Adult Mental Health
AMH
SSC Adult Mental Health service provides assessment and treatment to individuals experiencing a full range of mental health difficulties including:
Anxiety Disorders (e.g. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder), Depression, Trauma (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Complex PTSD), Disordered Eating, Addiction, and other mental health difficulties in an out-patient setting.
The aim of our client-centred service is to promote psychological wellbeing that enables individuals to maximise their potential, cope with challenging circumstances, and live fulfilling lives.
Assessment and treatment are provided by Chartered Clinical and Counselling Psychologists with an emphasis on individual needs, problem-solving, and a collaborative approach. This is achieved through regular one-to-one sessions using evidence-based assessments and therapeutic interventions to address current difficulties
THERAPY
We offer a range of person-centred therapies
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Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
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Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
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Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)
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Schema-Focused Therapy
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a popular psychological therapy with extensive evidence for its effectiveness, particularly in treating Depression and Anxiety Disorders. CBT helps individuals identify and change negative patterns in thinking, behaviour, physical sensation, and feelings by recognising the interaction between these components. Treatment involves identifying triggers, exploring cognitive distortions in automatic thinking, developing strategies to help reduce physiological arousal, and changing unhelpful behavioural patterns. Homework is an integral component to the process and includes activities such as thought diaries and behavioural experiments.
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is used to treat a variety of problems associated with unresolved life experiences including trauma-related disorders (e.g. PTSD), Anxiety Disorders (e.g., phobias, OCD), Substance Misuse, and Personality Disorders. Preparation for EMDR is essential and includes developing methods of relaxation and strategies to deal with the distress often associated with painful traumatic memories. During EMDR treatment, memories, negative self-beliefs, and physical sensations associated with past trauma are identified. Then, disturbing material is ‘processed’ using bilateral stimulation (eye movements or tactile taps) until the individual is able to think of the memory without undue distress. Finally, the resolved memory is attached to a positive self-belief that assists the individual to function better going forward
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) is an adapted type of CBT, specifically designed for people who experience difficulties in managing and regulating their emotions. DBT helps the client change their behavioural responses and accept that difficult situations are a part of life. Learning to cope with distress, regulate emotions, practice mindfulness to help build psychological resilience, and improve relationships with others underlies the approach. DBT was initially developed to treat people with Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD) but has now proven to be effective for other mental health conditions.
Schema-Focused Therapy is an integrative therapeutic approach that aims to identify unhelpful underlying beliefs and responses related to self, others and the world that originally develop in response to unmet childhood needs. Therapy aims to help the individual meet emotional needs in a more adaptive way and minimize distress going forward.
ASSESSMENTS
We offer a range of psychological assessments such as cognitive functioning, risk assessments, diagnostic assessment and screenings (including ASD, anxiety, Eating Disorders), personal injury, and capacity assessments.
REFERRALS
We accept referrals directly from clients, GPs, Consultant Psychiatrists, other mental health practitioners, organisations, and Solicitors. In-person clinic appointments are available Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm in private consulting rooms at Churchill Square, Kings Hill, West Malling in Kent. We also offer appointments via a secure virtual platform, such as Microsoft Teams. Early morning and after-hours appointments and, under exceptional circumstances, home visits can also be arranged upon request.