Working on the Frontline of Mental Health: A CBT Therapist's Casebook

173 Pages·2022·1.809 MB·English

by  Steve Sheward

“It is refreshing to read a therapy book that is so transparent and gener-
ous in detail about what actually goes on in treatment. Steve is a con-
summate professional, and there is much to be learned from his case
studies. His writing is engaging and highly readable, reminiscent of
Yalom. I strongly recommend this book for practitioners and patients
alike.”
Rhena Branch, author and BABCP accredited practitioner,
trainer, and supervisor in the UK. She is director and
clinical lead for the mental health charity Fig Branch.

Working on the Frontline of
Mental Health
Working on the Frontline of Mental Health is an account of the day-to-day work
in psychological therapies, highlighting not only the complexities clients present
but also their remarkable and moving stories of recovery after many years of
adversity.
Steve Sheward, a CBT therapist working on the frontline in the NHS and
private practice, presents an overview of different psychological presentations,
including depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, and panic disorder, amongst others.
Each chapter provides a detailed description of the latest cognitive-behavioural
therapy approaches used to help clients overcome psychological challenges
which is paired with compelling case studies that demonstrate their application.
The book also outlines the challenges of continuing to deliver therapy during the
COVID pandemic, as well as the demands placed upon the profession and the
psychological challenges experienced by therapists.
This book will be of interest to a variety of mental health professionals,
especially those trained in CBT, along with those who have personal experience
of mental health problems and the general reader.
Steve Sheward is a senior CBT and EMDR therapist in the National Health
Service and in private practice, where he treats clients presenting with a range
of psychological problems, including depression, anxiety, obsessive–compulsive
disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. He has previously worked as a senior
manager within the national careers service.

Working on the Frontline of
Mental Health
A CBT Therapist’s Casebook
Steve Sheward
Cover image: Getty Images
First published 2023
by Routledge
4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa
business
© 2023 Steve Sheward
The right of Steve Sheward to be identified as author of this
work has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of
the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted
or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic,
mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented,
including photocopying and recording, or in any information
storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from
the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks
or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and
explanation without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British
Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
A catalog record for this book has been requested
ISBN: 978-0-367-55051-6 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-0-367-55050-9 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-003-09174-5 (ebk)
DOI: 10.4324/9781003091745
Typeset in Times New Roman
by Apex CoVantage, LLC
This book is dedicated to the memory of my mother,
Elizabeth Sheward
10 October 1923–7 May 2021

Contents
Author’s Note x
Introduction 1
1 “What’s Happening Now?”: A Journey Into
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder 5
2 Acquainted With the Night: A Journey Into Depression 17
3 Feel the Fear: Working With the Generally Anxious 42
4 “Why Is My Brain Doing This to Me?”: Attempting to
Break Free From OCD 68
5 “I’m Not Being Rude—I’m Terrified of You”: Breaking
Through the Isolation of Social Phobia 85
6 “If This Happens Again, I’ll Die”: Overcoming Panic Disorder 103
7 “It Isn’t in My Head”: Vomit Phobia and Fear of Soiling 121
8 And COVID 148
Acknowledgements 159
Index 160