Interpersonal Therapy for Relationship Difficulties

Relationships are central to our sense of wellbeing. When things feel calm, connected, and supportive with the people in our lives, everything else tends to run more smoothly. But when communication becomes strained, conflict builds, or emotional distance starts to grow, it can leave you feeling overwhelmed, lonely, or unsure how to put things right.

A lot of people assume that the only way to work on relationship problems is through couples' therapy. But actually, that isn’t always necessary—or even the most helpful route. Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) offers a different approach: it’s an individual therapy, designed to help you understand and improve your side of the relational pattern. You don’t need your partner, friend, parent, or anyone else to attend sessions with you. It’s about your experiences, your communication style, and the changes you want to make.

In this post, I’ll walk you through how IPT works for relationship difficulties from an individual perspective. I’ll share examples, explore the kinds of changes people often make, and explain how working on your own patterns can lead to meaningful improvements. And if anything resonates with you as you’re reading, please feel free to get in touch—I’m always happy to talk through whether IPT could be a good fit.

What Is IPT—and Why Does It Work for Relationship Difficulties?

Interpersonal Therapy starts with a straightforward but powerful idea: our relationships affect our emotions, and our emotions affect how we behave in relationships. When communication breaks down or patterns become unhelpful, it can contribute to feelings of depression, anxiety, frustration, or disconnection.

Although it focuses on relationships, IPT is always delivered one-to-one.
This is important because it means:

• You don’t need anyone else to attend the sessions.

• You can explore things openly without worrying about someone else’s reactions.

• You can focus on what you want and what you can change.

In IPT, we look at:

• How you communicate when you’re under stress

• How you respond to conflict or misunderstandings

• What triggers certain emotional reactions

• What you want or need from relationships

• How you can express yourself more clearly and calmly

• How you can navigate difficult situations with more confidence

You may be surprised by how much can shift in a relationship when you begin relating differently.

Why Relationship Difficulties Arise (Even in Healthy Relationships)

Difficulties don’t necessarily mean a relationship is failing. In fact, problems often crop up during times of stress or transition, such as:

• A new job or redundancy

• Moving house or relocating

• Becoming a parent

• Illness in the family

• Bereavement

• Financial pressure

• Changes in daily routine

• Feeling emotionally exhausted or overloaded

It’s common for people to blame themselves or assume they “should” cope better, but realistically, these pressures can unsettled even the strongest relationships.

IPT helps you take a step back, understand what’s going on, and explore how you can respond in a way that feels healthier and more intentional.

How IPT Works When It’s Just You in the Room

Although IPT focuses on improving your relationships, the work happens individually. Together we explore your thoughts, your emotions, and your communication patterns.

Here’s what that might look like:

1. Understanding Your Relational Style

We begin by looking at how you typically communicate and respond in relationships. This might include:

• How you behave when you’re upset

• Whether you tend to withdraw, shut down, defend yourself, or try to “fix” things quickly

• What makes you feel unheard or misunderstood

• What you find difficult to express

• Patterns you’ve noticed across different relationships

This isn’t about blame—it's about clarity.

For example:
A client realised that when they felt hurt, they withdrew to avoid conflict. Their partner interpreted this as a lack of interest. In IPT, the client learned to express, “I need a moment, but I’m not going anywhere.” That one sentence changed the dynamic significantly—without their partner ever attending therapy.

2. Building Practical Communication Tools

Communication is a skill, not something we instinctively do well. IPT helps you develop tools such as:

• Using “I” statements to express emotions

• Saying what you need rather than expecting others to guess

• Recognising early signs of overwhelm

• Creating space before responding

• Expressing frustration without criticism

• Setting calm, healthy boundaries

• Repairing after conflict in a more grounded way

These tools come from you, which means they’re fully within your control.

