Patricia Pennisi-Morlet

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.

Hypnotherapy uses a focused, deeply relaxed state, guided by the therapist, to work on thoughts, feelings and habits. In this state many people find it easier to reach their own resources and try new perspectives. It is used for things such as anxiety, stress, sleep, pain and habits like smoking.

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.

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.

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.

Art therapy uses drawing, painting, sculpting and other art forms as a way to express and explore feelings. You don’t need any artistic skill: what matters is the process and what it brings up, not the result. It can help when things are hard to put into words.

Emotion-focused therapy (EFT) sees emotions as important guides that can be understood and changed. It helps you notice, name and work with feelings, including painful ones, so they become less overwhelming. It is also widely used with couples, to understand the emotional cycles between partners and build a closer bond.

Dialectical behaviour therapy teaches practical skills for intense emotions: getting through moments of distress, calming strong feelings, staying present and handling relationships. It balances accepting yourself as you are with working on change. It was developed for people whose emotions often feel overwhelming, and is often offered as a structured programme.

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.

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.

Positive psychology and positive psychotherapy look at strengths, resources and what makes life feel worthwhile, alongside the difficulties. Exercises such as noticing what goes well, or using your strengths in new ways, can support wellbeing. Positive psychotherapy also looks at problems in the context of a person’s culture and the balance of their life.

Systemic and family therapy looks at difficulties in the context of the relationships around you: your family, partner, work or friends. Patterns between people, rather than one person alone, become the focus of the work. It can be used with individuals, couples and whole families.