Discover the range of psychological treatments offered by phone or video at myMHC. 

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a practical, evidence-based approach that helps people understand how their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours are connected. It focuses on recognising unhelpful patterns and building healthier ways to respond. For example, someone with social anxiety might learn to challenge their fear of being judged and gradually build confidence in social situations. CBT is effective for a range of issues, including anxiety, depression, trauma, and low self-esteem - offering skills that support lasting change and emotional wellbeing.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapies:

Cognitive behaviour therapies are a broad group of psychological treatments that focus on how our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours interact. Below are some of the main therapies, maybe you have heard of some but didn't know they were considered part of the CBT family:

• Cognitive Therapy (CT) – Focuses on challenging distorted thinking patterns.

• Behaviour Therapy – Focuses on changing problematic behaviours through techniques like exposure or reinforcement.

• Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) – Targets irrational beliefs to reduce emotional distress.

• Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT) – Adapted for people with PTSD or trauma histories.
• Polonged Exposure Therapy (PE) - Helps individuals gradually confront trauma memories and avoided situations to reduce PTSD symptoms.
• Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) - a type of CBT that helps people recover from trauma by identifying and challenging unhelpful beliefs related to the traumatic event, such as guilt, shame, or blame.
• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) - Integrates CBT with skills in emotional regulation, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness; often used for borderline personality disorder.

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) – Encourages acceptance of thoughts and feelings while committing to personal values.

• Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) - Combines mindfulness practices with traditional CBT, often used for depression relapse prevention.

• Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) - Designed for people with high levels of shame or self-criticism; helps develop self-compassion.

• Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) - Commonly used for OCD.

• Schema Therapy - Combines CBT with elements of attachment theory and psychodynamic therapy for entrenched patterns.

Eye Movement Desensitising and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy

EMDR therapy is grounded in understanding how the brain processes and stores information in memory. First developed in 1987 by American psychologist Francine Shapiro, EMDR has evolved into a structured, eight-phase, evidence-based treatment used to help people recover from trauma and other distressing experiences. While it was initially designed to treat PTSD, growing research now supports its effectiveness for a wide range of mental health concerns.

The theory behind EMDR therapy suggests that psychological distress arises when traumatic or overwhelming experiences aren’t fully processed by the brain. These memories become "stuck" in their original form - along with the strong emotions, body sensations, and beliefs experienced at the time. Traumatic experiences can disrupt the brain’s natural information processing system, leaving people with intense reactions to memories that feel as if they’re still happening. These unprocessed memories can be triggered by present-day situations, leading to ongoing distress.

EMDR therapy can be effective for treating complex trauma, including traumas where important emotional, physical or social needs weren’t met.  This is often the case for those exposed to domestic violence, childhood abuse and neglect, or relentless bullying. These experiences can leave lasting feelings of shame, worthlessness, or disconnection. EMDR Therapy can be enhanced when dealing with complex trauma by integrating parts work, somatic approaches, and polyvagal-informed techniques to support nervous system regulation, foster internal safety, and help process early attachment wounds.

How EMDR Therapy Works:

During EMDR, you are guided by your trained therapist to:

1. Bring a distressing memory to mind

2. Notice the thoughts, feelings, and body sensations associated with it

3. Engage in sets of bilateral stimulation—usually through guided eye movements, tapping, or sounds

4. Let your brain begin to reprocess the memory, until it feels less intense and more resolved
   
   

Many people describe EMDR as helping them feel like the memory has become “distant” or “less emotionally charged”.  An example might be someone who experienced a serious car accident and still feels anxious driving, has flashbacks, or avoids certain roads - even long after any physical injuries have healed.  In EMDR, the person is taught various coping skills and gently guided to revisit the memory in a safe, supported way, using eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation. Over time, the emotional intensity of the memory fades, and their beliefs shift from “I’m not safe” to “I got through it and I’m okay now”.  Many clients find they can return to daily activities with more confidence and less fear.