Elena Vysotskaya

Cognitive behavioural therapy looks at how thoughts, feelings and actions keep each other going. Together you notice the patterns that hold a problem in place and try out new ways of thinking and acting, often with small practical tasks between sessions. It is widely used for anxiety, low mood, stress and sleep problems.

Mindfulness-based therapy uses practices that train attention on the present moment, with openness rather than judgement. Noticing thoughts and feelings without being carried away by them can reduce stress and help break cycles of worry or low mood. Programmes such as MBSR and MBCT are well-known examples.

Relaxation techniques, such as breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation and calming imagery, help the body and mind wind down. Practised regularly, they can lower tension and make stress, anxiety and sleep problems easier to manage. They are often taught as skills you can use on your own between sessions.

Coaching is goal-oriented support for personal or professional growth. It focuses on where you want to go and the steps to get there, drawing on your strengths and resources. Coaching is not psychotherapy and is not a treatment for mental health conditions.

Counselling gives you time to talk through what is on your mind with a trained professional who listens without judging. It can help you make sense of your feelings, see your options more clearly and find your own way forward. It is often used for life changes, stress, loss and relationship difficulties.

Crisis intervention is short-term support in an acute crisis, such as a sudden loss, a shock or a situation that feels overwhelming. It focuses on steadying things, getting through the next days and finding support, rather than on longer-term therapy. In an emergency, always contact your local emergency number or a crisis line.

Career counselling helps with choices about study, work and career: finding a direction, changing jobs, returning to work or dealing with uncertainty. It looks at your interests, strengths, values and circumstances. The aim is a decision that fits you, and a plan for the next steps.

Trauma-focused therapy is a family of approaches designed for the effects of frightening or overwhelming experiences. Usually the work starts with feeling safer and more stable, and only then turns to the memories themselves, at a pace you can manage. It can help with flashbacks, fear, numbness and other after-effects of trauma.