What is CBT?

Cognitive behavioural therapy, or CBT is a talking therapy based on the idea that our thoughts, feelings, behaviours and physical sensations are all connected.  By changing one, we can influence the others.  When people feel worried or distressed, they often fall into patterns of thinking and responding that worsen how they feel, CBT works to help identify and change these patterns.

CBT is used to treat a wide range of conditions, including depression, anxiety, OCD and PTSD, to name a few.  Its benefits extend beyond mental health too, with evidence supporting its use for conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, insomnia, migraines and other chronic pain conditions.

What is EMDR?

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing, more commonly known as EMDR, was originally developed in the late 1980s by psychologist Francine Shapiro.  It is a mental health therapy method that treats conditions connected to memories of traumatic events, and is best known for its role in treating post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 

EMDR uses guided "bilateral stimulation", such as side to side eye movements to help the brain safely reprocess traumatic memories, reducing or eliminating their emotional intensity.  Unlike many other therapies, it does not require talking in detail about a distressing experience or completing homework between sessions.  Instead, the focus is on allowing the bran to resume its natural healing process.

Beyond PTSD, EMDR is also used in the treatment of anxiety disorders, depression, dissociative disorders, eating disorders and OCD.  It is recognised as an effective treatment by leading global health organisations, including The Work Health Organisation (WHO).

The Therapy Process

Initial sessions focus on assessing current difficulties, how these have developed, and how they impact upon your life.  At the end of the assessment session(s) we will give you an overview of what we think your problem/diagnosis is and outline a brief treatment protocol for you.  

We work together to develop a full understanding of how these difficulties are being maintained.  Sessions last for 50 minutes and are usually weekly, but this may alter as therapy progresses.  We also see children and adolescents and these sessions can be 30 minutes or 50 minutes depending on the individual.

Therapy requires active participation, including working on what has been discussed during the therapy session, outside of therapy.

Victoria Moorhead BA(Hons) MSc MBPsS PGDip  BABCP, BPS, EMDR Europe and PSA Accredited

Victoria's journey to being a Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist has been varied.  Initially she was a medical secretary, moving to clinical audit working for the NHS for over 10 years.   Victoria then retrained in Early Years Education and has Qualified Teacher Status.  Despite this, Victoria thoroughly enjoyed working within the healthcare sector and, therefore, decided to do an MSc in Health Psychology, before branching into Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy and gaining a Post Graduate Diploma at the University of Derby.  Victoria is an accredited member of both the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapists and the British Psychological Society.

Victoria worked at St George’s Specialist Psychotherapy Services (NHS) for the Mood, Anxiety, PTSD Psychotherapy Service (MAPPS), from 2013, until 2022.   The patient base was broad and complex, it included the treatment of complex and persistent Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Depression, Anxiety based problems, Body Dysmorphia Disorder (BDD), Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Generalised Anxiety Disorder, and general phobias.   The post involved working as part of the MDT providing highly specialised evidence-based psychological therapies to individuals whom there has been an inadequate response to 'first line' interventions, or for whom these interventions were not appropriate. 

Victoria also worked for IESO Digital Health which is a private NHS provider, where she offers typed online therapy to patients living all over the UK.  The therapy involves treatment of mainly Step 3 and 3+ patients and covers a host of mental health conditions, including stress, anxiety, OCD, depression and PTSD.

Additionally, Victoria has also had the opportunity to be involved with ground breaking research and work on Dental Phobia, Facial Pain, Bruxism (teeth clenching and grinding) and Burning Mouth Syndrome, through her health psychology work and more recently her CBT work.  Victoria also works in a dental setting, offering treatment and support to those suffering with the issues listed above. She is currently involved with writing a book about the psychological treatment of dental issues with her colleague John Davies. 

Alongside CBT, Victoria is a fully trained EMDR therapist through the EMDR Association and EMDR Europe.  EMDR is Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing and is an evidence based process, and is included in National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE).  It is an excellent way to overcome PTSD, but also has strong evidence to help with anxiety and depression.

With her background in early years education and having knowledge of child development and attachment theory, Victoria treats children and adolescents.  An in depth assessment, usually with a parent or guardian present, is undertaken to ascertain appropriateness for therapy in this setting, before offering specific treatment.

Victoria is a fully qualified ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) Assessor and adheres to NICE guidelines.  Full adult assessments are around 2 hours in duration and a full report will be written and available for both the patient and their GP.  Victoria links in with a medical practitioner who is qualified to prescribe for ADHD, where necessary.  This is also a private service, but a shared care plan with an NHS GP, when stabilised on medication, can be sought.