About me - CBT Didsbury

Cognitive Behavioural Therapist

Hello! I am Aileen J Raftery

I am 50+ years old, Irish born and have been living in Manchester since 1989. Like many Irish people living in Manchester, I came to this city on a visit as a student, and came to love Manchester very quickly, and to consider this great city my new home. I also did my fair share of pint-pulling in those days as a young student, working in a famous city centre pub run by a very friendly Irish family, where I came to make many many good and reliable friends. I became a full-time Mum to three children in close succession in my 30s. I still continue to support my brood in any way I can and consider my primary role always as Mum.

I have worked in marketing and sales and various PA roles in the past however, at aged 40 I completed a psychology degree part-time, developing a keen interest in the mental health profession as a possible late career. I therefore followed a course of study in mental health awareness and counselling for my own personal development and learning first and found this both challenging and life-altering in very positive ways. A further two-years of post-graduate training in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) followed on as a matter of course. “Making a positive difference” is my purpose in life, and my CBT training allows me to grow personally and to encourage others also to develop in confidence and overcome any psychological barriers to good mental health and wellbeing.

For further information or to book an appointiment call

07751 383 758

Private Practice in Didsbury South Manchester

I work on a part-time basis at my home office in South Manchester, where I provide good therapy at an affordable rate to individuals aged 14 and upwards. My clinic is located within walking distance of Didsbury Village and Withington Village, close to main bus routes and local Metrolink Stations.

Private Consultancy Workplace Therapy

I have been retained as a consultant CBT therapist for over 8 years by a private international healthcare company at their Head Office location, in the North West of England. This healthcare company works alongside many public and private sector organisations to provide health and wellbeing services to their managers and employees.

I have experience supporting employees across front and back offices and retail stores in the North West, and I take a proactive approach to employee wellbeing by teaching effective personal coping strategies in line with personal needs. Over a short course of therapy, employees are helped to better understand and overcome a range of emotional problems.

This early intervention initiative has been extremely effective in the workplace, as employees benefit from improved confidence and self-esteem, significant reduction in stress levels,

healthy sleep patterns etc, which in turn increases employee’s concentration, productivity and overall job satisfaction. Early intervention in the workplace has proved highly successful in reducing absenteeism and staff turnover, and so the cost of mental health provision is easily offset against the loss of employee productivity.

BACP Accreditation

Being independently accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, I fulfil the requirements for working as a competent and independent private practitioner. I engage fully in continued professional development training, and follow professional working guidelines. I have long term membership and access to appropriate ongoing learning. I have full professional indemnity insurance and hold and up to date DBS certificate.

TESTIMONIALS

What Clients Say

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I feel CBT is an extremely helpful intervention and would not hesitate recommending Aileen to friends and family if they were experiencing similar issues. Having experienced the many benefits for myself I will continue to promote CBT to patients throughout my career.

I hope the above is useful.

I just wanted to respond to you with feedback and sing the praises of Aileen. Her assistance and help via CBT was not only beneficial but also an interesting and learning experience for me. I can highly recommend her.

I can’t thank Aileen enough for what she has done for our family. My son had a gambling problem and was seriously obese. Over a short course of sessions (8 approx) he was ready to go on a new path. I had been trying for years to help him make good choices with very little effect. Somehow Aileen enabled him to make these changes. Six months later I have a happy healthy son. He has made substantial changes to his lifestyle , and has a new exciting job. My son hasn’t gambled in nine months and is a healthy weight. My whole family was consumed with worry a year ago. What a difference getting the right counsellor for the right situation makes. For us Aileen was 100% that person.

I would absolutely recommend any parent of an anxious child to consider CBT. Aileen has helped our family to understand how deep-rooted anxiety and anxious behaviours become normalised and how to unpick and address them. I cannot put into words how huge the impact has been for our child and for us as parents. We have moved forward more than I ever thought possible thanks to CBT and Aileen’s measured approach to ensure that the progress we have made is life-changing and lasting…. Is this enough as I could go on for hours 😊

When I first came to see Aileen I didn’t really know anything about CBT. During the sessions I felt much better, instantly knowing there was some logic behind how I was feeling and acting. Once I completed CBT with Aileen I took on board what I had learnt and put it into practice. I now consciously refer back to this learning in my day-to-day life. It helps me deal with situations differently where helpful to do so. CBT should be taught in schools it is so valuable. Aileen was amazing and I thank her for her time and patience.

I would like to start by telling you how much Aileen has changed my life. I never believed that anybody would be interested in listening to my story but Aileen put me at ease straight away and showed that she cared. She taught me ways to deal with my anxiety whilst explaining why these worries of mine were persisting. Sessions were always personal and informative and helpful. Aileen hasn’t only helped me but family members too, who are equally grateful. I live a happier and more care free life and know how to deal with difficult emotions, and can embrace coping methods that ensure I am always bigger than my anxiety. This therapy was one of the best things I ever signed up to. Once again, thank you for all your support.

I saw Aileen within a week of my doctor’s referral and I was in a very low place and feeling helpless. Aileen was able to demonstrate methods for how I can regain control of my life and address the situations I struggled with. I saw Aileen for 10 sessions approx. and a few months later had a couple of “touch base” sessions scheduled a month apart. This enabled me to make some decisions on my own with a safety net of supportive review sessions which reassured me. I was able to come off anti-depressants that I had been taking for over a year and I am still going from strength to strength. The most important thing now is that I feel happy and hopeful and see a better future that I could not have previously imagined. I am grateful for the support and thank Aileen for her help.

At first, I was sceptical about speaking to Aileen but she made me feel very welcome and at ease. Aileen made a lot of sense. She helped me so much when I was at my lowest point and helped me through it. Now I am happy working at the hospital doing my dream job with this help from Aileen. Thank you very much you are an asset to the practice.

Really happy with the service I received from Aileen. She is a great person. I found her very knowledgeable and she really helped me to understand and address my anxiety issues. I would definitely see Aileen again if I needed support in the future.

I was referred to Aileen by my GP after seeking advice for anxiety. I have to say I found the sessions very useful. Aileen’s approach worked very well for me, using the whiteboard and pictorial information helped me process things better. It was like going on a training course and receiving one to one information, learning and support. I have used the tools Aileen has taught me and continue to put them into practice. I think CBT is an excellent therapy model for patients am very impressed with my experiences of it.

More Testimonials

CBT for Anxiety & Anxiety Disorders

CBT for Depression

Stress in the Workplace

Mind over Menopause

Student Support

CONTACTS

Find Us on a Map

CBT Didsdbury location – office is located along the main bus routes out of Manchester City centre for West Didsbury, Wilmslow Road (42, 43) and Palatine Road (41). Also, within walking distance of Metro stations – closest West Didsbury, but also within walking distance of Burton Road and Didsbury Village stations. Free Parking for drivers.

Prices Start from £30-£60

Didsbury Manchester

aileen@cbtdidsbury.com

Call: 07751 383 758