3. Exploring Role Disputes

A role dispute occurs when you and someone else have different expectations about your relationship. It might relate to:

• household responsibilities

• parenting

• how affection is shown

• how decisions are made

• how much time is spent together or apart

• emotional support

You don’t need the other person present to explore these things. IPT helps you clarify your expectations, articulate them more clearly, and approach conversations with more confidence and calmness.

4. Rebuilding Emotional Connection From Your Side

You may be surprised by how much emotional closeness can return when one person begins communicating differently. IPT helps strengthen connection by supporting you to:

• Understand your emotions more clearly

• Share vulnerability in a safe, grounded way

• Respond to others with more empathy

• Break out of unhelpful reaction cycles

• Communicate reassurance or warmth more openly

This can have a profound impact on your relationships, even though the work is one-to-one.

Examples of IPT for Relationship Difficulties (Individual Work)

Here are a few examples (with all identifying details changed) to show how IPT works in practice.

Example 1: “I Avoid Any Difficult Conversation”

Alex avoided conflict completely. If something felt uncomfortable, they shut down. In IPT, Alex explored where this pattern came from and learned ways to express small concerns before they built up. Alex’s partner didn’t attend therapy, yet the relationship improved simply because Alex communicated differently.

Example 2: “Arguments Spiral Quickly”

Sam found arguments escalated within minutes. Through IPT, Sam identified triggers, learned to pause, and practised expressing difficult emotions more calmly. Their partner noticed the change straight away, and arguments became shorter and far less intense.

Example 3: “We Drifted Apart After a Big Life Change”

After moving to a new city, Emma felt anxious and disconnected from their partner. IPT helped Emma understand how stress was affecting their communication and how to ask for support more clearly. By shifting their approach, connection gradually returned.

Again, no couples' therapy was involved—just individual work.

What IPT Sessions Look Like

IPT is structured but warm. You can expect:

1. Early sessions

   • Understanding the issue

   • Mapping out relationship patterns

   • Setting goals

2. Middle sessions

   • Practising communication strategies

   • Exploring recent situations

   • Trying out new approaches between sessions

3. Later sessions

   • Strengthening new habits

   • Reviewing progress

   • Planning for future challenges

Each session builds on the last and always feels purposeful.

How IPT Feels From the Inside

People often worry they’ll feel blamed or judged when exploring relationship difficulties, but IPT isn’t about fault-finding. It’s about clarity, agency, and emotional understanding.

You can expect to:

• Feel supported and understood

• Gain insight into your own patterns

• Build confidence in expressing yourself

• Develop healthier boundaries

• Create positive change from your side alone

• Strengthen the relationships that matter to you

You can’t control someone else’s behaviour, but you can change how you communicate, respond, and care for yourself. That often creates more space for connection and understanding.

Is IPT Right for You?

IPT may be helpful if you:

• Struggle with communication

• Avoid conflict

• Feel misunderstood

• Notice the same relational patterns repeating

• Want clearer boundaries

• Experience recurring arguments

• Feel disconnected from someone important to you

• Want to change how you show up in relationships

You don’t need to be in crisis to seek support. Many people use IPT to enhance their relationships, not just repair them.

You Don’t Have to Navigate This Alone

If you’ve recognised yourself in any of this—or if you’re curious about whether IPT could help—you’re very welcome to reach out. I offer a friendly, no-pressure conversation where we can talk about what you’re struggling with and whether IPT might be the right approach for you.

Sometimes working on your side of the relationship is the most empowering step you can take. If you’d like guidance as you begin that journey, I’d be happy to help.

World Men’s Mental Health Day

Every year, World Men’s Mental Health Day comes around, and every year I find myself thinking the same thing: I wish more men knew they didn’t have to carry everything alone. Not because men are incapable or weak — far from it — but because somewhere along the line, many of us were taught that strength means silence, resilience means repression, and emotional pain is a private battle. I wanted to specialise in Men’s Mental Health for that very reason.

