Rosa Hernando

Senior CBT Therapist and Director.

Accredited CBT Therapist, Compassion Focused Therapist, Mindfulness Trainer

BSc Psychology,
MSc in CBT/Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy

Following the completion of a BSc in Psychology and an MSc in REBT (a branch of CBT) she has worked as a CBT Therapist for 20 years both in the NHS, private sector and running her own private CBT practice.

While working at the Priory Hospital North London she run CBT groups as well as offering individual CBT sessions. There she also specialised in Obsessional Disorders (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Health Anxiety and Vomit Phobia) and helped in the development of the Highly Specialist Unit for treatment resistant Obsessional Disorders which receives national referrals from all over the UK. She worked with adults and adolescents suffering from severe and complex Obsessional Disorders. She then worked in the NHS in a team treating complex mental health problems and was involved in setting up a CBT service at GP practices.

She has a special interest and extensive training in Third Wave CBT approaches like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and in particular Compassion Focused Therapy which she is passionate about. She is also a trained Mindfulness and Mindful Self Compassion teacher and has run groups using these approaches and incorporates them into her one to one sessions. She also specialises in problems with self esteem and people that have a strong ‘self critic’.

Areas that she specialises and has extensive experience in are:

Obsessional Disorders (OCD, BDD, Healh Anxiety)
Phobias including social phobia and vomit phobia
Generalised Anxiety Disorder, (GAD)
Panic attacks and Panic Disorder
Depression
Workplace stress and performance stress
PTSD
Perfectionism
Self criticism/High levels of shame
Sleep problems and insomnia
Anger management
Eating disorders including binge eating

In addition she has vast experience as a lecturer. She has taught trainee Psychiatrists in the use of CBT for OCD at the Royal Free Hospital in London. She has lectured at various universities including the University of East London and the University of Hertfordshire training CBT Therapists and on a course training CBT Life coaches. She is also an experienced CBT supervisor both in the NHS and privately.

She focuses on creating a warm space for her clients where they can feel safe to explore and overcome their difficulties. She draws on her many years of experience and wide ranging training to create an individualised approach for her clients. She is passionate about empowering people to become the best version of themselves by developing a compassionate and supportive relationship with themselves.

She offers therapy in English and Spanish.

Testimonials

I was originally referred to Rosa by a consultant psychiatrist with over 40 years experience, with the words "she's wonderful, you'll really like her". I had been suffering from health anxiety associated with bereavement. As a 45 year old man who had never been to therapy, I started the process quite guarded. Rosa has a lovely way of simplifying and normalising, what previously had felt like extreme stress. This was exactly what I needed to start feeling better. Within a few sessions Rosa taught me simple techniques to not be scared of certain thought processes. As soon as I was able to embrace these methods, the fear disappeared, and the episodes of anxiety became significantly less frequent and infinitely more manageable. Two months after my last session, I feel extremely happy within myself. Most importantly, I feel confident that I have the tools to manage potentially difficult stages in life. If someone were to ask me about entering therapy with Rosa, I would reply with the same comment I was originally given, "she's wonderful, you'll really like her". D.B, London

“I would highly recommend Rosa as a CBT therapist. She is down-to-earth, supportive and a very good listener. During my therapy sessions with Rosa, she gave me very good advice and a variety of strategies which helped me overcome my anxiety disorder. She is always clear in her analysis/explanations as well as comforting and understanding. I would thoroughly urge anyone with anxiety issues to book an appointment with her.” J.B

''Dear Rosa, Thank you for helping me get my life back. Thanks for your kind patience with me when I've been at my worst. Thanks for being generous in spirit. Thanks for laughing at my jokes. M.R

Dear Rosa, I just wanted to say thank you so much for all you've done to help me. I really thought I wouldn't get better but you broke things down and made me belief in myself again. You've been so patient and caring and even made me laugh again. I will miss our sessions but will take all your tips with me. So thank you again. H.M