Therapy that's built around you.
No single approach works for everyone. At Coral Psychology, therapy draws on a range of evidence-based methods — chosen and adapted based on your individual needs, goals and what you're working through.
"Therapy is most effective when the approach actually fits the person — not the other way around. That's where we start."— Hebba Morcos, Registered Psychologist
Evidence-based, not one-size-fits-all
Therapy at Coral Psychology draws on a range of evidence-based approaches — selected and adapted based on each person's individual needs, presentation and goals. Rather than applying a single fixed method, sessions are shaped by what is most likely to be effective and meaningful for you.
This might involve structured strategies from Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, values-based work from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or more experiential approaches depending on what you're working through. For children, this often includes play-based techniques that support expression and engagement in a developmentally appropriate way.
The approach always starts with understanding — who you are, what's happening, and what kind of support would actually help.
What all approaches have in common
- Grounded in research and clinical evidence
- Adapted to suit your individual needs and goals
- Collaborative — you're an active part of the process
- Practical, with strategies you can use in real life
- Paced to feel manageable, not overwhelming
- Focused on building lasting change, not just short-term relief
The approaches used at Coral Psychology
Select each approach to learn more about what it is, how it works, and who it tends to help.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy is one of the most widely researched and used approaches in psychology. It is based on the idea that our thoughts, feelings and behaviours are interconnected — and that by understanding and shifting unhelpful patterns in thinking, we can also change how we feel and respond to situations.
In practice, CBT involves identifying thought patterns that may be contributing to distress, examining whether those thoughts are accurate or helpful, and developing more balanced and realistic ways of thinking. Alongside this, behavioural strategies are used to gradually shift avoidance patterns and build more effective responses.
CBT is structured and goal-oriented, with practical strategies that can be used between sessions in everyday life.
Often used for
- Anxiety and worry
- Depression and low mood
- Panic and phobias
- Perfectionism and self-criticism
- OCD and rumination
- Stress and emotional regulation
- Sleep difficulties
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is a values-based approach that focuses on building psychological flexibility — the ability to be present with difficult thoughts and feelings without being controlled by them, while moving toward what matters most to you.
Rather than trying to eliminate uncomfortable thoughts or feelings, ACT helps you relate to them differently — noticing them without fusing with them, and making space for them without letting them dictate your behaviour. This creates room to act in line with your values even when things are hard.
ACT includes mindfulness-based skills alongside values clarification and committed action — helping you live more fully even in the presence of difficult internal experiences.
Often used for
- Chronic anxiety and worry
- Burnout and exhaustion
- Low self-worth and identity struggles
- Life transitions and uncertainty
- ADHD and neurodiversity
- Chronic pain and health-related stress
- Depression and avoidance
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy was originally developed for people who experience intense emotions that are difficult to manage. It combines cognitive behavioural strategies with acceptance-based approaches, drawing on mindfulness as a foundation.
DBT focuses on four core skill areas: mindfulness (being present and aware), distress tolerance (managing crisis without making things worse), emotion regulation (understanding and reducing emotional vulnerability) and interpersonal effectiveness (navigating relationships more skillfully).
DBT skills are highly practical and designed to be used in real situations — particularly when emotions feel overwhelming and it's hard to think clearly or respond in a way you feel good about afterwards.
Often used for
- Emotional dysregulation and intensity
- Impulsivity and reactive behaviour
- Relationship instability
- Self-harm and crisis management
- ADHD-related emotional sensitivity
- Trauma with high emotional reactivity
- Borderline presentations
Mindfulness-based approaches support the development of present-moment awareness — the ability to notice what is happening internally and externally, without immediately reacting or becoming caught up in it. Mindfulness is not about emptying the mind or achieving a state of calm, but about relating differently to thoughts, feelings and sensations as they arise.
Within therapy, mindfulness skills are used in a practical and tailored way — often woven into other approaches rather than taught as a standalone practice. This might include grounding techniques, breathing practices, body awareness, or informal mindfulness integrated into everyday activities.
For people who find their mind races, or who feel disconnected from the present moment, mindfulness-based skills can provide an important anchor.
Often used for
- Anxiety and chronic stress
- Difficulty switching off or relaxing
- Emotional regulation
- Burnout and exhaustion
- ADHD and attention difficulties
- Trauma and grounding
- Depression and low mood
Narrative Therapy is based on the idea that we make sense of our lives through stories — and that the stories we tell about ourselves shape how we feel, how we act and how we see what's possible. Problems arise when a particular narrative dominates and overshadows other parts of who we are.
Through a process called externalisation, narrative therapy helps separate the person from the problem — recognising that you are not your anxiety, not your ADHD, not your struggles. From there, it becomes possible to explore alternative stories: moments of strength, resilience, values and identity that may have been overlooked.
Narrative therapy is particularly affirming and is often used with people who have been given labels or diagnoses that feel limiting, or who want to reconnect with a stronger sense of who they are beyond their difficulties.
Often used for
- Identity and self-concept
- Processing difficult life experiences
- Post-diagnosis adjustment (ADHD, ASD)
- Children and adolescents
- Cultural identity and belonging
- Reconnecting with personal strengths
Play is the natural language of children. Play therapy uses this natural medium to support children in expressing feelings, processing experiences and developing skills in a way that is developmentally appropriate and non-threatening. Children often communicate through play what they find difficult or impossible to put into words.
Sessions may involve a range of play-based activities — including creative play, drawing, storytelling, sand play or structured games — selected to support the child's individual needs and therapeutic goals. The therapist observes and engages in a way that promotes understanding, emotional safety and growth.
Play therapy is not simply about allowing free play — it is a purposeful, evidence-informed approach that creates a safe space for children to explore their inner world and begin to develop new ways of coping and relating.
Often used for
- Children aged 6 and above
- Anxiety, fears and worry in children
- Behavioural and emotional difficulties
- Social challenges and friendship difficulties
- Family transitions (separation, new sibling)
- Trauma and adverse experiences
- ADHD and self-regulation
Psychoeducation refers to the process of providing clear, accessible information about mental health, diagnosis, psychological processes and how they relate to a person's individual experience. It is a core component of effective therapy — because understanding what is happening and why is itself therapeutic.
For many people, being told for the first time that what they're experiencing has a name, a cause and a path forward is profoundly relieving. For parents of children who have received a diagnosis, psychoeducation helps make sense of what their child is experiencing and how best to support them at home and at school.
Psychoeducation is woven throughout all therapy at Coral Psychology — it is never separate from the clinical work, but integrated into every conversation.
Often used for
- ADHD and autism diagnosis (children & adults)
- Understanding anxiety and stress responses
- Parent support and guidance
- Post-assessment education and planning
- Understanding trauma responses
- Supporting family members and carers
