Dr Helen Tudor

CBT is based on the principle that psychological distress results from unhelpful, negative patterns of thinking. This in turn generates difficult emotions as well as often counter-productive forms of coping (behaviour). CBT seeks to identify unhelpful thinking and behaviour cycles, as well as develop more useful ways of managing. It is a psychological treatment that has been shown to be effective for a wide range of mental-health problems. CBT is recommended by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) for anxiety disorders and depression.

EMDR is a therapy used to treat a range of psychological difficulties that typically originate in trauma, such as direct or indirect experiences of violence or accidents. EMDR is recommended by the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The goal of EMDR therapy is to properly process traumatic memories, reducing their impact and helping the person to develop coping mechanisms. This requires a person to recall distressing events while receiving bilateral sensory input, which typically involves side to side eye movements. EMDR is not considered a form of hypnosis. You remain fully conscious and aware at all times during the therapy and have total control over what is happening.

With repeated sets of eye movements, the memory tends to change in such a way that it loses its painful intensity and simply becomes a neutral memory of an event in the past. Other associated memories may also heal at the same time. This linking of related memories can lead to a significant improvement in many aspects of your life.

In addition to its use for the treatment of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, EMDR has been successfully used to treat: self-esteem and performance anxiety; anxiety and panic attacks; depression; stress; phobias; complicated grief; addictions; sleep problems; pain relief

MBCT is also based on the theory that unhelpful thought patterns lead to psychological distress. However, it differs from more "traditional" CBT in its focus and techniques. MBCT was originally designed specifically to help people who suffer repeated bouts of depression. Whilst it is recommended (by NICE guidelines) for preventing further relapse of depression, it has also been shown to be helpful for a range of anxiety difficulties, as well as coping with physical difficulties such as chronic pain.

MCT focusses on addressing particular patterns of thinking that are thought to lead to the maintenance and worsening of emotional suffering. This includes thinking and attention that become fixed in patterns of brooding and dwelling (such as spending long periods thinking over past regrets or worrying excessively about the future). MCT has been shown to be most useful for depression and a range of anxiety disorders.

DBT is a treatment intended specifically for individuals with self-harm behaviours. Many (but by no means all) people with these behaviours meet criteria for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Difficulties with managing very intense emotions are central to BPD. In DBT you learn how to control your emotions, first by recognising and accepting them and then by working to reduce their intensity and to settle them.

CFT aims to teach us to understand our minds better and cultivate them so that our unpleasant emotions are easier to manage, and our positive and pleasant emotions are easier to generate. The approach helps people develop and work with experiences of inner warmth, safeness and soothing, via compassion for both self and others. This therapy is particularly useful for those who experience specific difficulties with shame and self-criticism.