I’m a therapist now, but I’m also a man who has had his own share of mental-health challenges. I’ve sat in the client’s chair as well as in the therapist’s. I know what it’s like to lie awake at night, convincing myself that “it’s fine” when every part of my body was saying otherwise. I know what it’s like to feel the weight of expectations, responsibility, pride, and fear sitting squarely on my chest — and to have no idea how to loosen the grip.

So today isn’t just another awareness day to me. It’s personal.

And if you’re a man reading this — or someone who loves, lives with, or works alongside men — I hope something here lands with you in a way that opens a door.

Men Are Struggling — And Many Are Struggling Quietly

If you work in mental health, as I do, you see patterns. You hear stories that echo one another. But even outside of therapy rooms, you don’t have to look hard to notice how many men around you are tired, burned out, overwhelmed, unsure, or silently hurting.

Men are more likely to die by suicide.

Men are less likely to seek help.

Men often wait until crisis before reaching out.

These are not statistics I’m going to throw around lightly or sensationally — you’ve probably heard them before. But what matters more is why this happens. And the reasons are much more human than many realise:

• We’re taught to be the “fixer,” not the one who needs fixing.

• We fear burdening others.

• We worry about being judged or misunderstood.

• We’re unsure how to even describe what’s going on internally.

• We think asking for help is admitting defeat.

I’d be lying if I said these beliefs disappeared the moment I became a therapist. They didn’t. They’re still around. But they look different.

What Men’s Mental Health Actually Looks Like

We often imagine mental health struggles as sadness, crying, withdrawing… the stereotypical images. But for many men, it looks very different. Men often don’t say “I’m depressed.” They say:

• “I’m exhausted.”

• “I’m stressed.”

• “I’m losing patience.”

• “I just can’t focus.”

• “I’m not myself lately.”

• “I feel numb.”

Or they say nothing at all.

Men’s mental health challenges often show up as:

• Irritability

• Anger

• Emotional shutdown

• Overworking

• Drinking more

• Risk-taking

• Physical symptoms like chest tightness, stomach issues, headaches

• Feeling disconnected from partners, children, or friends

• Difficulty with intimacy or vulnerability

• A sense of failure or inadequacy

If any of that feels familiar, I want you to know: it’s not a character flaw. It’s not a sign you’re “not strong enough.” It’s simply your mind and body saying, Hey, something needs attention.

That’s all.

And there’s no shame in that — only humanity.

My Own Turning Point (And What I Wish I’d Known)

I’m not going to pretend I always handled my mental health well. For years, I simply pushed through. The times when I felt lonely, the times when I felt angry, sad and suicidal.

I told myself, “It’s just a rough patch.”

Until it wasn’t.

And eventually, I hit the point many men hit: I couldn’t pretend anymore. The cracks I’d ignored became impossible to plaster over. I was functioning, but not living. Showing up, but not connecting. Helping others, but not helping myself.

What changed everything wasn’t a dramatic moment; it was simply admitting, quietly and honestly, I can’t do this on my own anymore and asking someone to help me.

That admission felt risky. Embarrassing, even. But it was the most courageous thing I’ve ever done.

Therapy didn’t magically fix me — that’s not how it works — but it gave me language for things I’d buried, tools for things I’d avoided, and space for things I’d never voiced. It taught me that vulnerability and strength aren’t opposites. They are partners.

And it taught me that asking for support doesn’t shrink you as a man. It expands you as a human.

The journey isn’t perfect, far from it; and it’s one that I continue to this day.

Why Reaching Out Is So Hard for Men (And What Can Help)

From a CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) and IPT (Interpersonal Therapy) perspective, there are a few patterns I see repeatedly in men:

1. “I don’t want to burden anyone.”

I hear this constantly.

Here’s the truth: people who care about you want to know when you’re struggling. Silence actually creates more distance, not less.

2. “I’m supposed to be strong.”

Who decided strength doesn’t include emotional awareness, communication, or self-care?

Strength isn’t the absence of difficulty. It’s the willingness to work through difficulty.

3. “I don’t know how to talk about it.”

Totally fair. Most men haven’t been taught the vocabulary for emotions.

