Welcome to Arco Therapy

Who Are We?

Arco Therapy is a local CBT service offering CBT to children, teenagers and adults. More and more children teenagers and adults are struggling with anxiety, stress and sadness, particularly following the covid pandemic, and often professional therapy is needed to overcome these difficulties.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can help young people and adults to overcome these problems and help them to enjoy their lives. CBT is the recommended treatment for anxiety and depression in the NICE guidelines and provides the opportunity to explore unhelpful thoughts and behaviours and how they impact on how the person feels. CBT also provides a space to learn new skills, and to overcome mental health difficulties in a safe, confidential and supportive environment.

Arco Therapy’s role is to help the client through this process without criticism or judgement, to listen to their difficulties and provide education and techniques based on the therapists professional observations and specialist training. The therapist and client work together on the problem as the person is the expert on themselves and the therapist is the expert on the CBT techniques.

The Therapist

Jackie Evans is a fully qualified CBT Therapist who specialises in working with children, and teenagers but also works with adults. She works part-time in a private company, with NHS clients, as well as offering private therapy.

Qualifications and Training

· Post Graduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy - Bolton University

· MA Social Work - Salford University

· MSc Child and Adolescent Mental Health - Salford University

· BSc Psychology - Bolton University

Experience

Jackie has worked at a local NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) for 15 years where she worked with children and young people to help them to improve their mental health (She left this role in Jan 2023). She currently works part-time for a private company, with NHS clients, as well as offering private therapy. She completes assessments and interventions with children and adults using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

Member Organisations/Accreditation

Jackie is an Accredited Member of the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy (BABCP) and is bound by the BABCP's ethical code of practice. These standards are available to view at www.BABCP.co.uk.

Jackie is also a fully qualified Social Worker and is registered with Social Work England. She also adheres to their standards which are available view at www.socialworkengland.org.uk

What problems can Arco Therapy help with?

· Low mood / Depression

· Social Anxiety

· Generalised Anxiety

· Stress

· Low Self-Esteem

· Separation Anxiety

· Panic Attacks / Panic Disorder

· Phobias

· Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

· Health Anxiety

· PTSD

· Anger

Testimonials

Jackie is one of the most understanding people I’ve had the pleasure to meet. She was always friendly and happy to see me. The main thing we focused on was social anxiety and all the things I was doing to cope. Jackie pushed me to do things that I would have never done before and I felt like I had accomplished something. My family have said that they see a change in the way I act. My sessions with Jackie have helped me a lot and the things I learnt in them I think I will always use and think about.

(KW, aged 16) (Problem - Social Anxiety)

I was worrying for the majority of my day and it was taking over. Jackie understood as now I don’t worry anywhere near as much as I used to. I found it useful to see Jackie as I have been taught many ways to reduce stress.

(Anonymous aged 13) (Problem - Health Anxiety)

I feel Jackie understood the problems very well. She listened and provided the appropriate strategies/help needed. There has been a big improvement since therapy started. I was very happy with the service and will definitely contact Jackie again in the future if I feel my son needs this.

(Mum of Anonymous, aged 13) (Problem - Health Anxiety)

Jackie understood my problem very well and every problem I faced there seemed to be a solution on a helpful 'activity' to complete to help me. My worries and thoughts are under so much more control. The tips on how to approach my intrusive thoughts and how to calm myself down when I get in a 'catastrophic' state were most helpful.

(IM, 21) (Problem: Intrusive Thoughts)

I like how open I could be without being worried of judgement. I also liked how it was a friendly environment.

(Anon, 17)

Jackie understood that my daughter needed support with understanding what living with ADHD means. We've come away with lots of knowledge and informative sheets to refer back to. And we have lots of new techniques for dealing with situations that my daughter struggles with.

(Parent of AP, 11)

My anxiety gradually formed through 2 traumatic events. Jackie immediately knew what to say to me and how she could help. I immediately trusted her and felt I could easily open up to Jackie. Now I know how to help myself and can definitely cope with things better now. It wasn't just about giving you the techniques but also the education benefit. Jackie was a massive help.

(AK, 17) (Problem - PTSD & Social Anxiety)

I was feeling really low and struggling with emotional dysregulation and intense emotional spirals and suicidal thoughts. Jackie has been the best therapist I have ever had. she has really helped me to understand the way I'm feeling, given me great tools that I have implemented and will keep using. She also recommended that I get a psychiatrist appointment which has really helped me too. I am proud of how far I have come. Overall it was a great experience, really helpful and Jackie has been amazing. Thank you for everything! I now feel like I have more confidence and control and overall happier in myself.

