Let's Talk about CBT- Practice Matters

In this episode of Practice Matters, Rachel Handley is joined by Professor Ailsa Russell to explore how CBT can be adapted to meet the needs of autistic clients. They unpack common myths, including the idea that CBT is unsuitable for autistic people or that encouraging behaviour change simply means asking clients to mask, and discuss where a neuro-affirmative stance fits into formulation and treat...

In this episode of Practice Matters, Rachel Handley is joined by Dr Antonia Dittner, consultant clinical psychologist and lead author of "A Therapist's Guide to CBT to Support Adults with ADHD," to explore what CBT has to offer this often misunderstood client group. Together they unpack the diagnostic picture, the overlap with anxiety and depression, and why a formulation driven, transdiagnostic a...

In this episode of Practice Matters, Rachel Handley is joined by Dr Scott Waltman, president-elect of the US Academy of Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies, to explore what Socratic questioning really is and why it matters. Scott describes it as thinking with our clients rather than for them, comparing it to Socrates' own idea of being a midwife for thought. They discuss the evidence behind Socrat...

In this episode of Practice Matters, Rachel is joined once again by Professor David Veale, this time to explore emetophobia, the specific phobia of vomiting. David explains why this is the most common specific phobia presenting for treatment, despite being largely overlooked by researchers for years, and the devastating impact it can have, from avoided pregnancies to missed medical care. Together...

In this episode of Practice Matters, Rachel Handley is joined by Professor David Veale, consultant psychiatrist and cognitive behavioural therapist, to explore body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). Together they unpack what BDD really is, how it differs from vanity, social anxiety, and OCD, and why so many people suffering with it end up seeking cosmetic solutions rather than psychological support. Davi...

In this episode of Practice Matters, Rachel Handley is joined by Professor Alicia Meuret to explore anhedonia, the reduced ability to feel pleasure, and the development of Positive Affect Therapy (PAT). Together, they unpack why so many clients struggle not just with feeling bad, but with a profound absence of positive emotion, and why traditional CBT approaches may not fully address this gap. Ali...

In this episode of  Let's Talk About CBT- Practice Matters , Rachel Handley is joined by Professor Paul Farrand to unpack the theory and practice of low intensity CBT. They explore what low intensity really means, challenging common misconceptions and clarifying its evidence base, including its focus on single-strand interventions and stepped care delivery. Paul discusses how low intensity approac...

In this episode of Let's Talk About CBT: Practice Matters , Rachel Handley speaks with Professor Shirley Reynolds about behavioural activation for depression in children and young people. Shirley reflects on what we know about depression in adolescence, the challenges of access to effective treatment, and why brief, values-based approaches may be particularly well suited to this developmental stag...

How do we make effective therapy for depression more widely available without losing quality or compassion? In this episode, Rachel Handley is joined by Professor David Ekers, a leading researcher and clinician specialising in behavioural activation (BA). David shares the story of how his clinical experience with long waiting lists led him to focus on scalable, evidence-based approaches to care. T...

In this episode of  Let's Talk About CBT- Practice Matters , Rachel is joined by Dr Alasdair Churchard, clinical psychologist, CBT therapist and NIHR pre doctoral fellow at the University of Oxford. Alasdair's work focuses on ethnic inequalities in psychological therapies, and together they explore why historical context matters in CBT practice. The discussion covers the importance of addressing e...

In this episode of Practice Matters, host Rachel Handley speaks with Dr Christopher Martell, a leading expert in behavioural activation (BA) for depression. Christopher shares his journey from early training in CBT to becoming a key figure in the development of BA, describing how behavioural strategies can help people move toward a more meaningful life when depression keeps them stuck. Rachel puts...

In this episode, Rachel talks with Professor Zindel Segal, Distinguished Professor of Psychology in Mood Disorders all about Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy. (MBCT). Zindel discusses the origins of MBCT, detailing how he and his colleagues transitioned from traditional cognitive therapy to integrating mindfulness as a core mechanism for preventing depression relapse. The conversation explores...

