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I could not see the way forward
In the relatively short time I have been having CBT sessions with Sarah my outlook on life has changed hugely. When I first contacted her, I felt in a complete and utter muddle. I could not see the way forward and was unable to make decisions that really needed to be made.
With Sarah’s help and her suggested techniques, I am feeling vastly better and have been implementing big changes for the next period of my life.
(Male, aged 61, virtual sessions, October 2020)
I found Sarah to be very understanding and empathetic.
I had been working very hard and long hours. My life was go, go, go! Unfortunately, it was very money driven. The more you have, the more you want. It was affecting my relationship with my wife. I needed to put the brakes on in my life. I went from 0 to a 100 in seconds flat and would get really angry. I would judge everybody by my own standards and it used to wind me up if they were not as efficient and as fast.
We identified the issues which were causing agitation and stress. Sarah drip fed remedies over 5 sessions, which have been applied daily. I completed a brief questionnaire for each session to assess my mood and week by week it was improving. As a very practical person I identified with the very practical adaptations of CBT and to date it has worked.
I was very skeptical before starting. I thought how can someone from a non-engineering background possibly understand me? Actually, I found Sarah to be very understanding and empathetic. After all the sessions I have found my temperament to be much calmer.
(Male, aged 60, October 2020, virtual sessions)
Not only have I recovered from my depression, I actually feel like a different person.
I have just had my final session of CBT. When I started I felt awful. If I am honest, I did feel a bit suicidal on occasions. I felt hopeless and I just felt I was never, ever going to be right again. I had lost my appetite and had no motivation to do anything.
I have been committed to therapy from the start and have practiced all the techniques and strategies that we covered in the sessions. Not only have I recovered from my depression, I actually feel like a different person. I have enjoyed the therapy. I have even caught up on modern technology e.g. listening to podcasts and using a smartphone. My family have seen a big difference in me, which is lovely to hear. Sarah is easy to talk to and I found that whatever issue I came up with, she always had a suggestion for how we could work on this.
I feel so much better. Life seems lighter and easier. I am over the moon and so grateful. I am determined to carry on with all that I have learned in the sessions with Sarah.
(Female, aged 73, virtual sessions)
Learning how to control the focus of my attention has been particularly impactful in my professional life.
I was feeling overwhelmed and had lost any ability to focus both professionally, and in my personal life. I was not thinking or behaving as I normally would and was catastrophising, with an inability to focus on anything. I had been experiencing some difficult life events and felt unable to cope, which triggered feelings of low self-esteem. I had been signed off work.
I had arranged to meet Sarah for a in person face to face session but to due COVID-19 social distancing we decided to have sessions via Zoom. I found it was still really engaging and supportive.
It emerged through our sessions that I had social anxiety due to a past trauma in a difficult relationship, and that my social anxiety and low self-esteem were contributing to my overall sense of stress and being overwhelmed.
Through sessions with Sarah involving both CBT and EMDR I have found that my social anxiety has gone, and my sense of self esteem and confidence has improved dramatically. I don’t just feel like I’m back to being myself again, I feel like I am an improved version of myself, equipped with a toolkit of creative resources I can use. Learning how to control the focus of my attention has been particularly impactful in my professional life. Releasing the past trauma through EMDR has had a positive and life-changing impact on my self-esteem.
The person I was when I first spoke to Sarah is so different to the person I am now, and the journey has been an incredibly positive one. I now find myself excited for the future and embracing new challenges.
(Virtual sessions, female aged 41, July 2020)
“I was really impressed how quickly the CBT acted upon my behaviour”
My mood has gradually got better over the 4 CBT sessions with Sarah. She used a type of CBT called Metacognitive Therapy (MCT). In the past I had general counselling, although this was good at the time, it was more of a short term fix. I think CBT suits me better. I like the fact that Sarah gave me techniques and skills to work on throughout my day. I was really impressed how quickly the CBT acted upon my behaviour when I changed my attitude to my thoughts. I no longer have the fear that I might injure myself.
It worked really well having the sessions virtually, as I didn’t have to travel and could fit it in easily with my life.
(Male, aged 20, July 2020, virtual sessions)
After 12 sessions my depression scores have gone from severe to mild.
I went to my GP and was diagnosed with severe depression and anxiety. My employer provided me with 12 sessions. I had counselling when I was younger, but this didn't work so I didn’t expect CBT to work. But I was hopeful that it would. Due to COVID-19, we had all of our sessions online, which would not have been my original choice. However, it worked really well.
Working with Sarah I learned some valuable skills. After 12 sessions my depression scores have gone from severe to mild. My anxiety level is normal. I am impressed with how quickly and how well it has worked.
I felt I could trust Sarah. Although there was an age difference between us, I felt she understood me and was able to help me. I am definitely glad I gave Symmetry CBT a try.
(Male, aged 18, June 2020)
“I have been able to keep myself calm, rational and able to cope”
I came to Sarah with a number of issues with anxiety, particularly centred around news, politics and the fear of world events which could affect myself, my family and friends, and anyone I cared about. At this time - as we all know - my greatest fear was realised when COVID-19 struck.
Through the support of Sarah and therapies including Emotion Efficacy Therapy (EET) and a meditation called RAIN, I have been able to keep myself calm, rational and able to cope with the current situation. But better than that, it has helped me to see the positives in my situation and for me to know that whilst the world will never be the same again neither will my anxiety and that's a good thing!
(Female, age 26, June 2020)
I was amazed with the difference after just 9 hours of EMDR.
I have had emetophobia ever since I was a child. It completely hindered my life and I missed out on so many experiences, because of my fears of feeling nauseous and also being violently sick. I felt very ashamed about my emetophobia and had put off getting help. I decided to try some EMDR, because it felt appropriate to me as it can help treat phobias.
I was amazed with the difference after just 9 hours of EMDR. Early memories which underpinned my phobia have now become more manageable and I am now living my life without the fear of being sick and feeling nauseous. I have recently eaten food which I have always avoided.
(Female, aged 56).
After the birth of my second child, I had a sudden onset of OCD.
Throughout my life I have had periods of OCD which had a theme of responsibility for other people. After the birth of my second child, I had a sudden onset of OCD. I felt like I was losing my mind and this felt extremely frightening. I got in touch with Sarah who let me know she had experience of working with postpartum OCD and I felt reassured.
After 5 hours of CBT, I no longer have symptoms of OCD. Plus I feel I have gained insight into myself and feel a better person for it. Initially I had felt nervous about sharing with Sarah what was going through my mind, but knowing that she had treated a lot of other people with OCD put my mind at ease.
(Female, aged 30, February 2020)
If you are reading this and are suffering with similar mental health challenges, I would like you to know that CBT really did help me.
I was feeling generally down and then it suddenly felt as if I spiralled out of control, having obsessive unwanted intrusions of a sexual nature. This caused me severe distress and sent me into a highly anxious and depressed state. I genuinely thought things would never get better and was contemplating taking my life.
I came to see Sarah for 9 sessions of CBT earlier this year. With her help, I was able to gain a greater understanding of myself. She taught how to control my thought processes and helped me make some lifestyle changes, which have contributed hugely to the improvement of my mental well-being.
I have since had a follow up session 5 months after I finished the CBT treatment and have grown in leaps and bounds. If you are reading this and are suffering with similar mental health challenges, I would like you to know that CBT really did help me.
(Male, aged 21, December 2019)
71 Plymbridge Rd, Plymouth, Devon, PL6 7LB