A space to make sense of things.
Compassionate, evidence-based CBT for adults and young people. Collaborative support, adapted around you.
I’m Zach, a BABCP-accredited CBT therapist in Cheadle Hulme. If things feel difficult at the moment, you don’t need to have everything worked out before we talk. I’ll take time to listen, understand what life feels like for you, and make sense of things together.
There is room here to be yourself. My approach is neurodiversity-affirming: I respect autistic and ADHD differences, and we can adapt therapy around your needs. Together, we’ll focus on what is causing you distress and explore ways forward that feel manageable for you, in person or online.
300+
Clients Served
3k+
Therapy Sessions Held
9
Years of Experience
Who I Can Help
You may be experiencing emotional or psychological difficulties that are affecting your relationships, work, education, confidence, or day-to-day life.
I work with adults and young people experiencing a range of difficulties, taking time to understand what is happening for you as an individual and how these difficulties may be impacting your life.
- Anxiety and excessive worry
- Panic attacks
- Social anxiety
- Obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours (OCD)
- Low mood and depression
- Emotional overwhelm and difficulty managing emotions
- Trauma and PTSD
- Low self-esteem and confidence
- Stress and burnout
- Sleep difficulties
- Difficulties associated with ADHD
- Difficulties associated with Autism and neurodivergence
- Phobias
- Health anxiety
Who I Work With
I work with adults and young people, adapting therapy around the individual rather than expecting everyone to fit the same approach.
Adults
I provide individual CBT for adults experiencing a range of emotional and psychological difficulties, including those who are Autistic, have ADHD, or identify as neurodivergent.
Therapy is shaped around your needs, goals and experiences. Where helpful, I can adapt the pace, communication style and practical strategies we use so that therapy feels relevant, manageable and suited to you.
Support can include:
- Individual, evidence-based CBT
- Neurodiversity-affirming adaptations
- In-person or online sessions
Young People & Families
I work with children from age six, teenagers and their families, adapting therapy to the young person’s age, communication style and needs.
My experience within Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and residential care has involved supporting young people with a wide range of emotional and psychological difficulties, including those who are Autistic or have ADHD.
With younger children, parents are an essential part of therapy, helping reinforce new ways of thinking and regulating emotions. Their involvement varies depending on need. Together, we can consider what is happening at home, in education and within important relationships.
Support can include:
- CBT adapted to the young person’s age and needs
- Support with distress associated with Autism or ADHD
- Parent involvement shaped around the child’s needs
Neurodiversity-Affirming CBT
Neurodiversity-affirming CBT adapts traditional Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to work with your brain, not against it. Rather than treating autistic or ADHD traits as problems to be fixed, it recognises them as natural differences in how people think, feel and experience the world.
Together, we focus on what's actually causing you distress, whether that's anxiety, low mood, burnout or the exhaustion of masking, while respecting your sensory needs, communication style and ways of processing. Sessions are flexible and collaborative: we can adjust pacing, use visual or written tools, and build strategies that fit your life rather than neurotypical expectations.
The aim isn't to make you "less neurodivergent". It's to help you understand yourself better, reduce unnecessary struggle, and feel more at home in who you are.
My Approach
My practice is rooted in evidence-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Together, we explore the patterns of thoughts, emotions and behaviours that may be contributing to the difficulties you are facing, and develop practical ways of responding differently.
Therapy is collaborative and shaped around you. At the beginning of our work, we will take time to understand what is happening, what may be keeping difficulties going, and what you would like to change. This shared understanding helps us develop an approach that feels relevant to your needs and goals.
Where helpful, I may also draw on ideas from Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT). These approaches can support greater self-understanding, help reduce self-criticism and bring more compassion into the way you respond to difficult thoughts and emotions.
Although therapy can sometimes sound clinical, I aim for sessions to feel quite the opposite. My style is friendly, collaborative and non-judgemental, creating a space where you can feel heard, understood and supported while working towards meaningful change.
About Me
I’m an accredited Cognitive Behavioural Therapist, but more importantly, I’m someone who understands what it’s like to struggle. I’ve lived through self‑doubt and anxiety, and I know how heavy it can feel when it affects your relationships and your sense of belonging in the world.
