Just want to say Chris has been amazing in the time I’ve been to see her , she has listened and then given me the tools I need to crack on with some really difficult things in my life . Would highly recommend and just a really nice lady. Thank you Chris
Why CBT
CBT is recommended as the most effective form of talking therapy by the NHS and Dept of Health.
Learning how you work and why you do things and learning sound strategies to manage unhelpful thinking can change your life to being far happier. Get in touch by Email : cbenfield@hotmail.co.uk
You only need to ask for availability and I will get back to you. I am a friendly and very experienced counsellor. I offer a safe environment to help you offload issues that you want explore. We can explore how you can start to feel stronger and manage to move forward.
From my Clients
I looked to Chris for help and advice after suffering several months of stress and anxiety. I immediately felt comfortable with Chris – she took a real interest in my problems and gave me confidence that she could help me. She is a very good listener and we discussed ways that might help me take a different view on the issues that had been troubling me. At no time did I feel that she was telling me what I should do, but guiding me to a thought process that I might consider to get rid of negative thoughts. Having recently moved to the area, we discussed ways I could get myself established with new contacts and activities which was helpful. I had a few sessions with Chris which was enough at the time but it is reassuring that I can get in touch with her to chat through any issues that might be troubling me.
On the practical side, Chris’s therapy room is easy to find, comfortable and relaxing.
I approached Chris on the recommendation of my GP following a long period of depression as a result of my separation and divorce process from my wife following a 35 year marriage.
In all we had five sessions and the approach taken by Chris was both empathetic and sympathetic but without encouraging me to wallow and self-pity or negativity: quite the contrary, she taught me taught me to approach these issues positively and with confidence.
I was on a siding in a railway engine that was going no where save up and down the same track – I was shown the way to jump the points and get on to the main line and move on.
There are times in life when we need help( however well qualified and competent we might think ourselves) and whilst it was a big step to seek help from Chris and the CBT process it has , to continue the metaphor, put me back on the right track.
I strongly recommend this process and the professional and experienced help provided by Chris- money very well spent”
Thank you very much for your help in dealing with my anxiety and sleep issues. These were related to stress at work, and life changes connected to retirement plans. You have helped me to develop coping skills and take a different perspective on stressful situations. Thank you.
I first met Chris some years ago after getting a recommendation from a friend. I was in quite a dark place and didn’t know how to help myself. From the start I felt relaxed and able to unwind my thoughts to her. She is a good listener and gave me invaluable advice. I had about 4 sessions initially and finally felt able to confront and deal with my negative thoughts.
I have subsequently had a couple more sessions at different times and these act as a reminder that I am not alone. I used to wake up and feel every day was grey but with Chris’s help most of my days now are bright. And I know that I only need to pick up the phone and she will be there for me, listening patiently as I tell my worries.
So thank you Chris you are truly my lifeline to better, brighter
I have recently undertaken a short course with Chris following some challenging experiences in my personal life. I had previously seen a therapist where I had been able to ‘unpack’ a variety of things however Chris really helped me focus my mind around what my forward looking goals were. We then spent time discussing techniques to use to build confidence and resilience to be able to assert the changes that I needed to make in my life.
I found Chris easy to communicate with and experienced at dealing with the challenges that I had. Overall a hugely positive experience and both an opportunity to talk and share concerns but also learn how best to manage them and make positive steps forward.
Chris has helped me with useful techniques and strategies to cope with my anxiety and the feeling that my brain was running at 100mph! I have implemented some simple changes to my daily routine which have helped me cope better with situations that would normally trigger my anxiety. I recommend Chris who is a great listener and offers practical and simple techniques in helping to cope with difficult situations.
I came to Chris at a time in my life when I was very unhappy with certain aspects of my life and didn’t know how to tackle them. She’s helped me re build my confidence and given me tools to help me tackle hard times or when I start to doubt myself.
I would highly recommend chris to anyone she has really helped me
I had some sessions with chris as I was experiencing some anxiety / low mood Chris took the time to understand my situation and I left every session with Clarity and confidence in exactly what I needed to do. I’m now able to much better manage my anxiety and I have more purpose, focus and direction in my life.
Christine helps you view your challenges from an evidence base perspective and gives you real, practical solutions. My happiness factor has definitely increased over the last few months in working with her would highly recommend, thank you Chris
I started CBT feeling very low in myself. I’ve always found it hard to talk to anyone about my feelings and what’s going on in my life right now.. but since I started CBT I found it very relaxing and very re-assuring that I can talk about anything about my past and also going forward and dealing with everyday issues regarding my life. Now I feel more focussed, relaxed and a lot stronger frame of mind which is exactly what I wanted to achieve for myself and my family. Very highly recommended.
I sought help because I was feeling anxious all the time. I felt overwhelmed and as a result I was less productive, which further fuelled my anxiety. Simply just meeting with Chris and starting to talk about it all helped, but learning about how my thinking patterns and unhelpful thoughts has really made a difference. I feel I have a way to think about my thoughts and expectations in a much more helpful way. Even within a few sessions I feel more relaxed, just because I know how to manage how Im feeling.
I’ve suffered with anxiety for several years and started to see Chris when I could no longer cope and had hit rock bottom. On our first meeting, I immediately felt at ease and found Chris easy to talk to. She helped me get to the root causes of my anxiety and worked with me to develop strategies along with helpful thinking that have enabled me to become more confident and outgoing in both my personal and professional lives.
From a 12 year old …
It has helped me because now I can tell someone how I feel and they can help you feel better about yourself. I feel better getting rid of my unhelpful thinking. I have learnt that being a teenager makes your problems bigger than they are. Spending time with mum helps because I can tell her how I feel. Chris is easy to talk to.
I had several sessions of 1-1 cbt with Christine. She is hugely supportive, understanding, and encouraging. I looked forward to our sessions each week, and have come away feeling like my eyes have been opened to so many new concepts and ideas. I have a much better understanding of myself and now have a range of tools and techniques that I can use when I notice warning signs around my anxiety. I am very grateful for the support that Christine has provided – it has already made a huge positive impact on my life and wellbeing – and I know that will only grow in the future. Thank you again
Having spent a successful year with a counsellor, I thought I was all good to go and not look back. In fact I wasn’t quite right and thought I’d look into CBT. I contacted Chris and it was the best decision I made. After seven sessions I gained a wealth of knowledge and mindful techniques, it was a breath of fresh air. Her friendly positive attitude really helps you think about those silly things that get into your head and she teaches you how to deal with any problems that may arise. I can highly recommend Chris for CBT, she knows her stuff and makes you feel very relaxed during the sessions and most importantly of all, she doesn’t judge! I have and will be recommending Chris to others as she helped me get back on track.