AWARD WINNING COGNITIVE BEHAVIOURAL PSYCHOTHERAPIST
Hi, I’m Lauren Bell – Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist, Clinical Director of The Yorkshire Therapist, Functional Medicine practitioner in training, and passionate speaker and trainer.
​
With over 17 years’ experience in primary care mental health, I specialise in delivering evidence-based therapies including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR). I’m also a Lecturer, Clinical Supervisor, and fully accredited by the BABCP.
​
As The Yorkshire Therapist, my approach goes beyond surface-level symptom management. I’ve developed a unique Functional Psychotherapy model – a whole-person framework that combines gold-standard psychological therapies with a deep understanding of how physical health, lifestyle, relationships, and environment influence mental wellbeing.
I’m on a mission to revolutionise the way we think about mental health care – by treating the whole person, not just the diagnosis. That means digging deeper to understand the roots of distress and working collaboratively to build lasting emotional, physical, and psychological resilience.
​
I work directly with clients to provide in-depth assessment and tailored treatment for a wide range of mental health difficulties, including Depression, Anxiety Disorders, and trauma-related issues. My therapeutic toolkit includes CBT, EMDR, Mindfulness-Based Therapies, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Compassion Focused Therapy.
I regularly speak and deliver training for organisations, workplaces, and professional events – sharing practical, no-nonsense insights on mental health, resilience, and whole-person wellbeing. Whether I’m working 1-1 or addressing a room full of people, my aim is the same: to empower others with the tools and understanding they need to thrive.
I’m supported by a trusted team of therapists and wellbeing professionals who share my values and uphold the same high standards of care.
​
If you’re looking for straight-talking, evidence-based therapy that sees the bigger picture – or an engaging speaker who cuts through the noise – I’d love to hear from you.
WHAT IS COGNITIVE BEHAVIOURAL THERAPY AND WHAT
DOES IT TREAT?
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is one of the most effective, evidence-based psychological therapies available today. It’s a structured, goal-oriented approach that helps you understand how your thoughts, feelings, behaviours, and physical symptoms are all connected – and how to change unhelpful patterns that keep you stuck.
​
CBT focuses on the here and now. It helps you become more aware of negative thinking styles, challenge unhelpful beliefs, and develop healthier behaviours and coping strategies.
​
CBT is widely recommended by the NHS and NICE guidelines for the treatment of:
-
Depression
-
Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
-
Panic Disorder
-
Health Anxiety
-
Social Anxiety
-
OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)
-
PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)
-
Specific Phobias
-
Low Self-Esteem
-
Stress and Burnout
It’s a collaborative, practical therapy that equips you with lifelong skills – and I’ve seen first-hand how transformative it can be.
WHAT IS A FUNCTIONAL PSYCHOTHERAPY APPROACH?
Functional Psychotherapy is a whole-person, integrative model I developed to go beyond symptom management and get to the root of what’s really going on.
​
While traditional CBT focuses on thoughts and behaviours, Functional Psychotherapy considers the full picture of your health and wellbeing – including the physical, emotional, relational, and environmental factors that influence your mental state.
​
This approach blends the best of psychological therapy (CBT, EMDR, ACT, and more) with insights from functional medicine and lifestyle science. It allows us to explore the deeper “why” behind your symptoms and work on meaningful, sustainable change.
​
In Functional Psychotherapy, we consider:
-
Your physical health – sleep, gut health, hormones, nervous system regulation
-
Your nutrition, energy levels, and lifestyle habits
-
Your stress load and daily environment
-
Early life experiences, attachment, trauma, and belief systems
-
Your relationships, roles, and current support network
-
Your values, goals, and inner strengths
This approach is especially helpful if you’ve tried therapy before and felt like something was missing – or if you want a model that honours both mind and body in the healing process.
​
Common Interventions in CBT and Functional Psychotherapy
CBT combines both cognitive and behavioural techniques to support meaningful, lasting change.
​
On the cognitive side, a widely used intervention is Cognitive Restructuring – a technique that helps individuals recognise unhelpful thinking patterns and learn how to challenge and reframe them into more balanced, realistic thoughts.
On the behavioural side, Behavioural Activation is a core approach. It focuses on increasing engagement in positive, purposeful activities to help lift mood, reduce avoidance, and restore motivation – particularly in cases of depression and anxiety.
​
In my Functional Psychotherapy approach, these psychological tools are integrated with a broader exploration of what might be driving distress beneath the surface. We also look at:
-
Nervous system regulation and stress responses
-
Sleep, nutrition, and movement
-
Hormonal, immune, and gut health
-
Past experiences and core belief systems
-
Social, relational, and environmental influences
This whole-person method allows us to go beyond just managing symptoms and instead address the root causes of emotional and psychological distress – helping clients build genuine, sustainable wellbeing from the inside out.
SERVICES I OFFER
TELEPHONE/VIDEO SESSIONS
Telephone and video sessions are provided throughout the UK at a time to suit you.
CLINICAL SUPERVISION
Clinical supervision sessions for Cognitive Behavioural Therapists provided via Zoom or Telephone.
CORPORATE WELLBEING DAYS
Are you a forward-thinking employer who genuinely cares about your team’s mental wellbeing? If so, my Workplace Wellbeing Days could be exactly what you’re looking for.
I offer engaging half- or full-day workshops designed to educate, empower, and support your staff in managing their mental health – both in and out of the workplace.
Rooted in my Functional Psychotherapy approach, these sessions go beyond the basics. We don’t just talk about stress – we explore the deeper drivers of burnout, anxiety, and low mood, including lifestyle, workplace culture, nervous system health, and more. Staff learn how to spot the early signs of mental health difficulties in themselves and others, and how to take practical steps toward recovery and resilience.
These workshops can help your team feel more confident, connected, and mentally well – and they can also reduce the long-term impact of mental health-related sickness and presenteeism.
Each session is tailored to your organisation's specific needs. Whether you’re a small business or a large corporation, I’ll work with you to create a bespoke wellbeing package that makes a real difference.
Get in touch to discuss a personalised training day for your team.
CONTACT ME
I love helping my patients develop the tools they need to cope with all of life’s challenges. Contact me today to learn more and book a session.
Telephone: 07340495652
Email: theyorkshiretherapist@gmail.com
Facebook: @therapyinyorkshire
Instagram: @theyorkshiretherapist