For me, things started to change when I began reflecting, learning, and putting new ideas into practice. Slowly, I was able to lift the “grey‑tinted glasses” I’d been seeing life through. That experience is what drives me now, I want to offer others the same chance to see things differently, to feel lighter, and to find their own way forward.
In therapy with me, you’ll find patience, understanding, and compassion. I don’t believe anyone should have to face challenges alone. My role is to walk alongside you, helping you explore, make sense of things, and build strategies that fit your life.
Zach Cairns
My Experience
My experience spans nine years across residential care, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), and private practice. During this time, I have supported adults, young people and families experiencing a wide range of emotional and psychological difficulties, including people who are Autistic, have ADHD, or identify as neurodivergent.
These experiences have shaped the way I practise today. I take time to understand the whole person and adapt therapy around individual communication styles, needs, values and goals.
What to Expect From CBT
1. Understanding what’s happening
We start by taking time to understand what has brought you to therapy, what may be keeping difficulties going, and what you would like to change.
2. Making sense of the patterns
Together, we’ll develop a shared understanding of how your thoughts, emotions, behaviours and experiences may be interacting.
3. Developing practical strategies
We’ll use evidence-based CBT strategies tailored to you, helping you experiment with new ways of responding and build changes that can continue beyond therapy.
Therapy is collaborative and adapted around you. There is no expectation that you arrive knowing exactly what you want to work on — we can make sense of that together.
CBT in Cheadle Hulme & Online
I am based at 11 Station Road, Cheadle Hulme, SK8 5AF, providing therapy to adults, young people and families. Nearby areas include Bramhall, Cheadle, Gatley, Heald Green, Handforth and Hazel Grove.
The room is quiet, with low-level lighting, and can be accessed by wheelchair using a lift. You are welcome to bring any sensory supports that help you feel comfortable during your session.
Free parking for up to three hours is available at ASDA Cheadle Hulme next door, The Precinct, SK8 5BB.
I also offer online sessions when these suit your needs. For younger children, I generally recommend meeting in person.
Sessions & Fees
CBT sessions: £85
Sessions last 50 minutes and take place weekly, in person or online.
Initial consultation: free
A 20-minute conversation by telephone or video gives you space to share a little of what you are experiencing, ask questions and explore whether I can support you.
The length of therapy depends on your needs. We can agree an initial plan and review it together as our work progresses.
Questions About Therapy
Do I need a diagnosis to start therapy?
No. Therapy with me is for people who connect with the difficulties described on this website, with or without a diagnosis. We can discuss what you are experiencing and whether my support feels right for you.
How long does therapy last?
This depends on your needs and what you would like support with. We will discuss an initial plan and review it together. Sessions are weekly and last 50 minutes.
Do you work with children?
Yes. I work with children from age six, teenagers and adults. Therapy is adapted to the young person’s age, communication style and needs.
Will parents be involved?
Parents are an essential part of therapy with younger children, helping reinforce new ways of thinking and regulating emotions. Involvement varies depending on need. We will discuss how to work together, including confidentiality and its limits.
Can I have online sessions?
Yes, alongside in-person therapy in Cheadle Hulme. We can discuss which option suits you. For younger children, I generally recommend meeting in person.
How much does therapy cost?
Sessions cost £85 and last 50 minutes. Payment is by bank transfer within 24 hours after the session. The initial 20-minute consultation is free, by telephone or video.
What happens in the consultation?
It is a chance to share a little of what you are experiencing so I can understand whether I can support you. You can ask questions about the process and your possible next steps.
Getting Started
1. Arrange a free 20-minute consultation
We can briefly discuss what has brought you to therapy, answer any questions and consider whether working together feels right.
2. Decide whether you’d like to continue
If we agree that CBT with me could be helpful, we’ll arrange a convenient time for your first session and I’ll send you the information you need.
3. Begin therapy
Your first sessions will focus on understanding what’s happening for you, identifying what you’d like to change and beginning to develop a plan together.
Not Sure Whether CBT Is Right for You?
You do not need to have everything worked out before getting in touch. A free 20-minute consultation gives you space to share a little of what you are experiencing, ask questions and explore whether working together feels right.
We can speak by telephone or video and consider your next steps together.
Contact
Telephone: 07450766559
E-mail: zach@zc-therapy.co.uk
Address: 11 Station Road, Cheadle Hulme, SK8 5AF, United Kingdom