FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHAT ARE THE COMMON DIFFICULTIES YOU WORK WITH?

I work with adults, children, young people, and couples facing a wide range of emotional and psychological difficulties, including:

Anxiety and Related Disorders

Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Social Anxiety
Health Anxiety
Panic Disorder
Specific Phobias and Agoraphobia

Depression and Mood-Related Difficulties

Depression
Stress
Adjustment to living with long-term physical health conditions

Trauma and Related Conditions

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)
Separation Anxiety

Other Conditions

Behavioural and emotional difficulties in children and young people (including anger issues)
Couples’ issues
Tourette’s Syndrome

Approach

I draw on a range of evidence-based therapies to best meet your needs, including: CBT, EMDR, Mindfulness, Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Flash Technique (used alongside CBT and EMDR).

Areas of Special Interest

I have a particular interest in working with: PTSD, OCD, and long-term health conditions, including Long Covid and menopausal symptoms.

WHAT ARE THE FEES?

Fees vary depending on your individual needs, which we can discuss together during a free 15-minute consultation. Therapy sessions last 50–60 minutes for CBT, and up to 90 minutes for EMDR. Assessments take 60–90 minutes. Contact me for more information.

WHAT IS CBT?

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

CBT looks at the link between your thoughts, feelings, and actions. It provides a safe space to talk about what’s going on for you, while gently exploring unhelpful patterns and how to change them. You’ll also learn practical techniques you can use in daily life to manage stress, anxiety, or low mood.

what is emdr?

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing

EMDR helps your brain process difficult memories so they feel less upsetting. With gentle eye movements or other guided techniques, you can work through past experiences safely. Over time, those memories lose their intensity, helping you feel calmer and more in control.

Where are your appointments held?

As my aim is to make your CBT and EMDR therapy as comfortable as possible, I am open to flexible arrangements.

Appointments are held online or face to face. Online appointments are held via MS Teams or Zoom.

Free Consultation

A 15-20 minute free and confidential initial telephone or online consultation, which will help us both to understand and decide on how to work with your presenting difficulties.

Face to Face

Face-to-face sessions are held at clinic rooms in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire on Fridays and will soon start in Trumpington, Cambridge on Saturdays.

Online

Online sessions are held from the safety and comfort of your own home at a time that is convenient to you. You can be seen on MS Teams or Zoom platforms for the online sessions.

Session Length and Fees

All sessions are 50 mins to 1 hour long (CBT sessions) and up to 90 mins long (EMDR sessions). Assessments are between 60 to 90 mins long. Fees depend on your individual needs and will be discussed at your first point of contact.

what are your TERMS & CONDITIONS?

Terms and conditions consist of: Fees and how to pay, Confidentiality statement, Risk statement, Cancellation policy, Consent to Treatment, and Data Protection. Terms and conditions will be emailed to you so that you can sign and return to me before the initial session begins.

what are your working hours?

To make your CBT and EMDR Therapy as comfortable as possible, I am open to flexible arrangements for online or face to face sessions. You are welcome to give me a call or send a message on the contact form further below, and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

WHAT ARE YOUR ACCREDICATIONS & EXPERIENCE?

Accreditations

I am a Fully Accredited CBT Therapist, Registered Mental Health Nurse and Accredited EMDR Therapist with over 18.5 years experience of working within the NHS for various Mental Health Services and I have over 3.5 years experience working Privately using CBT and EMDR. I did my initial mental health training in the NHS from 2003 to 2006. I also have a background in Teaching, having taught secondary school level pupils for 6 years before embarking on my mental health training.

Experience

I have experience of using the CBT approach whilst working within a therapeutic dimension at a specialist children and adolescents mental health service (Specialist CAMHS) and whilst working with adults at Primary Care Psychological Therapy Services/ the improving access to psychological therapies (IAPT), now called Talking Therapies. I also have experience working with adults as a Mental Health Nurse in both inpatient and community mental health services. I additionally have experience of using EMDR in treating single event traumas, complex traumas, phobias, depression, health anxiety and panic disorders where trauma is a driver of the conditions whilst working in both the NHS and in private practice.

Experience in Teaching

Teacher of GCSE / O' level Mathematics at Secondary Schools in Zimbabwe, January 1996 - August 2001. Supply teaching at different schools in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire in the UK, January 2002 - March 2002. Participant Observer at a Primary school, Secondary school and a Special school in Hertfordshire whilst studying for my MEd with Birmingham University from 2003 - 2006. Delivered Mathematics lessons to pupils of Secondary School age. This involved assessing pupils' level of learning needs, planning, implementing and evaluating lessons daily, weekly and termly. Wrote termly schemes of work, offered children extra lessons as needed, worked with other teachers as a team to improve school curriculums, attended teachers' team meetings, addressed pupils at assemblies. I worked with parents and other senior staff members to maintain discipline in the schools and helped the children to pursue leisure activities (sporting activities and other hobbies). I coached/ trained volleyball players. I worked with other staff members to cater for the emotional wellbeing and enrichment of pupils' experiences in the schools. I showed empathy and unconditional positive regard to pupils coming from different backgrounds.

what can I expect from a therapy session?

A collaborative process between you and me

Collaborative working and goal centred treatment.

Monitoring of progress via completion of specialised questionnaires to help us both to better understand how you are feeling and regularly reviewing these.

CBT is a highly effective, clinically proven treatment for a broad range of mental health and psychological difficulties. A collaborative process between you and myself, the therapist. CBT teaches you the skills to readjust your thinking and behaviour in order for you to feel better in your mood.

EMDR for single events or incidents and complex traumas. EMDR is a powerful therapy designed to help people recover from traumatic events in their lives. EMDR is recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as an effective therapy.

National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) approved guidance on treatment protocols that I follow for both CBT and EMDR therapies. NHS based clinical Training based on the latest evidence-based models and techniques, to provide you with a high standard of care. Participation in CPD courses and clinical supervision as suited to my job to keep my knowledge current.

client experiences matter

Understanding

Kind, Caring, Fun

Understanding

Working through my past trauma with Esther was life-changing. Her thoughtful, individual approach and clear guidance through CBT and EMDR therapy gave me the understanding and confidence I was missing.

Calming

Kind, Caring, Fun

Understanding

Esther really listened, tailored the sessions to me, and taught me calming and grounding techniques that I now use every day.

Kind, Caring, Fun

Thank you for your kindness , compassion and care. Esther provided a CBT programme as part of the health and well being at work programme supporting staff with menopause issues. I found her to be engaging and respectful.