Hannah Finneran Psychotherapy

Talking about Guilt this Easter…

If you’re feeling anxious about food this weekend, especially around chocolate or Easter snacks -you’re not alone.
Easter can feel loud for people in eating disorder recovery—lots of food talk, pressure, comparison, and guilt.

But here’s the rational side of our thinking:
Easter is just one day.
One day out of 30 this month.
One meal or day doesn’t define your recovery, your body, or your worth.

CBT teaches us about “valence”— how powerful a thought or moment feels, even when it’s not reflective of the bigger picture.
A thought like “I’ve ruined everything” feels urgent and true—but it’s just a thought, not a fact.
It’s the valence, not the truth, that’s loud.

So if the food thoughts show up today, try to:
• Notice them, name them (“Ah, here’s the guilt voice again…”)
• Step back and ask, “Is this thought helpful or just familiar?”
• Gently shift your focus back to the whole month, the bigger picture, the things that truly matter to you

You don’t need to earn or undo chocolate.
You don’t need to listen to every thought.

Focus on the Celebration, Not the Food: Easter is about more than just food. It’s about celebrating with loved ones, enjoying the spring weather, and perhaps participating in religious traditions.

Practice Self-Care: Make sure to take time for yourself during the holiday.

Reach Out for Support: If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to reach out to a trusted friend, family member, or mental health professional.

On this Good Friday, a moment to pause.
Not just for reflection or faith—but to notice what’s present, what matters, and what you may be carrying.

In Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), we understand how easily our minds get pulled toward what’s wrong, uncertain, or out of our control.
That’s where mindfulness and gratitude come in—not as toxic positivity, but as practices that help us refocus our attention.

Mindfulness teaches us to gently return to the present moment.
Gratitude helps us expand what we see—so we also notice what comforts, uplifts, or sustains us.

A small moment.
A safe person.
A deep breath.
A glimpse of peace.
Even on the hard days.

Gratitude doesn’t deny pain—it makes space for hope alongside it.

Wishing you a gentle, grounding Good Friday.

Real insight from real recovery.
I asked a client recently: “Looking back on your recovery, what were the three things that made the biggest difference?”
Here’s what they shared—and it’s powerful:
1. Being open and vulnerable.
“Even if not fully at first—but being open to therapy and really listening helped me begin to understand what was going on beneath the surface.”
2. Understanding the cycle.
“Identifying my triggers and patterns gave me clarity. Building structure—through planning, routines, and personal time—helped me stay grounded when stress came up.”
3. Making time for stress.
“I started having inward conversations: ‘Is this something I need to deal with now—or can I schedule it for later?’ That shift stopped me from trying to fix everything at once… which often meant fixing nothing at all.”

This is CBT in action—self-awareness, structure, and strategy. It’s not about perfect progress, it’s about intentional steps forward.

Feeling stuck or low? Try Behavioural Activation.

In Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), we consider how our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours are all connected. When we feel low or anxious, we tend to withdraw, avoid, or stop doing the things that once brought us joy or a sense of purpose. Which unfortunately reinforces below or anxious we experienced in the first place.

Behavioural Activation is about gently reversing that cycle—acting first, even when motivation is low, to help lift mood and reconnect with what matters.

Here are a few steps you can try at home:
1. Track your activities and mood for a few days. Notice what lifts you up—even slightly.
2. Schedule meaningful activities—small things that align with your values, like a walk, a shower, cooking, or calling a friend.
3. Start small and keep it achievable. You don’t need to feel motivated first—action often comes before motivation.
4. Notice the impact on your mood and energy, and build from there.

Change doesn’t always come from big shifts—sometimes it starts with one small, intentional step.



Please seek professional advice, if you or someone you know is struggling, or contact for therapy services.
Social media and self help material is not an alternative to treatment.

Very pleased to announce being on board with
there to support clients - for those needing further well-being support or interested in beginning their own therapy journey.📲🧠💜

I am Hannah Finneran and I am a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist (CBT) specialising in eating disorders and low self esteem, along with depression and anxiety and a range of other mental health conditions for the last 10+ years.

I have worked in inpatient and outpatient settings, both with teenagers and adults and then more recently within private therapy. My work has been to develop a deep understanding of the complex relationship between thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. I am passionate about helping individuals feel they have a healthier relationship with themselves, to regain management over unhelpful patterns, be that food, stress or emotional regulation and explore the understanding of their experiences.

Main areas I focus:

• Eating Disorders (Binge Eating Disorder, Bulimia Nervosa, Anorexia Nervosa, Disordered Eating Patterns),

•Body Image Concerns, BDD,

• Low self-Esteem,

•Anxiety & Mood Disorders, Depression, Social Anxiety, PMDD)

• Behavioural Change & Emotional Regulation.

