About Halcyon

Sarah, founder of Halcyon wanted to use her CBT knowledge and skills to develop her own brand of psychological well-being tools, programmes and materials that are readily available and accessible. Sarah offers 1:1 therapy and Coaching. Sarah has experienced mental health problems herself which means she is compassionate and empathic for those she works with.

Sarah is an experienced cognitive behavioural psychotherapist, coach, teacher and mother of four year old son, Harrison. She has a wealth of knowledge and skills gained from years of experience in the NHS, private and academic settings. Sarah has supported people from all walks of life over the years. Sarah has experienced mental health difficulties herself which makes her empathic and compassionate.

Welcome to Halcyon for your mind, body and soul.

Benefit from Sarah’s Support

Halcyon is aimed at enhancing your psychological well-being for life. Sarah has put her many years of experience and knowledge in to her Halcyon therapy programmes. She continues to work in the NHS and offers 1:1 therapy privately in the heart of the City of London.

Experience

Sarah is a cognitive behavioural psychotherapist with experience of working in both the NHS and private companies. Sarah has worked in GP surgeries, a medium secure hospital, primary and secondary care community mental health teams, universities,  in her private practice and with various charities. Sarah is a passionate and committed psycho-educator to her clients and has also worked extensively in teaching and training the next generation of psychological practitioners. She is able to draw on her skills and knowledge to speak at events, run workshops and webinars and treat clients around anxiety, depression, trauma, stress, self esteem, self care, building resilience and life transitions. She is particularly passionate about working with mothers in the perinatal period.

Qualifications

Accredited with the BABCP (British Association of Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies)

Post Graduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (Kings College, London), 2016

Post Graduate Diploma in Low Intensity CBT interventions, University College London, 2013

Post Graduate Diploma in Psychology, Kingston University, 2007

BSc (Hons) Psychology & Sociology, Kingston University, 2003

About Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Here we provide an overview on Cognitive behavioural therapy.

Including:

  • Who developed it?

  • What does the evidence base say?

  • What is CBT?

  • How can CBT benefit me?

What is cognitive behavioural therapy?

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is and evidence based NICE (2022) recommended treatment. A Psychiatrist called Aaron T. Beck developed Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Beck’s (1967; 1976) cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) model has been extensively evaluated and is therefore one of the most widely accepted theories and treatment for depression and anxiety. Beck (1967; 1976) proposes that CBT is based on the assumption that how a person appraises a situation effects their emotional state and behavioural pattern. Beck et al’s., (1979) model proposes three key concepts associated with shifts in information processing in depression and anxiety. Firstly, the cognitive triad is a pattern of negative thoughts/images about the self, world/others and the future. Each area interlinks and affects the other. The second component is the concept of schemas which are stable cognitive patterns developed through past learning experiences. 

In depression for example, the individual’s interpretation of a situation is distorted to fit the predominant dysfunctional schema. Finally, faulty information processing categorised as systematic cognitive errors e.g., ‘overgeneralisation’ and ‘emotional reasoning’ experienced by the individual as a stream of negative automatic thoughts. Thus, the depressed or anxious person is more likely to make broad global judgements regarding events that impact on their life; meanings are likely to be negative, absolute, emotional responses extreme to the situation and behavioural reactions maladaptive all unwittingly serving to maintain the depression or anxiety.  

Initial therapy sessions focus on developing a shared understanding of the client’s presenting problem utilising the 5 areas model to gain the clients reaction to the rational for CBT. Early therapy is focused on clients monitoring their activities and mood by paying attention to their levels of mastery and pleasure experienced from their engagement in activities. This gathers ‘objective data’ collected in a diary about clients functioning (Beck, 1979). Of particular importance is identifying triggers and patterns in behaviour and mood. This underpins collaborative work between therapist and client to intervene by scheduling activities that bring an opportunity to experience mastery and pleasure. 

Once the client is re-activated the focus of therapy includes more cognitive strategies. Clients are taught how to notice shifts in feelings and to recall what thoughts they had prior to this feeling (Beck, 1979). Therapists teach clients the skills to record these negative automatic thoughts (NATs) in a thought record to help them keep track of how their NAT’s impact on their mood. Once this skill is mastered cognitive techniques are taught to help the client develop alternative, more positive ways of re-appraising activating events and testing the validity of NAT’s by examining the evidence for and against them (Carr & McNulty, 2006). Further techniques can be taught to help a client to identify and shift deeper held beliefs about themselves, others and the world that may be causing psychological distress such as 'I'm not good enough'.