KEZIA MATHIESON
CBT & EMDR Therapist
KEZIA MATHIESON
CBT & EMDR Therapist
“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”
— C.S. Lewis
ABOUT ME
I’m Kezia Mathieson, a CBT and EMDR therapist, Registered Mental Health Nurse and trauma specialist based in Hilton, Derbyshire.
I support adults and young people aged 14+ experiencing a wide range of mental health difficulties, including depression, anxiety, panic attacks, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), low self-esteem, perfectionism, PTSD, attachment trauma, eating difficulties and body image concerns. I work with people in Uttoxeter, Hilton, Burton-on-Trent and surrounding areas across Staffordshire and Derbyshire, as well as online.
My approach is warm, compassionate and collaborative. I believe therapy should feel like a safe space where you can feel heard, understood and supported, without judgement. I don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach, so I work with you to understand your experiences and tailor therapy to your individual needs.
My clinical interests include PTSD, attachment trauma and complex emotional difficulties, and I have specialist training in EMDR, Attachment Focused EMDR (EMDR-AF), Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
Alongside this, I have a particular interest in perinatal mental health, reproductive health, attachment and supporting parents to be the best parents they can be. I work with people experiencing fertility challenges, birth trauma, perinatal mental health difficulties, reproductive health conditions, loss and the emotional complexities of becoming and being a parent. My interest in this area comes from both my professional experience and my own personal journey with PCOS, fertility and birth, which has deepened my understanding of how complex and isolating these experiences can be.
Trauma has always been a particular area of interest and experience within my work. I have worked in specialist trauma-informed services and have experience working with and alongside blue light services, prison services and military veterans. I have also worked as part of professional teams supporting families affected by large scale and high profile maternity reviews. This has given me valuable experience of supporting families following difficult and traumatic experiences within maternity care, and has strengthened my knowledge and understanding of medical and obstetric trauma.
Since 2010, I’ve worked across NHS, charities and private healthcare settings, building over 15 years of experience in mental health services. I hold a BSc (Hons) in Nursing Studies (Mental Health) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy, both from the University of Derby. I’m a BABCP-accredited CBT psychotherapist and registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
I’m fully insured, professionally accredited and hold an enhanced DBS certificate, available on request. My aim is to provide evidence based therapy with warmth, compassion and clinical expertise, helping you feel understood and supported as you work towards meaningful change.
WHAT IS CBT?
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a psychotherapy or talking therapy that is designed to help you understand your thinking and how this connects to your emotions and behaviours. CBT is a collaborative process where we can work together to help you understand your current difficulties. Together we can help you to make some positive changes in your life by working towards personal goals. CBT is considered to have a 'here and now' focus but will also help you to realise how the past has impacted on the present, so that you can change the future.
CBT has a strong evidence base and is an effective treatment for trauma, anxiety, depression, OCD, and many other disorders. It is recommended by both the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS) guidelines for Complex PTSD.
CBT can be used alone or in conjunction with medication prescribed by a GP.
WHAT IS EMDR?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based therapy developed to help people process and recover from traumatic or distressing experiences. It’s most commonly used to treat PTSD, but it's also highly effective for anxiety, low self-esteem, phobias, and other difficulties rooted in overwhelming life events.
Rather than talking through the trauma in detail, EMDR helps the brain reprocess distressing memories so they no longer feel as emotionally charged or disruptive in the present. It uses guided eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation to support this natural healing process.
In my practice, I offer both standard EMDR and attachment-focused EMDR. Attachment-focused EMDR is particularly helpful when trauma is linked to early relationships or ongoing patterns of emotional disconnection. It allows us to gently explore the roots of current struggles — especially those shaped by childhood experiences, developmental trauma, or disrupted attachment — while building inner resources like safety, trust, and self-compassion.
Whether you’re carrying the effects of a single traumatic event or the weight of long-term emotional wounds, EMDR can offer a path toward relief, reconnection, and lasting change.
EMDR is an evidence-based treatment for trauma, recommended by both the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS) guidelines for Complex PTSD.
I cannot thank Kezia enough, when I first came I was in a very dark place and was really feeling lost and hopeless. Through her kindness and patience I now have the tools to help myself and am I am feeling positive about the future. I will never forget what she has done for me and my family.
Inga
I have had the best experience with Kezia. She has helped me overcome fears that I never thought I would be able to. She has given me the time and support I needed to achieve my goals. She has listened to everything I have said and I feel more positive about myself and my challenges. Thank you so much Kezia.
Jenny
The sessions have allowed me to better understand where my issues have come from. I have learned to make time for myself, manage my worrying and have let go of the huge expectation to please everyone else. Kezia has been fantastic.
Lisa
