Laura Buwalda

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.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is a structured method for working with distressing memories. While you briefly bring a memory to mind, the therapist guides you through bilateral stimulation such as eye movements or taps, which can help the memory feel less intense. It is best known for its use after traumatic experiences.

Schema therapy looks at deep-rooted patterns, or “schemas”, that often begin in childhood and keep shaping how you see yourself and others. It combines conversation with experiential methods such as imagery and dialogue work, to understand these patterns and meet the needs behind them. It is often used for long-standing difficulties with relationships and self-worth.

Acceptance and commitment therapy helps you make room for difficult thoughts and feelings instead of fighting them. The focus is on what matters to you, and on taking steps in that direction even when things feel hard. It is used for stress, anxiety, low mood and long-term pain, among other things.

Imagery and imaginative methods work with inner pictures: memories, dreams, imagined scenes or symbols. Images can make feelings easier to reach, and can be used to calm down, to strengthen inner resources or to rework a difficult experience. They are often part of trauma-focused, schema and hypnotherapeutic work.