumatic stress and complex trauma histories
Specific fears and avoidance behaviours
Overwhelming stress and anger management
Sleep difficulties and poor sleep patterns
Excessive self-criticism and high standards
Excessive self-criticism and high standards
Poor self-image and lack of confidence
Managing pain and related distress
Processing grief and loss
Sometimes it's difficult to name a specific problem, so usually clients contact me with a set of symptoms that can indicate an emotional problem. I can help you understand your symptoms in a meaningful way that makes sense to you.
Psychological Therapies really can be life changing. If you're looking for support and feel your mental health difficulties are getting in the way of you living the life you want, please do get in touch.
Providing CBT, EMDR & CFT in Rugeley, Staffordshire and across the UK via online therapy
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