Therapy isn’t about showing up and spilling everything perfectly — it’s about learning at your own pace.

4. “Things aren’t that bad.”

If you wait until things are unbearable, you’ve suffered needlessly.

It’s okay to seek support early, before crisis hits.

5. “No one will understand.”

You’d be surprised. Once men start opening up — even a little — they often discover they’re not nearly as alone as they assumed.

What I See In the Therapy Space

I see men who have spent years, sometimes decades, holding things together for everyone else.

I see fathers terrified of letting their families down.

I see sons trying to live up to expectations that were never spoken aloud.

I see partners who want to be present and loving but don’t know where to begin.

I see professionals who seem successful on paper but feel empty inside.

I see young men who feel lost and older men who feel worn down.

And I also see something else:

Once men begin talking — even cautiously, even clumsily — something shifts. Relief is often the first thing. Relief that they don’t have to keep everything inside. Relief that someone is listening without judgement. Relief that they’re allowed to be human.

And from that relief comes possibility.

Because when you create space for your pain, you also create space for joy, connection, meaning, and growth.

You Don’t Need a Crisis to Need Support

One of the most damaging myths is that therapy is only for extreme situations.

Here’s the reality I wish more men understood:

• You can go to therapy because you’re stressed.

• Because you’re exhausted.

• Because you’re confused.

• Because you feel stuck.

• Because you can’t switch your mind off at night.

• Because something feels “off” and you can’t pinpoint what.

• Because you want to understand yourself better.

You don’t need to hit rock bottom.

You don’t need to justify your pain.

You don’t need to wait until you’re falling apart.

If your mind is whispering, “Something isn’t right,” that’s enough.

A Few Things I Want Every Man to Hear Today

1. You’re not weak for feeling overwhelmed.

You’re human. Full stop.

2. You deserve support just as much as anyone else.

Your needs matter too.

3. Your struggles don’t define your worth.

Not as a father, partner, friend, colleague, or man.

4. Talking about what’s difficult isn’t self-indulgent — it’s responsible.

The people around you benefit when you’re mentally well.

5. You don’t have to have the words for everything right now.

Just being open to trying is enough.

If You Love or Care About a Man Who’s Struggling

World Men’s Mental Health Day isn’t only for men — it’s for everyone who has a man in their life.

If someone you care about seems distant, stressed, overwhelmed, angry, withdrawn, or “not himself,” here are a few gentle ways to support him:

• Ask “How are things really?” and mean it.

• Give him space to open up at his own pace.

• Don’t jump in with solutions too quickly.

• Remind him he’s not a burden.

• Normalize seeking support — therapy, GP, talking to someone.

• Share resources without pressure.

• Let him know you’re there, consistently.

Sometimes the smallest nudge can make the biggest difference.

If You’re a Man Reading This…

If any part of this resonated with you — even a line, even a sentence — consider this your sign.

Consider it permission.

Or encouragement.

Or simply a reminder that you don’t have to figure everything out alone.

There is no perfect moment to reach out for support. Only the moment you decide you deserve to feel better than you do right now.

Whether it’s therapy, talking to your GP, opening up to someone you trust, or even starting with an anonymous support line — take the next step. Any step.

You don’t have to commit to massive change today.

You just have to be willing to start a conversation.

If You Know a Man Who Might Be Struggling…

Send him this post.

Invite him for a coffee.

Check in — genuinely.

Tell him he matters and he deserves support.

Sometimes the connection we offer others becomes the bridge that saves them.

How Bradshaw Therapy & Wellbeing Can Support You

At Bradshaw Therapy & Wellbeing, I work with men from all backgrounds — professionals, tradesmen, students, fathers, retirees, you name it. There is no stereotype, no expectation, no “ideal client.” Just real men trying to navigate real challenges.

As a male CBT and IPT therapist who has been on the other side of the therapeutic relationship myself, I understand how daunting it can be to reach out. But I also know how transformative it can be.

