Some of the therapies we provide

We offer a range of different therapeutic approaches as part of a tailored treatment plan to help get you back on track and feeling better. Your therapist will discuss the best treatment for you at your initial assessment.
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Cognitive behavioural therapy (cbt)

​Cognitive Behaviour Therapy is a type of psychotherapy that looks at:

• How you think about yourself, the world and other people
• How what you do affects your feelings and thoughts

By making links between what we do, think and feel, CBT can help us make changes in the way we think ("Cognitive") and the way we act ("Behaviour)".  Making changes in what we think  will affect what you do and feel, and changing what we do, affects the way we think and feel.  Making these changes then can help us feel better.  

Whilst it is is helpful to discuss the past and understand how our pasts have influenced our lives and how problems have arisen, CBT mostly focuses on looking for ways to improve your mental wellbeing now.

CBT says that it's not the event which causes our emotions, but how we interpret that event - what we think or what meaning we give that event or situation.

For instance, if someone you know passes you in the street without acknowledging you, you can interpret it several ways.  You might think they don't want to know you because no-one likes you (which may lead you to feel depressed), your thought may be that you hope they don't stop to talk to you, because you won't know what to say and you'll make a fool of yourself (anxiety), you may think she's being deliberately snotty (leading to anger).  A healthier response might be that she just didn't see you.

Another example may be someone who's depressed might wake up in the morning and think:  "This is going to be another awful day", "I'm going to mess up again", or "What's the point of anything?", which will make them feel even more depressed (feelings), and may prompt them to pull the covers over their head and stay in bed (behaviours).  It's very likely that this will increase their negative thoughts, which in turn will increase the feelings of depression, and make them even less likely to get out of bed.  A vicious cycle is the result - continuing to think and act the same way will help maintain our depression (diagram below), or anxiety.

CBT can help you to break these vicious cycles of negative thinking, feelings and behaviour. When you see the parts of the vicious cycle clearly, you can change them - and therefore change the way you feel.  It can also be helpful to look at the way our thoughts and feelings affect our bodies, and the physical sensations we can experience. 

acceptance & commitment therapy

​ACT differs from CBT in that instead of challenging distressing thoughts by looking for evidence and coming up with a more rational response (CBT), in ACT, the thought is accepted as a thought, e.g. "I'm having the thought that this boat is going to sink", and then defused using a variety of techniques, which may include mindfulness, metaphors and language.
ACT uses three broad categories of techniques: mindfulness, including being present in the moment and defusion techniques; acceptance; and commitment to values-based living.

mindfulness

Mindfulness is an ancient Buddhist practice which is very relevant for life today. Mindfulness is a very simple concept. Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgementally. This increases awareness, clarity and acceptance of our present-moment reality.
Mindfulness does not conflict with any beliefs or tradition, religious, cultural or scientific. It is simply a practical way to notice thoughts, physical sensations, sights, sounds, smells - anything we might not normally notice. The actual skills might be simple, but because it is so different to how our minds normally behave, it takes a lot of practice.
Animals and young children are very good at being mindful, in this present moment.  I might go out into the garden and as I look around, I think "that grass really needs cutting, and that vegetable patch looks very untidy". Children on the other hand, will notice the ants or other crawlies.
Mindfulness can simply be noticing what we don't normally notice, because our heads are too busy in the future or in the past - thinking about what we need to do, or going over what we have done.
Being mindful helps us to train our attention. Our minds wander about 50% of the time, but every time we practise being mindful, we are exercising our attention "muscle" and becoming mentally fitter. We can take more control over our focus of attention, and choose what we focus on...rather than passively allowing our attention to be dominated by that which distresses us and takes us away from the present moment.
Mindfulness might simply be described as choosing and learning to control our focus of attention, and being open, curious and flexible.
Bill Murray describes mindfulness as being "alert and available".

