Testimonials for Cognitive
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"I was diagnosed with depression in September 2010 and prescribed medication. I didn't want to be on antidepressants long term so decided to tackle the cause as well as the symptoms of my depression.
I knew a little bit about counselling and came across Heather's site on Google. As I explained to her, I was very self aware but I needed help in finding the tools to changing my thinking patterns and ways of dealing with my problems.
Heather listened a great deal, asked relevant questions and sent me away with a workbook to work through, which would determine which areas I needed to concentrate on. Although I was already impressed with Heather's credentials and experience I left our first session full of confidence that she would be able to help me. This lifted a great weight of my shoulders immediately.
In our sessions I found Heather to be non-judgemental and fully focussed. I knew that our sessions were confidential, and her whole manner and demeanour relaxed me and enabled me to trust her fully, which sped up my progress.
Although I was pretty self aware already, the workbooks made me really look at how I viewed and reacted to situations. Because I had established from the initial workbook which areas affected me the most Heather was then able to tailor our sessions to benefit me the most.
With a few positive outcomes on the new ways I was dealing with situations I found my confidence growing. I realised that my feelings and thoughts were important. I think this was the turning point for me and my self esteem increased. All my friends and family have noticed the improvement and are pleased to see me happy again.
My depression was a slow transition, which snuck up on me gradually before I realised what was happening. I denied it for many months, mostly because I think my interpretation of depression was not how I was feeling. I had forgotten what like it was to be happy for no obvious reason.
My circumstances have not changed greatly, but my way of thinking and coping with them have. This is wholly down to CBT. Although the work was all down to me, Heather enabled and encouraged me to reach my goal.
I am now able to take the step of weaning myself off my antidepressants, which has resulted in me being on them for under a year. I have also recently started a lovely relationship, where I am relaxed and not analysing everything and I know that had I met my partner sooner the outcome might have been so different.
In all, I couldn't recommend Heather any higher."
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"What has CBT done for me?
When it was suggested that CBT would possibly be of help I immediately went and 'googled'. A wealth of information is available on the internet and it gave me a little idea what was involved but nothing prepared me for the reality of sitting in Heather's peaceful garden room, trying to explain just what was my problem.
Gentle and sympathetic questioning along with a 'quiz' to fill in and come back with on my following visit. I was very surprised to learn that I was far more anxious than depressed. That explained a lot!
You may be given appropriate workbooks to take home in which you may be asked to keep a 'diary' of extreme and unhelpful thoughts, feelings and physical symptoms which you were never aware of before.
Once you notice what is going on with your mind and body responses it is a revelation. You will then be helped to change your way of thinking.
The whole point is, you are not 'fixed' by anyone else, you do it yourself. You have to learn how to identify your own unhelpful thoughts and behaviour and deal with them as they come along. Learning that unhappy situations are not always your fault, in fact they rarely are and learning just what is behind the behaviour of another that puts you in that place.
I have become more calm, more focussed and much more positive about my life. I have more energy. I have come off my antidepressants and feel 'alive' again. I am not scared that my dog will be stolen from my car if I leave him in there.