Therapy can help with:

• Stress and burnout

• Anger and frustration

• Depression and low mood

• Anxiety and overthinking

• Relationship difficulties

• Self-esteem challenges

• Life transitions

• Grief and loss

• Emotional numbness or shutdown

• Feeling lost, stuck, or overwhelmed

You’re not expected to walk in and bare your soul. You’re simply invited to start where you are.

You’re Not Alone — Even If It Feels Like It

World Men’s Mental Health Day is a reminder, but the reality is this:

Men’s mental health matters every single day of the year.

Your mental health matters every single day of the year.

Whether you’re the man carrying the weight, or the person who sees him struggling, the first step is the same:

Don’t stay silent.

Reach out.

Talk.

Ask.

Share.

Listen.

Connect.

Support is available.

Help is available.

Change is possible.

And you’re worth that change.

If you’re ready to take that step — or even if you’re just considering it — Bradshaw Therapy & Wellbeing is here. Truly here.

Navigating Grief with Support: The Role of Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)

Grief is a natural response to loss, but at times it can feel all-consuming or like it’s lasting longer than you expected. It can start to affect your daily life, your relationships, and your sense of who you are. Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) offers a supportive and structured way to work through grief — helping you make sense of what’s happened, express your feelings, and begin to reconnect with others and with life.

In IPT, we explore how loss has affected your relationships, routines, and sense of identity. Together, we look at the emotions that come with grief, how your roles and connections may have changed, and what kind of support you need right now.

For example, someone who’s lost a close family member might find themselves withdrawing from others or feeling unsure how to reach out for help. Through IPT, we would gently work on expressing those feelings, identifying supportive people, and finding small, manageable ways to re-engage with life again.

Therapy might involve talking openly about your loss, adjusting to new responsibilities or changes in your life, strengthening the relationships that bring comfort, and finding practical ways to cope with challenges as they come up.

IPT for grief usually takes place over 12 to 20 sessions, but it really depends on what you need and how you’re feeling. It can be particularly helpful if your grief feels complicated or prolonged — when it’s hard to move forward or reconnect with meaning after loss.

Grief can feel isolating, but you don’t have to face it alone. If any of this resonates with you, please get in touch. I’d be happy to talk about how IPT could help you work through your loss, rebuild connection, and find a sense of balance and hope again.

CBT for Low Self-Esteem: Building Confidence Step by Step

Low self-esteem can affect many parts of life — from how we relate to others to how confident we feel at work or in social situations. It can make even small challenges feel overwhelming. The good news is that Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) offers practical, evidence-based tools to help you challenge self-critical thoughts and gradually rebuild self-confidence.

Understanding Low Self-Esteem

Low self-esteem often develops over time, shaped by early experiences, unhelpful comparisons, or patterns of negative self-talk. CBT helps you identify these thinking habits, examine whether they’re accurate or fair, and begin to replace them with more balanced, compassionate perspectives.

Through this process, you can learn to respond to yourself with greater understanding and confidence, rather than criticism or doubt.

How CBT Can Help

CBT gives you the structure and strategies to rebuild confidence gradually and realistically. Techniques may include:

• Challenging Negative Beliefs: Noticing unhelpful thoughts and replacing them with realistic, supportive alternatives.

• Behavioural Experiments: Taking small, practical steps to test out new ways of thinking and behaving.

• Self-Compassion Practices: Learning to treat yourself with kindness rather than harsh judgment.

• Goal Setting: Setting achievable goals to build momentum and celebrate progress.

A Personal Note

I know what it’s like to struggle with low self-esteem — it’s something I’ve experienced personally. CBT has made a real difference for me and continues to be a helpful part of how I maintain balance and confidence. That’s one of the reasons I’m so passionate about using this approach to help others build a more positive relationship with themselves.

Taking the Next Step

CBT offers practical, effective strategies to help you recognise your strengths, quieten self-criticism, and approach life with greater self-assurance.