(AP, 24) (Problem - Low self esteem and GAD)

Over the sessions Jackie has got to know (my son) and understood his issues and identified his key traits. The structure of the CBT has given us and (our son) ideas/strategies to help manage. (The problem) has got better over time and we have put things in place at home to help him. We can see how it all comes together for helping (my son) and the service was really positive.

(Parent of ZW, 15) (Problem - Generalised Anxiety & Low Mood)

Having someone to listen to me and help with dealing with things was really good. Jackie helped make my social anxiety better. I would definitely recommend her to anyone who needs help.

(MA, 14) (Problem - Social Anxiety & Low Mood)

The service was certainly caring, professional and explaining situations was helpful. The whole experience, even though it was very serious at one point, was professional and caring. Jackie was always there to help with advice. The whole experience was really exceptional.

(Nan of MA, 14) (Problem - Social Anxiety & Low Mood)

I was struggling with low depressive moods and struggling to do basic things. Jackie was very understanding and made it very easy to work things out. I'm feeling in a much better place now with a better understanding of how I ended up where I was. The problem has improved a lot and I'm in control and moving forward.

(RR, 33) (Problem - Depression)

My life had been taken over by OCD. Jackie understood the problem very well and I trusted her. The problem has mostly gone other than things that only I can help myself with. The most useful thing about the service was how understanding Jackie was and how she knew how to help my problems.

(Anon, 13) (Problem - OCD)

Jackie understood the problem from the start and it was useful how she explained the issue and broke it down into bitesize sections. It was good showing my son's washing routine on post its then ripping them up as he knocked them off. I trusted Jackie 100% and I am very pleased with the service provided.

(Parent of Anon, 13) (Problem - OCD)

I have never felt more understood and comfortable with my problems and emotions, that they are valid. I am very pleased with my therapy and the progress that I have made which I thought was impossible. I feel as though therapy helped me become more able to cope and it helped me realise that I am a good person and my feelings are valuable and important.

(AS, 21)

I met with Jackie because I was in a really low place and was struggling to cope with it. I have now been able to put mechanisms in place to help me cope with issues. I was able to find out about my issues and learn how easy it is to deal with them. I also learnt a lot about myself. Jackie was really welcoming and really receptive to all that my parents or I had to say.

(AH, 16) (Problem - Anxiety & Perfectionism)

Jackie listened intently and managed to understand and unpick my daughters problems by making her feel at ease. I am extremely pleased with the progress my daughter has made and with the techniques used/tools given to help her cope. Jackie was kind, none judgemental and honest which helped my daughter to trust her. My daughter has made great progress. She understands how to deal with her anxiety better and has accepted she will always have moments but feels more confident when things don't go to plan and knows how to cope. She now manages to shift focus on to other things and talk more about concerns before letting problems escalate. Jackie knew how to find the main causes of my daughters anxiety and she has educated not just my daughter but our family unit. Thank you Jackie.

(Mum of AH,16) (Problem - Anxiety & Perfectionism)

I had 'OCD' traits that caused me to worry about germs and even numbers. I worried most of the day. Jackie understood my problems and had many different ways to try to slowly get rid of it. I got rid of all my worries. The service also changed my view of therapists as it sounded too easy of a way to get rid of all my problems but it does work.

(AL, 12) (Problem - OCD traits)

Jackie worked at a good pace, understanding the issues, and was patient. She helped my daughter understand and gave clear strategies to work with. We gained a better understanding if the issues, learning about tools and strategies to help. I also understood my role and how I could help. My daughter's everyday life is now greatly improved and the longer term benefits will be invaluable.

(Mum of AL, 12) (Problem - OCD traits)

I met with Jackie to get my thinking back on track. She understood my problems very well, better than me. I trusted her totally and although the problem is still a work in progress I am able to cope better with things at this point in time. The service was really useful. I just hope I took it all in.

(JM, 62) (Problem – Travel Anxiety and Generalised Anxiety)

My mood was very low and I had very negative thoughts. Jackie is very kind and understanding about my problems and she helps me with solutions and we talk through them. The service was good and helped my mental health improve.

