Astute Education & Psychology Centre psychologists offer a professional, comfortable and secure environment for our clients. Empirically tested methods are used to assess and treat a variety of concerns relating to mental and emotional health and well-being.

The treatments listed below are just some of the methods used by our psychologists:

Psycho-Education

Psychoeducation involves providing individuals with information and resources to better understand their mental health and well-being. By learning about psychological concepts, coping strategies, and the impact of thoughts and behaviors, individuals can make informed decisions and take proactive steps toward improvement. Psychoeducation empowers people to manage stress, recognize early signs of mental health concerns, and enhance overall emotional resilience. It’s an essential tool in promoting self-awareness and fostering long-term mental wellness.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)

EMDR is a therapeutic approach designed to help individuals process and heal from traumatic memories. By using guided eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation, EMDR helps rewire the brain's response to distressing memories, reducing their emotional charge. It has been proven effective in treating PTSD, anxiety, depression, and other trauma-related conditions, promoting healing and emotional well-being. EMDR offers a powerful tool for those seeking to overcome the impact of trauma and find lasting relief.

Schema Therapy

Schema Therapy is a transformative therapeutic approach that helps individuals understand and change deep-rooted patterns of thought, behaviour, and emotion. These patterns, known as "schemas," often develop in childhood and can influence how we respond to life’s challenges. Schema Therapy works to identify and heal these maladaptive schemas, promoting healthier coping strategies and fostering emotional well-being. Particularly effective for those with long-standing issues like personality disorders or chronic depression, it combines elements of cognitive-behavioural therapy, attachment theory, and experiential techniques to create lasting change.

Motivational Interviewing

This technique involves helping clients to build motivation for change. It helps individuals to be able to recognise their current or potential problems and to do something with regard to them. The overall goal is to increase the client’s awareness of the discrepancies between current behaviour and goals as a way of triggering change. It is a client-centred, directive method that encourages motivation to change by exploring and resolving ambivalence or reluctance to change.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy consists of two aspects – behavioural therapy and cognitive therapy. Behavioural therapy assumes that behaviour is learned and therefore can be changed. Cognitive therapy theorises that distressing emotions and maladaptive behaviours are the result of faulty or irrational patterns of thinking.

CBT aims at replacing these dysfunctional thoughts with more rational ones. This can lead to an alleviation of problem thoughts, emotions and behaviours.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present in the moment, paying attention to thoughts, feelings, and sensations without judgment. By cultivating mindfulness, individuals can reduce stress, improve emotional regulation, and enhance overall well-being. This simple yet powerful practice encourages a deeper connection to the present, helping to foster clarity, peace, and resilience in daily life. Whether through meditation, breathing exercises, or mindful activities, embracing mindfulness can lead to a more balanced and fulfilling life.

Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)

This therapy theorises that relationships play a significant role in both causing and maintaining depression. It aims to identify and resolve interpersonal difficulties that are thought to be related to depression. This can include conflict with others, role disputes or role transitions, social isolation and prolonged grief following loss.
IPT explores the perceptions and expectations of relationships and aims to improve communication and interpersonal skills.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy uses a variety of techniques based on experiential relationship building, communication, behaviour change and dialogue which are designed to improve an individual’s mental health and well-being. It can also be used to improve family relationships. Known as a talking therapy, Psychotherapy aims to increase an individual’s sense of well-being.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

ACT is an empirically based, psychological intervention which is a cognitive-behavioural model of psychotherapy. This therapy teaches you to become aware and to “notice” what is happening around you by using different strategies such as acceptance, mindfulness, commitment and behaviour-change strategies, to increase psychological flexibility.