In this episode, Rachel Handley talks with Professor Ed Watkins, Professor of Psychology at the University of Exeter a world-leading expert in Rumination and its impact on mental health and wellbeing. Professor Watkins talks about Rumination-Focussed Cognitive Therapy, an evidence-based approach he has developed and trialled to target these specific processes in depression.     They discuss: What...

In this episode of  Practice Matters , Rachel is joined by Professor Judith Beck, President of the Beck Institute for Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and one of the most influential voices in the field. Judith discusses her personal and professional journey into CBT, the legacy of her father Aaron T. Beck, and the evolution of cognitive therapy from its traditional roots to recovery-oriented cognitive...

In this episode of  Let's Talk About CBT- Practice Matters , host Rachel Handley is joined by two leading experts in perinatal mental health- Professor Heather O'Mahen and Dr Sarah Healy. Together, they explore the unique challenges, adaptations, and opportunities that come with providing effective CBT for individuals during the perinatal period. Heather and Sarah draw on their clinical experience...

In this episode, Rachel talks with Professor Barney Dunn, clinical psychologist and researcher at the University of Exeter, about his work on  Augmented Depression Therapy (ADepT) a novel approach to treating depression that targets anhedonia (difficulty experiencing pleasure) and aims to boost wellbeing. Barney shares personal and professional insights into why and how traditional CBT might be au...

In the second part of this episode with Professor Steve Hollon, we go beyond theory into the heart of applying cognitive therapy for depression in real-world settings. Steve shares what therapy really looks like across the spectrum from relatively straightforward to deeply complex clients and how therapists can stay grounded and effective, even when things feel messy. Resources and links Cognitive...

In the first instalment of this special two part episode, Rachel Handley talks to Professor Steve Hollon, international expert on the prevention and treatment of depression and co-author of the second edition of  Cognitive Therapy of Depression about how we understand and treat depression. Steve shares what first drew him to the field, his early encounters with Aaron T. Beck and the rise of cognit...

In this episode of Let's Talk About CBT- Practice Matters , Rachel Handley talks to two expert guests – Professor Kim Wright from the University of Exeter and Associate Professor Tom Richardson from the University of Southampton – about bipolar disorder and the role of CBT in supporting people with this diagnosis. Tom and Kim share their extensive clinical and research experience, alongside insigh...

In this episode of  Let's Talk About CBT: Practice Matters , Rachel Handley is joined by Dr. Rebecca Murphy, a clinical psychologist and researcher specialising in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for eating disorders. Together, they explore the complexities of eating disorders, effective treatment approaches, and ways to improve accessibility to evidence-based interventions. Resources & Furthe...

In this episode of  Let's Talk About CBT – Practice Matters , host Rachel Handley speaks with Andrew Beck, consultant clinical psychologist, CBT therapist, and author of Transcultural Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Anxiety and Depression . Andrew is a leading expert in culturally adapted therapies and a former president of the BABCP. Together, they explore the importance of culture, language, e...

In this episode of Practice Matters , host Rachel Handley is joined by Dr. Eleanor Leigh, Clinical Psychologist and Associate Professor at the University of Oxford to discuss social anxiety disorder in young people. Eleanor shares her journey into this field, highlights the challenges of recognising and treating social anxiety in young people, and offers hope through emerging evidence-based interv...

This episode, Rachel talks to Dr. Stirling Moorey about the role of CBT in supporting individuals with cancer. Dr Moorey is a consultant psychiatrist and a leading expert in psycho-oncology as well as the new BABCP President. He has worked extensively in the field of CBT and cancer since the 1980s, contributing to research, clinical practice, and supervision. They discuss how not everyone with can...

In this episode, host Rachel Handley sits down with Dr. Fiona Challacombe, a leading expert in perinatal anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), to explore the impact of OCD on new and expecting parents. They discuss why new parents are particularly vulnerable to intrusive thoughts, how CBT techniques can effectively treat perinatal OCD, and the importance of dispelling myths around mater...

In this episode, Rachel talks to Professor Colin Espie about cognitive behavioural interventions for insomnia. They discuss the importance of sleep, common misconceptions about sleep and the importance of trusting in the body's natural sleep processes.   Colin highlights the high prevalence of sleep disorders and comorbidity with other mental health conditions that CBT therapists will commonly be...