Carol PotterBABCP Accredited CBT Therapist
BSc (Hons), Diploma (HE) Integral Therapeutic Counselling, Postgraduate Diploma Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Learning Disability (LD) Nurse
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy in Colchester.

Carol Potter is an experienced Integrative Therapeutic Counsellor and Cognitive Behavioural Therapist (CBT). Carol has worked for many years as a Therapist at Life-Force Counselling Service, and she also has her own private practice in Colchester. In addition, Carol has had over 25 years experience, working directly with people experiencing differing types of emotional problems. This includes voluntary work for a Help-Line for the depressed / suicidal, as well as working with criminal offenders with addiction problems. Carol has extensive experience in working directly with adults and children with learning disabilities and their families. Carol also has extensive Gestalt experience and has undertaken extensive training in Attachment disorder

Carol also holds the following qualifications:

Initial Post Professional Award in Counselling Skills
Certificate in Integrative Counselling
Diploma HE in Integral Therapeutic Counselling
Post Graduate Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Post Graduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Approved Play Therapy Supervisor with the Accredited Voluntary Register

Carol is a BABCP fully accredited CBT Therapist and is also registered with the BACP

What is CBT?

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a type of psychotherapy that is based on the theory that unhelpful negative emotions and behaviours are strongly influenced by problematic cognitions (thoughts). CBT is a ‘scientific’ type of therapy that can help you manage your problems by changing the way you think and behave.

CBT cannot remove your problems, but can help you manage them in a more positive way. It encourages you to examine how your actions can affect how you think and feel. Talking and changing your behaviour can change how you think (cognitive) and what you do (behaviour). This can make you feel better about life. CBT concentrates on difficulties occurring in the present moment rather than focusing on events from the past.

“I have learnt the key to being happy, is to let go of the things that make you sad ... CBT provided me with the tools and skills to do this”
Former Client

How CBT works

CBT works by helping you make sense of overwhelming problems by breaking them down into smaller parts.

Your thoughts, feelings, physical sensations and actions are interconnected, often trapping you in a negative spiral.

CBT helps you stop these negative cycles. It aims to break down factors that are making you feel bad, anxious or scared so that they are more manageable. It can show you how to change these negative patterns to improve the way you feel.

CBT Colchester - Changing negative patterns

Research has shown that CBT can be as effective as medicine in treating depression and other mental health problems. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), submitted clinical guidelines that strongly support the use of CBT as an effective psychological treatment for a depression and all the anxiety disorders. (NICE 2011).

CBT is proven to be an effective treatment of the following problems:

Depression and Suicidal Behaviours
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Panic Disorder
Phobias
Social Anxiety
Health Anxiety
Bi-polar disorder
Low self esteem
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Anger
Sleep
I also work with couples

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What happens next?

After contacting Carol, you will be offered an Initial Assessment appointment. This will be either at The Garden Room (Prettygate), Life-Force Centre for Natural Well-Being (East Hill), or an alternative venue within Colchester. During assessment, specific problematic areas for intervention will be jointly agreed. Following assessment, a designated number of further sessions will be agreed

Session Costs

Each session will cost £65 - £70, (there is a fee for the Assessment session). Each session will last for 1 hour. The number of sessions you will need depends on the nature of the problem, but typically this is likely to be be between 6-12 weekly sessions.

If your personal circumstances mean that you are unable to afford this, please contact me as I do offer some concessions.

Fees may vary from above, when work is undertaken for Insurance Companies (i.e. AXA, AVIVA)

Working Hours

Monday 3pm-9pm
Tuesday 8am - 9pm
Wednesday 8am-5pm
Thursday 8am-6pm

If you would like to speak to Carol further on how CBT can help you or to book an assessment, please call Mobile: 07867541058

I adhere to the General Data Protection Regulations (2018). I ensure all personal and sensitive client information, including case notes, printed emails, letters, reports and referral documents are not shared without your explicit consent unless I am subpoenaed by a court of law. Your information will be kept in a locked filing cabinet or alternative locked storage and retained for a minimum of seven years after closure of our work together. After this time, this information will be destroyed by double cross shredding. Any electronic records such as emails will also be electronically deleted after the seven year retention period. However, text messages will be deleted aster use or within 3 months. Under a Subject Access Request, you can request access to or copies of, your personal records which will be provided within 30 days of your written or verbal request.