(JD, 17) (Problem - Depression)

Jackie created a good bond with my son straight away so that he could talk freely. I am pleased with the help she has given him. The support she gave him and the coping strategies were most useful.

(Mum of JD, 17) (Problem - Depression)

I came to therapy sessions because I needed help. Jackie understood my problems very well and I never felt judged in the sessions. I always felt like I could say anything that was on my mind and the problem reduced majorly as I was provided with techniques to help me. I liked how open I could be without being worried about judgement and I liked the friendly environment. I wouldn't change anything about the service provided and if I had a setback I know i could go back and be supported.

(Anon, 17) (Problem - PTSD)

Thank you for all your help. It’s funny because when I read through all the different profiles on the website yours stood out the most, you really have a good insight into the troubles of these teenage girls. You’ve been warm and caring and built up a good relationship with my daughter and I think she will miss your sessions. You’ve been open and honest with me with areas I need to think about and I’ve appreciated that honesty. I’ve seen lots of positive changes in my daughter, how she deals with things and how she handles her worries. I think it’s really helped to learn about the science behind worrying and why it’s happening, this has helped her understand herself much better and stopped things spiralling. She managed her mocks with no melt downs and attendance in school has improved, she seems more settled in her job also. Thanks so much for all your help.

(MT, 16) (Problem - GAD)

I sought out therapy because I was experiencing a range of both physical and mental symptoms that were interfering with my daily life. I was having intense periods of panic, low mood, headaches, dizziness, faintness and anxiety, to name a few. Jackie was extremely attentive and a calming presence when talking about these problems. She had a great grasp of the physical and mental sensations I was feeling and how to work through these problems with me in a methodical and rational way. Jackie's experience was very apparent and she had a great knowledge of all the coping mechanisms and techniques needed to combat these problems. I was extremely pleased with the outcome of therapy with Jackie. I have shifted my outlook on the problems and now have a variety of coping techniques and mechanisms should the problem arise again. Jackie was incredibly personable and easy to chat to, the trust was there from the first session and I immediately felt I could chat through my issues. I think the biggest thing I found useful was Jackie's ability to make me feel reassured and comfortable when talking about my problems. I came away from each session feeling positively optimistic and like progress was made.

(LCO, 29) (Problem - Health Anxiety)

I went to therapy as I have an eating disorder and was feeling very low. The problem is now a lot better and I feel a lot happier.

(GSM, 16) (Problem - Low mood and an eating disorder)

Jackie understood my daughters issues very well. She was a real support to me as well as my daughter, particularly in her text messages. My daughter saw Jackie for four sessions and we saw her mood improve enough for her to start tackling her eating disorder with the ED Team. Jackie gave my daughter a space to talk and explore her feelings, giving her tools to use outside of the sessions. Jackie was very empathetic and understanding. She genuinely seemed to care about my daughter.

(Mum of GSM, 16) (Problem - Low mood and an eating disorder)

What to expect from Arco Therapy

Therapy sessions will last 50 minutes and will usually take place on a regular weekly basis. The total number of sessions will depend on the nature of the problem and the agreed treatment plan but will usually involve between six and twenty individual appointments.

Initially a full and comprehensive assessment of the client’s problems will be completed. The assessment will take place over one or two sessions and is an important part of therapy so both the therapist, and the client, can establish a shared understanding of the problem and its development. Having a good assessment in place means that the therapy can often be done in fewer sessions and with more positive results.

The client and their parents/carers (if under 18) will be asked to complete questionnaires at the beginning of therapy as part of the assessment, at regular intervals during the therapy, and at the end of therapy to help check progress.

Once the assessment is complete a treatment plan will be agreed, where evidence-based CBT methods will be used, and the therapist will teach the client how to apply these techniques in their everyday lives.

An agenda will be drawn up at the start of each session and it will be the responsibility of both the therapist and the client to add items to the agenda. The therapy will be about working together. The client is the expert on them, and the therapist is the expert in the CBT techniques, and they will come together to work on the problem collaboratively.

The therapist will discuss each stage of the therapy process with the client and will ensure that they understand the approach and the reason for applying the agreed CBT techniques.

Arco Therapy’s approach to CBT involves identifying and committing to specific therapeutic goals. The therapist will help the person with this process, and they will be encouraged to make a firm commitment to undertaking CBT exercises and tasks outside and between sessions. These tasks will be agreed together at the end of each session.