My Approach:

I use evidence-based CBT techniques to help clients identify and challenge unhelpful thoughts, develop healthier coping mechanisms, and build long-term resilience. I take a compassionate and collaborative approach, tailoring therapy to each individual’s unique needs. I am keen to help a person become their own ability to understand and support themselves with skills they can continue long after therapy.

BABCP Accredited, fully insured and registered with private medical insurance - AXA Aviva, Bupa and WPA and I accept self Referall and self funding clients. Contact for details for assessment and more information.

Email - [email protected]

Ever found yourself walking the same path over and over, even though you know it’s no good for you?
It’s full of obstacles—self-doubt, harsh self-talk, fear of not being enough. 🌪️

But it’s familiar, maybe has people we love or know in the way? But it’s Predictable. Safe… in a way.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) helps us gently step off that path.
Not to run, not to force change, but to begin walking a new one—
one that might feel unfamiliar, longer, even uncomfortable at first…
but leads somewhere lighter, clearer, more aligned with who you truly are 💡

It takes courage to choose a new path 🧭
But with support, self-compassion, and practical tools,
you can rewire the route and become the version of you that isn’t just surviving—but growing.

Please seek professional advice, if you or someone you know is struggling, or contact for therapy services.
Social media and self help material is not an alternative to treatment.

Self-worth can be a self-fulfilling cycle of thoughts and behaviours 🔁 🧠🥗📚

When you believe in your own value, your actions reflect that belief—leading to experiences that reinforce it. On the other hand, self-doubt can create a cycle that keeps us stuck, repeating behaviours and relationships, thoughts as a result that feel and seem reinforcing.

The good news? You can interrupt the cycle at any point. Beginning with small behavioural changes, small actions—setting a boundary in work or in a relationship, speaking kindly to yourself, or prioritising our diet our exercise, the opportunities we seek—we can challenge and reaffirm our new thinking patterns- reinforcing to your brain that you are worthy/capable/doing a good enough job. And with time, that belief grows stronger. 🩵✨

Binge eating disorder (BED) is a type of eating disorder that’s now recognized as an official diagnosis.

People with B.E.D may eat a lot of food in a short amount of time, even if they aren’t hungry. Emotional stress or distress often plays a role and might trigger a period of binge eating.
A person might feel a sense of release or relief during a binge but experience feelings of shame or loss of control afterward.

Here are some tips that can help you break the cycle :
1- Develop a healthier relationship with food
2- Find better ways to feed your feelings (Identify your triggers with a food and mood diary + Learn to tolerate the feelings that trigger your binge eating)
3- Take back control of cravings (Accept the urge and ride it out, instead of trying to fight it, Distract yourself, talk to someone ect.)
4- Support yourself with healthy lifestyle habits (Manage stress, connect with others, get enough sleep, make time for regular exercise)

If you’re seeing this, follow for more! 🤍💚
_________________



Please seek professional advice, if you or someone you know is struggling, or contact for therapy services.
Social media and self help material whilst appropriate for some is not an alternative to professional treatment.

Private psychotherapy Clinic Available.
Over 10 years mental health experience, 6 years of treating with Cognitive behavioural therapy!

Remote Video therapy and Face to face therapy available.
Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist, providing Evidence Based treatments; fully insured and Fully accredited under the BABCP.

Treatments available for:
Low Mood
Stress
Depression
Anxiety- including generalised anxiety and worry, to Panic, Social anxiety, Health anxiety.
Specialist in Eating Disorders - including Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia and Binge Eating Disorder.
Low Self Esteem.
Children; Adolescents and Adults.

Contact for information and to arrange an assessment session. Remote or based in Warrington/ Stockton Heath.

[email protected]

NEW ONLINE EVENT- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Webinar.
Low Mood & Low Self Esteem:
Challenging Your Thinking 💭 🧠 💚

Live Virtual CBT Webinar. Introduction To CBT skills and Techniques for Understanding Low mood & Low self esteem, & how to challenge negative thinking patterns.
Q&A and resources included. 📖

📅 Tuesday 26th March 6pm.

Register Now - 📱 https://bookwhen.com/finneranpsychotherapy

No prior experience of therapy needed. This webinar is a guided technique based workshop, sharing CBT skills for individuals to continue to develop as part of self-help material. An accessible and no obligation opportunity.
Zoom link provided on booking.

📧 Contact Us
[email protected]

Private psychotherapy Clinic Available.
Over 10 years mental health experience, 6 years of treating with Cognitive behavioural therapy!

Remote Video therapy and Face to face therapy available.

Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist, providing Evidence Based treatments; fully insured and Fully accredited under the BABCP.

Treatments available for:
Low Mood
Stress
Depression
Anxiety- including generalised anxiety and worry, to Panic, Social anxiety, Health anxiety.
Specialist in Eating Disorders - including Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia and Binge Eating Disorder.
Low Self Esteem.
Children; Adolescents and Adults.

Contact for information and to arrange an assessment session. Remote or based in Warrington/ Stockton Heath.

[email protected]