What CBT can help with
These are the difficulties I work with most often. CBT is the treatment NICE and the NHS recommend first for most of them — and each one below has a dedicated guide explaining how the therapy actually helps. Not sure where you fit? That’s exactly what the free consultation is for.
Areas I work with
Anxiety & overthinking
Racing thoughts that won’t switch off, “what if” scenarios on loop, and tension you can’t shake. We map the worry cycle and find practical ways to interrupt it.
OCD & intrusive thoughts
Intrusive thoughts and the compulsions to check, wash, count, or correct. Treated with ERP — the approach with the strongest evidence base for OCD.
Health anxiety
Constant worry about symptoms, late-night googling, reassurance that never quite lasts. We work on tolerating uncertainty and easing the checking cycle.
Panic & physical anxiety
Heart pounding, breath tight, a sudden sense of dread — and then the fear of the next attack. The work is to lose the fear of it, which is what lets panic settle.
Low mood, burnout & motivation
Everything feels heavy, and the things that used to help have dropped away. We start small — with action coming before motivation, not the other way round.
Perfectionism & high standards
Standards that began as motivation have become the thing in the way, where anything less than perfect feels like failure. We build flexibility without lowering the bar.
Insomnia & sleep
Your mind switches on the moment you lie down, or you wake at 3am wired. CBT-I is as effective as sleep medication, without the side effects.
Performance & exam stress
An exam, interview, or presentation ahead, and your mind fills with worst-case scenarios. Graded practice and clearer thinking replace avoidance.
Young people (16+)
Specialist CBT for teenagers and young adults navigating anxiety, low mood, or difficult transitions — adapted to where they are.
I also work with
The same model and process apply — the techniques shift to fit the specific pattern.
- Anger and frustration
- Social anxiety
- Specific phobias
- Self-esteem and the harsh inner critic
- Adjustment to life changes
If you’re unsure whether your difficulty fits, the consultation is the right place to find out. It also helps to understand how CBT works across all of these — the underlying model is the same.
Not sure where you fit?
That’s what the free 15-minute consultation is for — a short, no-obligation call to talk through what’s going on and whether CBT with me is the right fit. Sessions are £80 for fifty minutes.
Currently offering online sessions across the UK. Edinburgh in-person sessions coming soon.