Nimisha Bunga

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.

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.

Person-centred therapy, developed by Carl Rogers, starts from the idea that you are the expert on your own life. The therapist offers warmth, empathy and genuine attention without steering the conversation, so you can explore what matters to you at your own pace. Many people find it helps them feel heard and grow in confidence and self-understanding.

Gestalt therapy focuses on what you are experiencing here and now: thoughts, feelings, body sensations and the way you relate to others in the moment. Through conversation and sometimes small experiments, you become more aware of your patterns and can try new ways of responding. It is used for a wide range of personal and relationship difficulties.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Body-oriented and somatic therapies work with the body as well as the mind: breathing, posture, movement and physical sensations. Feelings and experiences often show up in the body, and paying attention to them can help release tension and settle stress. They are often used for stress, anxiety and the after-effects of trauma.