Welcome
EMDR & CBT Psychotherapy in Rayleigh, Leigh-on-sea, & Southend-on-sea
We offer treatment for anxiety, depression, trauma, chronic pain, medically unexplained symptoms, life challenges and more.
EMDR Psychotherapy in Essex & London
Experienced EMDR Psychotherapy
We offer expert EMDR therapy online and in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, and in the City of London. Our sessions are confidential, non-judgemental, and gentle, utilising the most up-to-date EMDR approaches to help with a wide range of problems, such as PTSD, anxiety, phobias, depression, interpersonal challenges, attachment issues, and more. We work with a range of health insurers.
What is EMDR?
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a powerful psychotherapy approach that has helped millions of people relieve many types of psychological stress. It is highly effective for trauma and PTSD, and also beneficial for anxiety, depression, and other emotional difficulties.
Research Supporting EMDR:
EMDR is backed by extensive research and is recognised as an effective form of treatment by numerous organisations, including the British Psychological Society (BPS), the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), and the World Health Organisation (WHO). Studies have shown that EMDR can produce significant and lasting improvements more rapidly than conventional therapy methods.
Our Approach
We offer high-standard EMDR psychotherapy, which can be delivered both online and face-to-face. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) has been shown to be an effective treatment for various common mental health problems, particularly for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Widely used in the NHS, EMDR is backed by a substantial body of research supporting its efficacy and safety. This novel psychotherapy method helps individuals process and integrate traumatic memories, leading to significant improvements in their mental health and overall well-being.
Our clinic is confidential, quiet and modern based near Leigh train station and is on the ground floor.
Health Insurance: We work with Aviva, Bupa, Axa and Vitality
About Chris
Chris Spanton
Chris Spanton is an experienced and accredited psychotherapist with a strong foundation in nursing, having begun his career in sexual health and psychology. With over 18 years of experience in mental health and 13 years in psychological therapies, Chris brings a deep and compassionate understanding to his clinical work.
He is the Lead Therapist at The Alvee Practice, where he provides specialist psychological therapy and clinical supervision. Alongside his private practice, Chris works as a subject matter expert for large health organisations, consulting on the design, implementation, and evaluation of psychological therapy services.
Chris also works as a Highly Specialised Psychotherapist at the National Persistent Physical Symptoms Unit, a specialist national NHS hospital service. His clinical focus is on supporting individuals with medically unexplained symptoms, including fibromyalgia, long COVID, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS/ME), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and functional neurological disorder (FND). He has received advanced training from world-leading experts in these areas and receives ongoing supervision from a renowned professor specialising in EMDR therapy.
Chris has recently completed his EMDR Consultant Training, further deepening his expertise in trauma-focused work and enabling him to supervise and support other EMDR practitioners.
Qualifications & Training
Chris is:
- An Accredited Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist (BABCP)
- An Accredited EMDR Practitioner (EMDR Europe)
- A CBT Supervisor
- Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DIT) trained at the Anna Freud Centre in London
He trained at several leading institutions, including:
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience – King’s College London
- University College London (UCL)
- The Anna Freud Centre
- University of Essex
Leadership, Teaching & Supervision
Chris is currently the Clinical Lead for one of the largest NHS Talking Therapies services in the UK, where he has held various leadership roles for many years. He is also a visiting lecturer on a master’s programme in psychotherapy and has delivered lectures on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) at universities across the UK.
He regularly trains psychotherapists nationally and provides clinical supervision to both qualified and trainee CBT practitioners.
Clinical Specialisms
Chris specialises in:
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) – including supervision, training, and lecturing
- EMDR therapy and complex PTSD
- Developmental and psychosexual trauma
- Persistent physical symptoms and functional disorders
- Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DIT) for relational and emotional difficulties
He works with both children and adults, and is experienced in group therapy, clinical training, and evidence-based supervision.
Research & Publications
Chris is a published therapist and active contributor to research in psychological therapies. His work has appeared in peer-reviewed journals, particularly in the areas of trauma-focused CBT, culturally responsive therapy, and adapting services during public health crises.
Selected publications include:
- Skilbeck, L. & Spanton, C. (2022). Delivery of a trauma-focused CBT group for heterogeneous single-incident traumas in adult primary care: a follow-on case study. The Cognitive Behaviour Therapist, 15
- Skilbeck, L., Spanton, C., & Roylance, I. (2021). Integrated Trauma-Focused CBT for Comorbid Combat-Related PTSD: A Case Study with a Military Veteran. Clinical Case Studies, 20
- Skilbeck, L., Spanton, C., & Roylance, I. (2020). Client-led culturally responsive CBT – integrating familism in the treatment of chronic depression: a case study. The Cognitive Behaviour Therapist, 13
- Skilbeck, L., Spanton, C., & Roylance, I. (2020). Beyond the COVID-19 pandemic: ‘Learning the hard way’ – Adapting long-term IAPT service provision using lessons from past outbreaks. The Cognitive Behaviour Therapist, 13
- Skilbeck, L. & Spanton, C. (2020). Primary care community engagement – delivery of an enhanced and brief homogeneous group TF-CBT intervention for trauma from a single-incident road traffic accident: a case study. The Cognitive Behaviour Therapist, 13
- Skilbeck, L., Spanton, C., & Roylance, I. (2020). Helping clients ‘restart their engine’ – use of in-session CBT behavioural experiments for engagement and treatment in persistent depression: a case study. The Cognitive Behaviour Therapist, 13
- Skilbeck, L., Spanton, C., & Paton, M. (2023). Patients’ lived experience and reflections on long COVID: an interpretive phenomenological analysis within an integrated adult primary care psychology NHS service. Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes, 7