​​Schema therapy​​​

​Schema Therapy was developed by Jeffrey Young, to treat individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder, but can also be used with other presentations caused by difficult childhood experiences. Schemas can be described as our belief systems or 'lifetraps'. The theory on which Schema Therapy is based has four main concepts:

• Early Maladaptive Schemas
• Schema Domains
• Coping Styles
• Schema Modes​

·         Early Maladaptive Schemas are our core patterns or behaviours that we tend to repeatedly use throughout our lives.
·         Schema Domains relate to the emotional needs of a child. If these needs were not met during our childhoods, unhealthy schemas develop, which then result in unhealthy patterns of behaviour.
·         Coping Styles are the way we adapt to schemas and early life experiences. These are often unhealthy and tend to maintain or worsen the problems.
·         Modes are emotional states that we all use from time to time. They can sometimes lie dormant for a long time, being activated by certain triggers. Whilst we can be in a dominant state or mode for some time, we can flip over into other modes. The different modes are listed below.
Schema Therapy is based upon CBT, but it is focused much more on early childhood experiences which have caused lifelong difficulties. Assessment includes the use of questionnaires to identify the individual's schemas, coping styles and preferred modes, enabling the client to understand and develop an abilty to change their unhelpful thinking styles and patterns of behaviour

​A combination of different therapies may also be used.

Psychological issues

​Our Clinical Psychologists provide psychological assessment and psychotherapy for adults/older adults suffering from a range of psychological problems including/related to those below:

ADJUSTMENT TO LIFE EVENTS

Has something happened in your life that you are finding it difficult to cope with? Maybe you have been made redundant from your job or had to change your lifestyle due to health difficulties. Perhaps you are caring for a relative or loved one with mental health or physical health difficulties and don’t know how best to help them. In an assessment appointment with one of our team you can discuss your situation and together we can help you to acknowledge and come to terms with life changes and move forward in a positive direction.

ANGER PROBLEMS

Are you aware of being more irritable than normal? Are you constantly trying to keep your anger in check? Is anger causing you difficulties at work or in your relationships with others? Forth Psychological Services can help. We will work with you to explore and understand your angry feelings, identify triggers, and find more adaptive ways to manage your emotions and improve your tolerance level.  More on anger

ANXIETY

Anxiety is one of the most common reasons for seeking psychotherapy. We all experience anxiety from time to time and a little bit of anxiety can often be beneficial in helping to prepare you if you are going for an interview or taking an exam, for example. However sometimes anxiety can be unhelpful. If you are experiencing high levels of anxiety, often, and for no apparent reason, it may be time to seek professional help. Using evidence based approaches to anxiety management such as cognitive behavioral therapy (cbt), we can help you to develop effective coping techniques, overcome unhelpful anxiety, and move forward with your life. More on anxiety 

DEPRESSION

 ​The Office of National Statistics estimate that around 10% of the population suffer from depression. Also, between 1 in 4 to 1 in 6 adults will suffer one or more episodes of depression in their life. For some this is more like a constant state. Depression is a mood disorder which can affect your emotional state, physical well-being, concentration, memory, and everyday functioning. Fortunately for many people, depression will gradually resolve over time. Psychotherapy is a powerful tool in the treatment of depression helping you to improve your mood and stay well, not just in the present but also into the future. Contact F.P.S and take control today.  More on Depression

EATING DISORDERS

​Overeating or restricting calories, feeling pressure to be thin, comfort eating as a way of dealing with difficult emotions, exercising excessively, binging or inducing vomiting after eating can all be signs of an eating disorder. Do you recognise an unhealthy relationship with food and weight that significantly impacts your daily life? At Forth Psychological Services, we can help you work towards restoring and maintaining a healthy weight, help you to address thoughts and behaviours which lead to disordered eating and support you to prevent relapse. Please note, however, we are unable to provide a service to individuals who have a rapidly falling BMI or more severe cases of eating disordered behaviours as these presentations are best treated by a multidisciplinary team. Please do not hesitate to get in touch to discuss how we can best support you.

GRIEF & LOSS

​When we lose a loved one our grief can be intense and feel overwhelming. Loss is understood as a natural part of life, but we can still be overcome by our emotions such as shock, anger and confusion and experience difficulty processing and coming to terms with what has happened. Sometimes grief can occur before the anticipated loss of a family member or friend to illness, such as cancer , and even though death is expected it can still be extremely distressing when death occurs. If your relationship with the deceased person was difficult, that can add another dimension to the grieving process. Although grief is a normal reaction to loss, if grief continues for a long period of time and affects your mood and functioning it might be time to seek some help. Contact us today to discuss your circumstances and advice on how we can help you to cope and begin to move forward.

MEMORY/COGNITIVE PROBLEMS

Are you worried about your memory? Do you find yourself forgetting things, losing track of conversations, or misplacing items around the house? Have your family or friends noticed changes in your functioning? Becoming a little bit more forgetful as we age is a normal occurrence however sometimes it can also signify an underlying, more progressive, problem which will benefit from early diagnosis and intervention, Psychologists at Forth Psychological Services are experienced in memory and neuropsychological assessment. If you are concerned about your memory we can assess and test your cognitive function and provide a neuropsychological report which you can provide to your doctor to inform your future care within the NHS. Contact us today for more details.

OCD

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a form of anxiety. Individuals who experience OCD often have recurrent unwanted thoughts and repetitive behaviours which consume large amounts of their time, cause distress and interfere with daily functioning such as family life, work or social activities. Some common forms of OCD include; fear of germs, thoughts related to numbers, intrusive images of sexual content, and urges relating to having something just right or in a particular way e.g. symmetrical. Often individuals experience fear that harm will come to them or their loved ones and encounter excessive feelings of uncertainty. At Forth Psychological Services, we can provide evidence based therapy to help you overcome OCD.  More on OCD

PANIC

Panic attacks can seemingly occur out of the blue or be triggered by stressful situations, fears or phobias. They can be very frightening, causing heart palpitations, sweating, shaking, breathing difficulties, nausea and feelings of confusion. Often people describe feeling like they are having a heart attack. At Forth Psychological Services, we can work with you to help you develop strategies to manage or prevent panic attacks occurring.  More on panic

PHOBIAS

Most people are afraid of something but there is a big difference between temporary anxiety (e.g. fear of a work appraisal or a thunderstorm) and the extreme physical and emotional responses that characterise a phobia. Phobias can cause crippling anxiety with symptoms such as a rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, dizziness, feeling shaky and panic attacks. There are different forms of phobias. Specific phobias are irrational fears of particular places, situations, animals or objects (e.g. bridges, spiders, driving or clowns). Social phobia is an extreme fear of social situations, fearing embarrassment or being judged by others leading to avoidance of socialising. Agoraphobia is a fear of situations which may be difficult to escape from, leading to avoidance of public places and often resulting in individuals becoming housebound. At Forth Psychological Services, we are experienced in treating all three forms of phobia described using evidence based therapy. In some cases, we can provide home visits to help you work on specific difficulties.  More on phobias

PTSD/TRAUMA

Trauma occurs when one feels overwhelmed and unable to make sense of, or cope with, an event or experience. Trauma is often associated with feelings of fear, horror or helplessness. Common forms of trauma can include single incidents such as car accidents, an assault or natural disaster. Other forms of trauma can include childhood abuse or neglect, war, domestic violence, medical interventions and grief or loss. Symptoms of trauma can include changes in sleep patterns, appetite, and mood, self-blame, feelings of shame, anger or difficulty trusting others. You might also experience physical symptoms such as headaches, constipation or diarrhoea, and bodily aches and pains. People who have experienced trauma describe re-experiencing the event through nightmares or flashbacks and feeling detached from the world around them. It is not uncommon to attempt to cope with these feelings by using alcohol, drugs, overeating or self-harm. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder. Not everyone who experiences a traumatic event will develop PTSD. It is more likely to occur if you were exposed to a trauma as a victim or witness, you felt that you or a loved one was in danger, you felt helpless, you have also experienced previous traumas or you were seriously hurt during the event. At Forth Psychological Services, we can work with you to help you make sense of a traumatic event, reduce flashbacks or nightmares and develop strategies to manage symptoms such as feelings of detachment.

STRESS

 At Forth Psychological Services, we can help you develop your own personal stress management toolkit for coping with stress. We can work with you to identify and adjust the sources of stress in your life by taking control of stressful situations and altering your approach. We will work with you on thoughts, feelings and behaviours which may be increasing your stress response and we can teach you techniques for managing symptoms of stress, increasing your ability to cope.  More on stress

Work related difficulties

Are you under pressure at work? Work-related stress and difficulties at work are more common than you might think and left unaddressed can have a wide-spread effect on your life. Perhaps you are finding it difficult to manage your time effectively or maintain a healthy work-home life balance? Maybe stress at work is affecting your well-being and personal relationships? Whatever your specific difficulties are, Forth Psychological Services can help you to identify the problem areas, make effective changes, and find solutions to improve your quality of life.

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Social Anxiety, Health Anxiety, Sexual Abuse, Coping with physical health problems.....

We also offer

​Skype Therapy

FPS Live Chat service

Professional development supervision.

​Consultation and training for employers in the psychological care of staff.

Home visits may be offered on request.  Please contact us for details.

We currently DO NOT offer a child service.