About
My name is Jessica Hayes (Jess, she/her) and I have been working in mental health for over a decade. I am a BABCP accredited Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist and am also trained in Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. I have a large amount of experience in mental health in general and in suicide prevention, but I started to specialise in two key areas many years ago.
I am an Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) specialist, and also specialise in working with parents- from pregnancy right through to navigating parenting challenges and complex emotions in parenthood. In order to call myself a specialist within them, I have ensured that I not only am passionate about them, but I have dedicated a large amount of additional training, research and experience to them- which is ongoing. This means that you are in safe hands, with someone who really gets what you need help with, who can draw from a large variety of techniques and tools to work with what you need.
I strive to be an inclusive and affirming therapist; I work with all genders, ethnicities and lived experiences. I engage with trans voices and training around kink and alternative lifestyles. Although I am not a specialist in these areas, I do aim to be as informed as possible to be a safe space for people to get support when they need it.
Above all of that, I work really hard to be an advocate for ethical support and to build really trusting relationships with my clients. You can look at my pages about both areas to see what therapy can look like and get an idea of how I can help you.
A final note about me so that you can see me as a human as well as a therapist: In addition to being a passionate therapist, I am also a very clunky and imperfect human who tries to practice what I preach. I am a mum to two small neurodivergent children with neurodivergence in the mix myself, and I navigate my parenting with chronic pain too. I am a book geek and lover of soft Oodies and singing. I have a dog to add to my chaotic household, and love animals.
My approach
I work with people to understand what might be maintaining any difficulties with the way that they feel or respond. I encourage a hands-on approach, and you’ll find that I am a very practical therapist who likes to explore things with clients in a session so that we can make sense of everything together. This might involve just a general discussion or drawing things out with you so we can both understand the links between what is going on and look for ways to help you.
I use approaches that are evidence-based and informed by the large amount of training that I undertake. This is to ensure that I am working ethically and safely with you.
My aim as a therapist is to support you through difficulties with your emotional wellbeing, and to help you to build skills so that this change is life-long. Building insight into yourself is one of the key focuses of sessions. This is so that we both understand what has led to the way you feel right now and what keeps it going. This means that you will know why what we do has worked and therefore feel equipped to cope with any difficult situations that might come up and manage the emotions these may trigger yourself in the future.
Although I mention specific things on this website that I can help with, you do not need to have a diagnosed (or diagnosable) mental health condition to benefit from therapy. If you believe that something about the way you feel or think is impacting on your life, then we can explore this together. This therapy, and my approach in general, is goal-focused. This means that we work with what you bring and aim towards what you feel would help you live the life you are hoping for.
To do this, I am open and honest so that we can create a safe space where you feel comfortable and heard.
In the nature of honesty and working together, I am always open about what I feel is the best approach to help you, in addition to whether you need an approach or specialism that I do not offer. I also make decisions with you about how many sessions your particular issue may need, so you are always informed and in control of any decisions over your treatment.
Professional Qualifications
- Postgraduate Diploma of Higher Education in Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapies (BABCP Accredited course)
- MSc in Cognitive Brain Imaging
- BSc (Hons) in Psychology
EMDR Training via the EMDR Academy
Some of the further training I have completed
I hold an Advanced Perinatal Mental Health Specialist Training certification with the Perinatal Mental Health Institute, and am currently finishing an Advanced OCD Practitioner Training certification with the Oxford Cognitive Therapy Centre. I am also trained in inference-based CBT (iCBT) for OCD.
I am confident in the ASIST model of suicide prevention, with years of experience in working for Papyrus, the suicide prevention charity. I also have over 15 years in working within acute mental health settings and with trauma and neurodivergence.
In addition to the longer courses, I also regularly complete various short courses that have included general and advanced treatment for OCD, neurodivergence, different elements within the perinatal period (including tokophobia, baby loss, and birth trauma), working with pain, trans clients, and with ethical non monogamy. I also complete regular training in these things in relation to Compassion-focused Therapy (CFT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
It is important to note that my training is always ongoing. I dedicate a lot of time and energy to complete regular training in my specialist areas and in helping to make my therapy as inclusive as possible. I attend conferences, peer discussions, workshops, and do a great deal of reading around specific things that my clients bring up so I that I am always aware of new approaches and ways to help you. As a therapist, I also have regular supervision with other therapists to share ideas and ensure that my practice is ethical and that I am always checking that I am doing my best for you.
Professional organisations
- Fully accredited member of the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP)
- Registered member of EMDR Association UK
- Graduate member of the British Psychological Society (BPS)
The British Association for Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) maintains high standards for therapists in the UK, ensuring that you get a high standard of therapy. Click on the following link for further information: BABCP