Therapy at Kensington Psychology Clinic
Therapy Tailored to You
At Kensington Psychology Clinic, we offer personalised, evidence-based therapy for adults seeking support for a wide range of mental health and emotional wellbeing concerns.
Our team of highly experienced psychologists tailor therapy to suit each individual’s goals, preferences and life circumstances.
Whether you are navigating a challenging time, managing a specific issue, or exploring personal growth, we are here to support you.
What to Expect from Therapy at Kensington Psychology Clinic
Therapy is a collaborative process where your goals, experiences and values guide the way. Our psychologists provide a safe, non-judgmental space where you can explore your thoughts and feelings at your own pace.
Together, we will work on building practical skills and strategies that fit your unique life situation. Many clients find that therapy not only helps them manage current challenges but also increases self-understanding, confidence and emotional wellbeing over time.
We are committed to supporting you every step of the way with compassion, respect and evidence-based approaches.
Therapeutic Approaches
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Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a structured, evidence-based approach that helps people understand how their thoughts, feelings and behaviours interact. It is based on the idea that unhelpful thinking patterns can contribute to emotional distress and unproductive behaviours, and that by shifting these patterns, you can improve your wellbeing.
CBT combines two core components: cognitive therapy, which focuses on recognising and challenging unhelpful thoughts, and behavioural therapy, which helps to change patterns of behaviour that may be reinforcing distress. Working with your psychologist, you will explore your specific concerns, gain insight into your thinking and behaviour, and develop practical strategies to manage symptoms, improve coping and support your goals.
CBT has been adapted to treat a wide range of challenges including anxiety, depression, stress, eating disorders, and substance use — and remains one of the most well-researched and effective therapies available.
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an evidence-based approach designed to help you live a more meaningful life, guided by your values — even in the presence of difficult thoughts and emotions. ACT is grounded in relational frame theory, which explores how language and cognition shape our experiences. At its core, ACT aims to build psychological flexibility — the ability to respond openly to your inner experiences while taking purposeful action.
ACT focuses on six key processes: mindfulness (being present), acceptance, values, committed action, self-awareness, and defusion (stepping back from unhelpful thoughts). With support from your psychologist, you'll develop practical strategies to reduce avoidance and unhelpful self-judgements, and instead move towards actions that align with what truly matters to you. This approach is particularly useful for challenges such as anxiety, stress, burnout, perfectionism, and navigating major life transitions.
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Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is a structured, evidence-based therapy designed to help people who experience intense emotions, impulsivity, or difficulty coping in relationships. Originally developed for borderline personality disorder, it is now widely used for a range of mental health concerns.
DBT focuses on building four key skill areas: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. These skills help reduce unhelpful behaviours and improve coping in everyday life. Therapy may involve individual sessions, group skills training, and between-session support to encourage real-world application.
DBT balances acceptance with change, helping people respond more effectively to life’s challenges while supporting emotional stability and healthier relationships.
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Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) combines a client-centred approach with experiential techniques drawn from Gestalt therapy to address emotions central to issues such as depression. The major interventions used in EFT (e.g., empty-chair and two-chair dialogues, focusing on an unclear bodily-felt sense) facilitate creation of new meaning from bodily-felt referents, letting go of anger and hurt in relation to another person, increased acceptance and compassion for oneself, and development of a new view and understanding of oneself.
By helping clients process and transform painful emotions, EFT fosters greater emotional wellbeing and healthier relationships. This approach is distinct from broader emotion regulation therapies in its deep focus on emotional processing within sessions.
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Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) is a structured, time-limited therapy focused on the interpersonal factors that contribute to emotional distress. IPT is based on the understanding that mental health challenges and interpersonal difficulties are closely connected.
The therapy helps clients explore how current relationship issues—such as conflicts, role changes, grief, or social isolation—may be contributing to their distress. By examining perceptions and expectations of relationships, IPT aims to improve communication and interpersonal skills, fostering stronger connections and emotional wellbeing.
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Schema Therapy focuses on identifying and changing deeply held, maladaptive schemas—core beliefs formed in childhood about oneself, others, and the world—that influence ongoing emotional and behavioural patterns. These schemas often lead to ineffective coping strategies that maintain distress. The therapy combines cognitive techniques, such as challenging automatic thoughts and testing unhelpful beliefs, with experiential approaches including imagery, Gestalt techniques, and creative exercises.
A key part of the process involves limited re-parenting and providing a validating therapeutic relationship to support emotional growth and change. Schema Therapy is particularly useful for addressing complex or long-standing difficulties that may not have fully responded to other treatments.
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Metacognitive Therapy (MCT) focuses on how we think about our thinking — that is, our metacognitions — and how these influence emotional wellbeing. The therapy targets repetitive and unhelpful thinking patterns such as worry, rumination, and attentional biases that maintain psychological distress.
Unlike other therapies that focus on the content of thoughts, MCT helps you develop new ways to relate to your thoughts by changing beliefs about thinking itself. This approach aims to reduce unhelpful thought processes and increase psychological flexibility, empowering you to better manage distressing emotions and improve overall mental health.
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Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) are therapies centred on mindfulness meditation as their primary approach. Both involve structured eight-week programs designed to help interrupt cycles of ruminative thinking and emotional distress.
MBSR takes a broad approach to managing stress, using practices such as body scans, meditation, and mindful movement to help navigate difficult emotions and physical pain. MBCT combines mindfulness skills with cognitive therapy techniques, specifically to address recurring depression by increasing awareness of how thoughts and mood are connected.
Rather than trying to change distressing thoughts, mindfulness encourages experiencing them in the present moment without judgment, fostering greater clarity and emotional balance.
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Positive Psychology is an approach that focuses on enhancing well-being by building on your existing strengths and cultivating positive emotions. Rather than solely addressing problems, it encourages the development of qualities such as optimism, gratitude, resilience, and a sense of purpose.
Working with your psychologist, you will explore activities and exercises designed to increase positive experiences and personal growth. This may include identifying your core strengths, practicing gratitude, setting meaningful goals, and engaging in activities that promote fulfillment. Positive Psychology is suitable for individuals aiming to improve their overall quality of life, whether facing challenges or seeking personal development.
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Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a collaborative, person-centered approach that helps you explore and resolve ambivalence about change. It is particularly effective when you are uncertain or feeling stuck regarding a specific behaviour or decision.
In MI, your psychologist will support you in articulating your own reasons for change, enhancing your motivation and commitment. The process involves open-ended questions, reflective listening, and affirmations to foster a supportive environment. MI is often used in areas such as health behavior change, substance use, and lifestyle modifications.
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Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) is a modern, evidence-based approach developed to support people who struggle with self-criticism, shame, or a harsh inner dialogue. Rooted in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), CFT also draws from affective neuroscience, evolutionary psychology, mindfulness, and developmental theory.
CFT focuses on understanding and working with three core emotion regulation systems: the threat system (which manages fear and self-protection), the drive system (linked to motivation and achievement), and the soothing system (associated with safety, connection, and self-compassion). For many people, especially those experiencing chronic self-criticism or low self-worth, the soothing system is underused. CFT helps activate and strengthen this system to support emotional balance and psychological resilience.
With the support of your psychologist, you will learn skills such as mindful breathing, guided imagery, and compassionate self-talk to regulate difficult emotions and foster a kinder, more accepting relationship with yourself. CFT can be particularly helpful for those who intellectually understand their issues but struggle to feel relief or self-kindness on a deeper level.