If you’d like to explore how CBT could support you, I offer a free consultation where we can talk about what’s been happening and how therapy could help you build lasting confidence and self-worth. If that sounds like something you think you, or someone you know could benefit from do get in touch.

IPT for Depression: Healing Through Relationships

Depression affects mood, thoughts, behaviour, and relationships. Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) is an evidence-based approach designed to reduce depressive symptoms by focusing on interpersonal issues and life transitions that may trigger or worsen depression.

Understanding IPT
IPT works on the principle that improving interpersonal relationships can enhance mood and overall wellbeing. Therapy focuses on four key areas: 
1. Grief: Coping with loss. 
2. Role Disputes: Conflicts with significant others. 
3. Role Transitions: Adjusting to life changes. 
4. Interpersonal Deficits: Building social skills and support.

Example: Someone feeling low after losing a job may explore their relationship with colleagues, develop communication skills, and plan strategies for social support, which helps improve mood.

How IPT Sessions Are Structured
IPT is usually short-term (12–20 sessions) and structured. Sessions focus on current problems, improving communication, and developing practical solutions. The therapist provides guidance while encouraging clients to take active steps in their relationships and daily life.

Practical Exercises
- Communication Analysis: Understanding patterns of interaction and improving assertiveness. 
- Role Play: Practising difficult conversations to enhance confidence. 
- Social Network Review: Identifying sources of support and ways to strengthen them.

FAQs About IPT for Depression
Q: Can IPT be combined with medication? 
A: Yes, IPT is often combined with antidepressants for optimal results. 

Q: Is IPT suitable for everyone with depression? 
A: It’s particularly useful when depression is closely linked to interpersonal issues or life transitions.

IPT offers a supportive, structured approach to address depression by focusing on relationships and social roles. 

If you’re experiencing low mood, struggling with life changes, or finding relationships difficult, contacting me today could be your first step towards recovery and emotional wellbeing.

CBT for Anxiety: How changes thoughts can ease worry

Anxiety is one of the most common mental health challenges in the UK, affecting millions of people every year. It can feel overwhelming, creating persistent worry, physical tension, and avoidance of everyday situations. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a highly effective treatment that helps people manage and reduce anxiety by addressing unhelpful thought patterns and behaviours.

How CBT Works for Anxiety
CBT helps you understand the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. Anxiety often arises from anticipating danger or negative outcomes. For example, someone might think, “If I speak in a meeting, I will embarrass myself,” which leads to avoidance and heightened anxiety. CBT teaches you to recognise these thoughts, test their accuracy, and develop more balanced perspectives.

Examples of Techniques Used in CBT for Anxiety

- Worry Management: Learning to manage worries so that they do not rule your life
- Cognitive Restructuring: Challenging unrealistic beliefs and replacing them with realistic alternatives. 
- Exposure Therapy: Gradually facing feared situations to reduce avoidance and build confidence. 
- Relaxation Training: Techniques such as deep breathing or progressive muscle relaxation to manage physical symptoms of anxiety. 
- Behavioural Experiments: Testing out predictions to see if feared outcomes actually occur.

Practical Example
Someone with social anxiety may avoid group settings due to fear of judgment. In CBT, they would start with small, manageable social interactions, monitor their thoughts, and notice that feared outcomes are often exaggerated. Over time, confidence grows, and anxiety decreases. If this sounds like you, contact me today.

FAQs About CBT for Anxiety
Q: How long does CBT for anxiety take? 
A: Typically, 12–20 sessions, but this can vary depending on individual needs. 

Q: Is CBT suitable for all types of anxiety? 
A: CBT is effective for generalised anxiety, social anxiety, panic attacks, PTSD, phobias, and health anxiety.

Final Thoughts
Anxiety doesn’t have to control your life. CBT provides practical strategies to regain control, reduce worry, and improve daily functioning. 

If you’re ready to take the first step towards managing anxiety, contact me today to explore your options in a supportive, confidential setting.

