Rukhsana Shah

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapist and Psychotherapist

(MA)

Rukhsana Shah

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapist and Psychotherapist

(MA)

55 Archibald Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 1EB, England, United Kingdom

I am a BABCP-accredited Cognitive Behavioural Therapist with 18 years’ experience working in secondary mental health services and over 4 years of specialist CBT practice. I work with adults experiencing anxiety, OCD, panic, depression, low self-esteem, health anxiety, and stress-related difficulties, including challenges that feel long-standing, complex, or difficult to shift.

I understand that reaching out for therapy is not always easy—particularly when difficulties have been present for some time or previous support has not fully helped. My aim is to offer a supportive and collaborative space where clients feel understood while also helping them move toward meaningful and lasting change.

My approach is grounded in evidence-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and tailored to each individual’s goals and circumstances. Together, we develop an understanding of the patterns that may be maintaining distress and identify practical, achievable steps forward. Therapy focuses not only on reducing symptoms but also on helping clients build confidence, strengthen coping strategies, and reconnect with the areas of life that matter most to them.

I have particular experience supporting clients with anxiety disorders and OCD, including the use of Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), alongside approaches for depression, low self-esteem, and health-related difficulties. Sessions are structured and goal-focused, with an emphasis on developing skills clients can continue using long after therapy ends.

My goal is to help clients feel more in control, less limited by their difficulties, and better able to live in line with their values, relationships, and aspirations.

I offer online therapy with flexible appointments, including late afternoons, evenings, and weekends.

Practice Details

Session Fee

£65 GBP

Languages

English, Punjabi and Urdu

Therapy Format

Individuals

Age

Adults (20 to 64) and Seniors (65+)

Genders

Men, Women, Transgender and Non-Binary

Faith

Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism and Nonreligious

Sexuality

Hetero, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and LGBTQ+

Communities

Racial Justice Allied, Sex-Positive, Kink Allied and Single Mother

Accepting clients

Online

Free Initial Consultation

Work & Education

Years in Practice

20 years

Education

Teesside University in 2022
University of Durham in 2005
University of Sunderland in 2001

Experience

Remote Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist - Mindler Ltd (2024)
Remote Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist - Everyturn National Team (2024 - 2025)
Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist - Newcastle Talking Therapies (2021 - 2024)
Mental Health Social Worker - Newcastle City Council (2005 - 2021)

Certificates

Postgraduate Diploma (with distinction) in CBT certificate since 2022
MA in Social Work (Mental Health) certificate since 2005
BSc (hons) Psychology (First Class) certificate since 2001

License and State

Specialties

Acceptance and Commitment (ACT)

Cognitive Behavioural (CBT)

Cognitive Processing (CPT)

Compassion Focused

Culturally Sensitive

Emotionally Focused

Experiential Therapy

Exposure Response Prevention

Integrative

Mindfulness-Based (MBCT)

Person-Centered

Prolonged Exposure Therapy

Schema Therapy

Solution Focused Brief (SFBT)

Trauma Focused

Issues

Agoraphobia

Anger Management

Anxiety

Betrayal

Borderline Personality

Burnout

Chronic Illness

Depression

Eating Disorders

Fears and Phobias

Grief

Loneliness

Mood Disorders

Obsessive Behavior

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Panic Attacks

Personality Disorders

Racial Identity

Relationship Issues

Self Esteem

Sleep or Insomnia

Stress

Thinking Disorders

Trauma and PTSD

Women's Issues

Address

What are the benefits of a free consultation?

Getting to know the psychologist: You can talk to the psychologist to see if they are a good fit for you in terms of their work style, personality, and specialization.

Defining the problem: You can describe your problem in detail and get qualified advice from the psychologist, which will help you better understand the nature of your problem.

Developing a plan of action: You can get recommendations on how to solve your problem, which methods and approaches may be the most effective.

Feeling supported: You can get emotional support and feel that you are not alone, because the psychologist will listen to you attentively.

Who is a free consultation suitable for?

Those looking for a psychologist: A free consultation can help you make the right choice, as you can talk to several psychologists before making a final decision.

Those who are unsure whether they need psychotherapy: A free consultation can help you understand whether psychotherapy can help you solve your problem and whether it is right for you.

Those who have a limited budget: A free consultation is an opportunity to get qualified help from a psychologist for free, to see if you need further psychotherapy.

Those who may be nervous or hesitant to start psychotherapy: A free consultation gives you the opportunity to overcome your fear of the first meeting with a psychologist, get answers to your questions, and feel more confident.

Important:

A free consultation is not a substitute for psychotherapy.

In a free consultation, the psychologist cannot give you a final diagnosis or prescribe treatment.

The purpose of a free consultation is to help you determine if a psychologist and psychotherapy are right for you, and to give you the first steps to solving your problem.

Potential benefits of a free initial consultation

During this first session: potential clients have the chance to learn more about you and your approach before agreeing to work together.

Offering a free consultation will help you build trust with the client. It shows them that you want to give them a chance to make sure you are the right person to help them before they move forward. Additionally, you should also be confident that you can support your clients and that the client has problems that you can help them cope with. Also, you can avoid any ethical difficult situations about charging a client for a session in which you choose not to proceed based on fit.

We've found that people are more likely to proceed with therapy after a free consultation, as it lowers the barrier to starting the process. Many people starting therapy are apprehensive about the unknown, even if they've had sessions before. Our culture associates a "risk-free" mindset with free offers, helping people feel more comfortable during the initial conversation with a specialist.

It's important to note that the initial consultation differs from a typical therapy session:

It can last from 15 to 30 minutes, with the specialist determining the appropriate length for this introductory meeting.

The free initial consultation is not intended to be a full therapy session. It is an opportunity for the client to learn more about the specialist and their approach to therapy, and to decide whether they want to work together.

The specialist should set clear boundaries for the free initial consultation, including the length of the session and the topics that can be discussed.

The specialist should be prepared to answer questions from the client about their experience, training, and qualifications.

The specialist should not give specific advice or recommendations during the free initial consultation. This should be done during a paid session.

Rukhsana Shah

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapist and Psychotherapist

Rukhsana Shah

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapist and Psychotherapist

What are the benefits of a free consultation?

Who is a free consultation suitable for?

Important:

Potential benefits of a free initial consultation

Another key advantage for Specialist

It's important to note that the initial consultation differs from a typical therapy session: