About Me, PollyBABCP Accredited CBT Therapist
I’m a BABCP-accredited CBT Therapist based in Somerset, and for the past ten years I’ve had the privilege of building a private practice alongside a career I care deeply about.
I have grown up in the Southwest, and chosen to settle in Somerset after almost 10 years in Bristol.
A common thread throughout my career has been helping people access high quality, evidence based therapy, whether that is in the traditional face to face sense, or developing technology, platforms or services which facilitate access to support.
In 2015 I completed my Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy training at the University of Oxford, where I was awarded with a Distinction. My training in Oxford was invaluable and inspiring; I was taught by experts in the field of CBT; the people whose books and research I had spent the past few years learning from.
Since leaving the NHS, and alongside my private practice, I’ve worked across a range of mental health start-ups, focusing on evidence-based innovation and practice, including new ways of delivering therapy through Apps and Virtual Reality. I love this side of my work; it keeps me curious, and it means I bring fresh, considered thinking into the therapy room.
At the heart of it all, I’m passionate about helping people navigate low mood, anxiety, and life’s harder moments, and about making good, evidence-based therapy feel accessible and human.
To read more about CBT therapy and how it can help, head to this page here.
If you want to read a little more about my experience and qualifications, my LinkedIn Page can be viewed here.
BABCP Accredited CBT therapist in Somerset
My Therapy Style
It is important in any therapy to find a therapist with whom you can develop a trusting and collaborative relationship, within which you feel able to be open and honest, without fear of judgement.
Over the years clients have described me as calm, patient, non judgmental and encouraging. In terms of how I would describe my therapy, I would say it is kind, collaborative and effective.
Whilst I have knowledge of other modalities, such as mindfulness, solution focused therapy and compassion focused therapy, CBT forms 99% of my knowledge. CBT is the recommended treatment in the NICE guidelines for most mild to moderate mental health problems (NICE guidelines are evidence-based recommendations for health and care in England).
The Difficulties I Work With
The most common problems I see include:
- Panic Attacks.
- Agoraphobia.
- Health Anxiety.
- Depression.
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
- Phobias.
- Low self esteem and Perfectionism; not mental health problems per se, but they are often long standing problems which can result in anxiety and depression.
Professional Necessities
I hold professional indemnity insurance.
I am fully accredited by the BABCP- you can verify my status on the CBT Register.
As a member of the BABCP I abide by their ethical code of conduct, which includes confidentiality and data protection clauses.
As an independent therapist I comply with all necessary GDPR regulations, am registered with the ICO and use a secure patient management system called BacPac.
I am approved by various health insurers to provide CBT to their policy holders. These include AXA PPP, Aviva, Cigna and Healix.
Take the First Step
Reaching out for support can feel like a big step, but you are already in the right place.
Reset in Somerset is local to Clevedon, Yatton, Claverham, Cleeve, Nailsea, Backwell, Portishead, Tickenham and surrounding areas. It’s also only 20 minutes from Bristol, so enjoy a drive into the countryside and stop at Brockley Stores for a coffee on your way.
If you’re ready to start your journey toward a gentle reset, get in touch today to arrange an initial conversation.