What is CBT and IPT? A Simple Guide to Two Effective Therapies

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) are two of the most researched, effective therapies for mental health challenges. Both approaches have helped thousands of people manage conditions like anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and relationship difficulties. While they share some similarities, their focus and techniques differ, making them suitable for different situations and client needs.

Understanding CBT
CBT is based on the idea that thoughts, feelings, and behaviours are interconnected. Negative or unhelpful thoughts can create emotional distress and lead to maladaptive behaviours. CBT helps individuals identify these thoughts, challenge them, and replace them with more balanced, helpful thinking. Techniques include cognitive restructuring, behavioural experiments, exposure therapy, and relaxation strategies.

Example: Imagine someone who believes, “I always fail at everything.” This thought can create anxiety, avoidance, and sadness. Through CBT, they learn to test the evidence for this belief and gradually replace it with a more realistic view: “I sometimes make mistakes, but I also succeed in many things.”

Understanding IPT
IPT focuses on the role of relationships and life events in mental health. It helps people understand how conflicts, role changes, or loss impact mood and functioning. IPT is particularly effective for depression and grief, but it can also support other challenges where relationships play a key role.

Example: A person experiencing depression after a breakup may benefit from IPT by exploring the relationship patterns, improving communication skills, and learning how to strengthen supportive connections.

Key Differences
- CBT: Focuses on thoughts and behaviours. Structured, skill-based, often short-term. 
- IPT: Focuses on interpersonal relationships and life transitions. Also structured and time-limited, but emphasises emotional processing.

Combining Approaches
Sometimes, therapists integrate CBT and IPT techniques to meet the client’s unique needs. This flexibility allows for addressing both cognitive patterns and relationship issues simultaneously.

Final Thoughts:
Choosing the right therapy depends on your personal goals and the challenges you face. Whether you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, or relationship difficulties, both CBT and IPT offer practical strategies and compassionate support. 

If you feel ready to explore therapy, you can reach out today to discuss how CBT or IPT could help you regain balance, confidence, and wellbeing.

Welcome to My Blog: Exploring CBT and IPT for Better Mental Health

Hello and welcome — I’m glad you’ve found your way here. My name is Martyn Bradshaw, and I run Bradshaw Therapy and Wellbeing Ltd, where I specialise in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Interpersonal Therapy (IPT). I work with adults across the UK, providing compassionate, evidence-based support for a wide range of emotional and psychological difficulties.

Therapy can often feel like a big step, and finding reliable information about what works can sometimes feel overwhelming. That’s why I’ve decided to create this blog — a space where you can explore how CBT and IPT work, what they can help with, and how these approaches might support you or someone you care about.

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What to Expect from This Blog Series

Over the next 20 weeks, I’ll be publishing a new post every week, each focused on how CBT or IPT can be used to support common mental health concerns. Topics will include:

- Anxiety and panic attacks
- Depression and low self-esteem
- Grief, loss, and life transitions
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Social anxiety, phobias, and health anxiety
- Insomnia and workplace stress
- And much more…

Each post will break things down in a clear, accessible way — explaining how these therapies work in practice, sharing real-world examples, and offering insights you can take away.

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Why CBT and IPT?

Both CBT and IPT are evidence-based therapies that have been shown to make a real difference in people’s lives. CBT focuses on the links between our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, while IPT looks more closely at the role relationships and life events play in our wellbeing.

Together, they provide practical, structured ways of understanding ourselves better and moving forward when life feels stuck, overwhelming, or painful.

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Join Me on This Journey

My hope is that this blog will not only inform but also inspire — giving you tools, insights, and reassurance that change is possible. Whether you’re curious about therapy, looking for support, or simply want to understand more about mental health, you’re in the right place.

If something you read resonates with you and you’d like to explore how therapy might help, I’d love to hear from you. You can reach out directly through my website to discuss your needs and see whether CBT or IPT could be the right fit.

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✨ Stay tuned: the first blog post in the series will be published next week!