Modalities
Lisa draws on a range of evidence-based therapeutic approaches, tailoring each session to your unique needs, goals, and circumstances. Below is an overview of the key modalities used in practice.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Connection of Thoughts, Feelings and Behaviours
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is one of the most widely researched and evidence-based therapeutic approaches available. It is based on the understanding that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours are deeply interconnected — and that by changing unhelpful thought patterns, we can positively influence how we feel and how we act.
CBT is a practical, structured, and goal-oriented therapy. Rather than focusing solely on the past, it helps you understand what is happening in the present and equips you with concrete tools and strategies to manage challenges as they arise.
CBT is highly effective for a wide range of concerns including anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, PTSD, ADHD, and workplace stress. It can also be adapted specifically for menopause-related symptoms, including hot flushes, mood changes, and sleep disturbances.
In sessions, I will work collaboratively with you to identify unhelpful thinking patterns, challenge and reframe those thoughts, and develop practical coping strategies tailored to your individual needs and goals.
Solution Focused Therapy
Focussing on Solutions rather than the Problem
Solution Focused Therapy (SFT) is a forward-looking, strengths-based approach that shifts the focus away from problems and towards solutions. Rather than spending extensive time analysing the root causes of difficulties, SFT helps you identify what is already working in your life and build on those strengths to create meaningful change.
This approach is grounded in the belief that you already have the inner resources and capabilities needed to overcome challenges — sometimes you just need support to recognise and harness them.
SFT is particularly effective for people who feel stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure of the next step. It is a collaborative process where I will guide you in exploring your goals, identifying exceptions to the problem, and developing a clear, achievable vision for the future.
Sessions are typically focused, practical, and empowering — helping you move forward with clarity and confidence.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Accepting what you cannot control
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a mindfulness-based behavioural therapy that encourages you to accept what is out of your personal control, and commit to action that improves and enriches your life.
Unlike approaches that aim to reduce or eliminate difficult thoughts and feelings, ACT teaches you to change your relationship with those experiences — to observe them without judgement, reduce their power over you, and move forward in alignment with your values.
ACT is built on six core processes: acceptance, cognitive defusion, being present, self as context, values clarification, and committed action. Together, these create psychological flexibility — the ability to stay present and engaged with life even when difficult thoughts and emotions arise.
ACT is effective for anxiety, depression, chronic pain, grief, trauma, and stress. It is particularly helpful for people who feel that their thoughts and feelings are controlling their lives, and who want to reconnect with what truly matters to them.
Emotionally Focused Therapy
Emotional regulation and secure attachments
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is a structured, evidence-based approach that focuses on adult relationships and attachment. It is grounded in the science of emotions and attachment theory, and is designed to help individuals and couples understand and reshape their emotional responses and relational patterns.
EFT recognises that at the heart of most relationship difficulties are unmet attachment needs — the deep human need to feel safe, seen, and securely connected to others. When these needs go unmet, negative cycles of conflict, withdrawal, and disconnection can develop and become entrenched over time.
Through EFT, I will help you identify the underlying emotions and attachment needs driving these patterns, express them in ways that foster connection rather than conflict, and build more secure, fulfilling relationships.
EFT is effective for couples experiencing conflict, disconnection, or communication difficulties, as well as individuals working through attachment wounds, relationship trauma, or difficulties with emotional regulation.
Art Therapy
Psychotherapy using creative expression
Art Therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses creative expression as a means of communication, exploration, and healing. It is based on the belief that the creative process itself is therapeutic — and that making art can help people express feelings and experiences that are difficult to put into words.
You do not need to have any artistic skill or experience to benefit from Art Therapy. The focus is not on the quality of the artwork, but on the process of creating it and what that process reveals about your inner world.
Art Therapy can be particularly powerful for people who have experienced trauma, grief, or significant life changes, as it provides a safe and non-verbal way to process and integrate difficult experiences. It is also highly effective for children and adolescents, who may find it easier to express themselves through creative means than through traditional talk therapy.
In sessions, I may use a range of creative materials and techniques — including drawing, painting, collage, and journalling — tailored to your individual needs and comfort level.
Mindfulness Based Therapies
Present-moment awareness
Mindfulness Based Therapies encompass a range of therapeutic approaches that incorporate mindfulness — the practice of intentional, non-judgmental present-moment awareness — as a core component of healing and wellbeing.
These approaches include Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), and mindfulness practices integrated within ACT and other modalities. All share a common foundation: that by learning to observe our thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations with curiosity and without judgement, we can reduce suffering and cultivate greater peace and clarity.
Research consistently shows that mindfulness-based approaches are highly effective for reducing anxiety, depression, stress, and chronic pain. They are also valuable for improving sleep, emotional regulation, and overall quality of life.
I integrate mindfulness practices throughout my work, helping you develop a sustainable mindfulness practice that supports your wellbeing both within and between sessions. Whether you are new to mindfulness or have some existing experience, these practices can be adapted to suit your individual needs and lifestyle.
Not sure which approach is right for you?
That's completely normal. Lisa will work with you collaboratively to determine the most appropriate approach based on your individual needs, goals, and circumstances. Start with a free 15-minute phone consultation.
Book a Free Consultation