Disclaimer
I hope it’s obvious that this blog is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for psychological therapy. Please consult a health professional before embarking on a program of psychological self-help and seek help if any self-help contributes to worsening symptoms. If you feel like you need support, please speak to your GP about what services are available in your area.
This blog started as a cracking bit of therapy-based wordplay that was begging to be made into a blog title.
From there I developed the formula: road-test the techniques frequently used in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) by experimenting with them in everyday situations, and then write about it for all who care to read about it (and happen to stumble across it).
My real job is as a clinical psychologist in a specialist NHS service for anxiety, OCD and trauma. As part of my work there I set up the Misophonia Clinic, using CBT to help people to cope better with the misophonia spiral and supervising therapists around the country who are seeing people with misophonia. In October 2020 I will be continuing my work on misophonia with three-year Wellcome Trust research fellowship, focusing on the cognitive behavioural mechanisms of misophonia.
My official aim for this blog is that I want to better understand the torment and the triumphs of the therapy experience by giving myself a little dose of my own medicine. My unofficial aim is that I really, really want people to like me.
Let the mind games commence.
Looking for a CBT therapist in the UK? Click here to find a therapist through the BABCP.
Cognitive Behave Yourself 
I love the idea of road testing. 🙂
i stumbled upon your blog today & I love it! I’ve just finished my first year of psychotherapy training, so I’m an info junkie at the moment! look forward to reading more!
Thanks Ana! It’s been a lot of fun writing it. Good luck with your psychotherapy training. Every day I feel lucky to have such an amazing and rewarding job to go to.
I ran across a very thoughtful comment you made on the community mental health blog I admin, A Canvas Of The Minds, earlier this year — way back in May, as a matter of fact — about our Blog For Mental Health campaign. I was reviewing what went well with the project and what needs adjustment for the year to come. I’m so terribly sorry I am only now having a look at your blog.
I love that you have both the therapist/clinician’s perspective, but so obviously respect the value of mental health consumers supporting one another. I am very excited to delve into your blog; a therapist (and human being) who cares so much for both sides of things is clearly committed to truly helping to alleviate suffering, and to encouraging wellness through all avenues, and that is a wonderful thing indeed.
Thank you again, and I hope to get to know you a bit better — and even perhaps see more of you in the coming year!
Ruby
P.S. I love the clever wordplay in your title! 😀
Hi Ruby,
Thanks for your kind comments. I just think it’s great that there are more and more ways for people to communicate with one another about mental health, from all sides of the picture. A community like the one you oversee is such a significant and healthy step for everyone and I am touched by a lot of what I read.
My blog has been on hiatus because of a really busy period at work but I am still doing my experiments and hope to get writing again in the new year. I am learning so much as I go and it’s sincerely changed the way I practice as a therapist.
Jane
Message for Jane…I came across your blog “Is that a rash on your neck or are you anxious to see me?” whilst googling techniques to help prevent the unsightly blotchy patches which I suffer with on my chest and neck. I too feel overwhelmed with feelings of how this will be perceived during meetings, wondering too if others will question my competence as I think I must appear to be a nervous wreck. I find it quite crippling and exhausting. Are you aware of any techniques that are effective in preventing the occurrence of such rashes. I tried hypnotherapy years ago, but unfortunately it did not help at all!!