Dr Brett Hayes

How I Like to Work

People come to see me for many different reasons, including burnout, worry, perfectionism, low mood and the effects of trauma. Some have been struggling for a long time and some have never had therapy before. You don’t need to arrive with a clear idea of what the problem is. We work that out together, starting with what has been happening and what you would like to be different. By the end of therapy I want you to understand why things became difficult, and to have practical ways of dealing with it that you can keep using afterwards.

My approach is practical and structured. Once we understand what is going on, we agree what you want to get from therapy and plan our sessions around that. I don’t work from a fixed template, because two people with the same difficulty on paper often need different things. Each session has a clear focus, and we check regularly whether the work is helping and change the plan if it isn’t.

I mainly draw on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), EMDR, CBT and Compassion Focused Therapy. ACT can help when you are caught up in worry, self-criticism or perfectionism, so that you spend less time struggling with your thoughts and more time on the things that matter to you. I use EMDR when difficult or traumatic experiences from the past are still affecting how you feel now.

I have over 10 years of experience working in NHS services with adults, young people and their families. Alongside my clinical work I have contributed to published research, including work on misophonia and on how therapists deliver CBT in practice.

My Credentials and Registration

I completed my Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Canterbury Christ Church University, and I also hold a BSc (Hons) and an MSc. I am registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and I am a trained EMDR therapist.