CBT Therapist & Life Coach in Ferndown, Dorset
Private, evidence-based CBT therapy and psychologically informed life coaching for adults struggling with anxiety, stress, overthinking or burnout — or seeking greater clarity, confidence and direction.
In person in Ferndown, convenient for Bournemouth, Poole and Wimborne · Online across the UK
Support that fits where you are now
Choose the type of support that best fits what you need right now.
For anxiety and overthinking, panic, OCD and intrusive thoughts, stress and burnout, low mood, perfectionism and other difficulties affecting your wellbeing.
I offer evidence-based CBT alongside approaches including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and mindfulness, depending on what is most helpful for you.
For greater clarity, confidence, direction, performance and meaningful change in your work or life.
Coaching combines psychological insight with practical conversation to help you understand what is getting in your way and move forward with greater confidence and clarity.
Explore Life CoachingDoes this sound familiar?
You might:
Whether you're struggling with anxiety, stress or overthinking — or simply want more from life — the starting point is often the same: understanding what's getting in your way.
That is where our work begins.
My approach
Psychology without the jargon.
My work brings together evidence-based psychology with a practical understanding of how people actually think, feel and change.
As a BABCP-accredited CBT psychotherapist, life coach and Senior Lecturer in CBT, I can draw from CBT, ACT, mindfulness and coaching rather than trying to fit every person into one approach.
Sometimes the work is about overcoming anxiety, depression or stress. Sometimes it's about confidence, performance or figuring out what you really want.
Often, there is more overlap between those things than we imagine.
Grounded in CBT, ACT, mindfulness and psychological science.
Understanding is useful when it makes a difference to how you actually live.
No unnecessary jargon and no one-size-fits-all formula. We focus on what is actually happening for you.
About me
I've spent most of my working life trying to understand why people struggle, what helps them change and what allows them to function at their best.
That interest has taken me from corporate leadership into psychology, the NHS, psychotherapy, university teaching, life coaching and eventually writing my book, A Clear Mind.
I spent 14 years working in the NHS and have worked with thousands of people experiencing psychological difficulties. Today, alongside my private practice, I teach CBT at university and continue to explore the relationship between psychological wellbeing, clarity and human performance.
What I've learned is that change doesn't always come from trying harder, thinking more or adding another strategy. Often it begins with seeing more clearly what is already happening in our minds — and what may be keeping us stuck.
My approach is warm, straightforward and collaborative. I'll take what you're experiencing seriously, but I won't make it more complicated than it needs to be.
About ChrisBSc (Hons) Psychology · PGCert · PGDip CBT · BABCP Accredited
Testimonials
“Chris stands out as an exceptional therapist and life coach. I refer to him with confidence and hear great feedback from clients who’ve benefited from his broad skills and experience. I would always turn to Chris in my time of need.”
“You won’t find anyone as dedicated to helping people as Chris is. I feel so much lighter, less stressed and my heart and my brain are so open that it’s so easy to enjoy and live life. All parts of my life — my work, my business and my relationships — are the way I want them to be.”
“Chris has a unique ability to get to the nub of an issue or problem. He helped me, in just a couple of sessions, to overcome some struggles — quite extraordinary really. I would highly recommend Chris to anyone who needs support to develop themselves.”
The philosophy behind my work
The Less Is More Mindset to Wellbeing & Performance
My book explores a simple idea that runs through much of my work: we often function best not by adding more techniques, strategies and thinking, but by understanding what we can stop doing.
It looks at why our minds can become unnecessarily complicated, how overthinking gets in the way of wellbeing and performance, and why greater clarity often emerges naturally when we stop interfering with it.
Discover A Clear Mind‘This Book Will Help You Go From Overthinking & Feeling Stuck, To Feeling Happy & Being Free’
Michael NeillBestselling Author of The Inside-Out Revolution & The Space Within
Where I work
I work with adults in person from Ferndown, Dorset, within easy reach of Bournemouth, Poole, Wimborne, Verwood, Ringwood and the surrounding area.
I also provide online CBT therapy and life coaching across the UK, so location does not need to be a barrier to working together.
In person
For clients from Ferndown, Bournemouth, Poole, Wimborne, Verwood, Ringwood and surrounding areas.
Online
Secure online sessions from wherever you are.
Questions
If you are unsure whether CBT therapy or life coaching is the right fit, you do not need to decide before getting in touch.
You don't need to work this out before contacting me.
CBT therapy is generally most appropriate when anxiety, depression, stress or another psychological difficulty is causing significant distress or interfering with your life.
Coaching is usually more focused on where you want to go next — such as confidence, clarity, direction, performance or personal development.
There can be considerable overlap, and we can talk about what would be most useful for you.
CBT is an evidence-based psychological therapy used for a wide range of difficulties including anxiety and overthinking, panic, OCD and intrusive thoughts, depression, stress and burnout, perfectionism, low confidence and other patterns of thinking or behaviour that may be keeping you stuck.
My work can also incorporate ACT and mindfulness where these approaches are appropriate.
Yes. I offer both therapy and coaching online to clients across the UK.
Many people find online sessions just as convenient and personal as meeting face-to-face, particularly when fitting sessions around work and family life.
Face-to-face sessions are available in Ferndown, Dorset, convenient for Bournemouth, Poole, Wimborne, Verwood, Ringwood and surrounding areas.
CBT sessions are 55 minutes and cost £95. Coaching fees and session details are listed on the Life Coaching page.
The free 20-minute introductory call gives us an opportunity to briefly discuss what is going on, what you would like help with and whether I am likely to be the right person to support you.
There is no expectation that you need to know whether you want therapy or coaching beforehand.
A simple first step
You don't need to decide whether therapy or coaching is right for you before getting in touch.
We can talk about what's going on, what you would like to change and whether my approach is likely to be helpful.