I have been working in mental health for more than 10 years at this point and would gladly bring this experience to any work we undertake together! Here is my career timeline so far…
2012: I began my career volunteering as an ‘Active Listener’ for a national emotional support service, working with people struggling with issues such as hopelessness and panic attacks. At the same time, I had a role as a ‘Research Assistant’, researching a new supplement that could support people struggling with anxious feelings. Our research has since been published and if you are interested you can read it here – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32761980/
2013 to 2017: I had a couple of jobs as a ‘Mental Health Support Worker’ wherein I supported people to navigate various stressful life situations such as their housing situation and financial issues. I met people from all walks of life including refugees, asylum seekers, single parents, students, older adults, and people with chronic health conditions (including invisible conditions). On average, I was a part of their life for about a year as we faced down various challenges together to support their mental health and develop their independent living skills. It’s a time in my life that I treasure and I was well supported to attend various training sessions such as ‘Motivational Interviewing’, ‘An Introduction To Cognitive Analytic Therapy’, ‘An Introduction To Cognitive Behavioural Therapy’, and ‘Mental Health First Aid’.
2017 to 2022: This is where the official ‘Cognitive Behavioural Therapy’ (CBT) part of my career started. Within the NHS, I trained and received my certificate in ‘Low Intensity CBT-Based Interventions’, and I spent my time supporting people to overcome mild to moderate common mental health conditions including depression, generalised anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, phobias, panic disorder, binge eating, sleep problems, and stress. I would also deliver weekly therapy groups going through strategies to support stress management. Whilst conducting treatment with my patients, I also took on a role as the Neurodiversity Champion for the service, researching and training fellow staff members in how to appropriately adapt their sessions for people presenting with Autism Spectrum Condition and/or ADD/ADHD. These were the years that affirmed for me that this is what I want to do – Talking through people’s issues, watching them use techniques and recover from issues that sometimes spanned back more than 30 years has been such as privilege. It has really brought home for me the versatility of the CBT approach when we work together to make it work for you.
2022 to now: I had an opportunity in 2022 to train in my NHS placement toward a Post Graduate Diploma in High Intensity Psychological Interventions. This is where I can officially call myself a ‘Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist’. Therapists trained to this level grow their skills to support all of the people that Low Intensity Practitioners can, though these clients may be experiencing more severe forms of depression and anxiety conditions. I also received training to work with other conditions such as Social Phobias, Health Anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Emetophobia (Fear Of Vomit), and Body Dysmorphic Disorder. Upon completing my training, I decided to set up my private practice ‘CBT by Emma’, where I can take all of my skills from the past few years and use them to support people along their mental health journey! And that’s where you can find me today!