Federico Ferrarese Cognitive Behavioural Therapist

Federico Ferrarese Cognitive Behavioural Therapist Accredited BABCP CBT therapist
(n.00001005090)
CPsychol BPS (n.401513)
www.federicoferrarese.co.uk I started to work as a Psychologist self-employed.

I became initially interested in psychology when I was young, and I had the opportunity to do the experience of volunteering in helping people with a problem of addiction. I felt so helpless trying to deal with their issues that I decided to learn more about human behaviour and help those in need. I have become more and more interested in the field of psychology during my five years of University. I graduated in Psychology in 1999, and initially, I have chosen to work in the HR sector. After six years of working in this area, I decided to change my career. I used the previous skills that I have achieved as Human Resources Assistant to help people with a physical and learning disability find and maintain a job. I enjoyed this experience, and I felt it was necessary to learn more about the brain and neurophysiology. I started another BSc degree, and I graduated in Neurocognitive Rehabilitation at the University of Padova. Having always pursued study and work that allows me to impact the lives of the vulnerable through a range of approaches, cognitive behaviour therapy is a field through which I can continue developing these skills and passions. What excites me most about the potential of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is helping people learn strategies to modify unhelpful thoughts and behaviours. For this reason, I started the CBT training at Queen Margaret University, and I have completed the Diploma level. I use a warm, pragmatic approach and work as a catalyst for positive emotional and behavioural change. I treat adults for assessment and psychological therapy at private practices in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

11/01/2026

“Don’t do compulsions” sounds simple.
But if you live with OCD, you know it’s anything but.

The real work isn’t just stopping compulsions.
It’s learning a completely new response to anxiety, uncertainty, and intrusive thoughts.

And yes — that’s a skill you can learn.

If this post resonates, I’ve written a full article breaking it down in a clear, human way.
No jargon. No shaming. Just real guidance.

Read it here 👉 https://www.federicoferrarese.co.uk/2026/01/11/overcoming-ocd-2/

You’re not weak for finding this hard.
You’re human.













Ever been told, “Just stop doing compulsions”… and thought, “Right, but then what am I supposed to do when my brain is o...
11/01/2026

Ever been told, “Just stop doing compulsions”… and thought, “Right, but then what am I supposed to do when my brain is on fire?”

If you live with OCD, or support someone who does, you’re not alone in that confusion. I hear this question all the time in my work as a CBT therapist, and honestly, it’s one of the most important ones to answer properly.

OCD isn’t about willpower. Compulsions aren’t habits you can simply switch off. They’re survival strategies that feel necessary in the moment. So when we say “don’t do compulsions,” we need to talk about what comes instead. Otherwise, it just sounds impossible.

I’ve just written a new blog that breaks this down in a clear, human way. No jargon. No “just sit with it” nonsense. Just a real explanation of what helps when OCD shows up and how ERP actually works in day-to-day life.

If you’ve ever felt stuck between knowing compulsions don’t help and not knowing what else to do, this one’s for you.

You can read it here 👇
https://www.federicoferrarese.co.uk/2026/01/11/overcoming-ocd-2/

Let me know what resonates with you. And if you’re supporting someone with OCD, feel free to share this with them too.

Discover practical strategies for overcoming OCD with an Italian CBT psychotherapist in Edinburgh offering online therapy in English and Italian.

07/01/2026

OCD often feels personal. Like a flaw. Like something you should be able to control.
But recent brain cell research tells a very different story.

It shows an overprotective brain.
An alarm system stuck on high sensitivity.
And learning loops that can be retrained.

If you’ve ever thought, “Why does my brain do this?”,
this will help it make sense.

👉 Learn more here:
https://www.federicoferrarese.co.uk/2026/01/07/how-ocd-works/












🧠 What Recent Brain Cell Research Reveals About How OCD Works“I know it doesn’t make sense… but my brain won’t let it go...
07/01/2026

🧠 What Recent Brain Cell Research Reveals About How OCD Works

“I know it doesn’t make sense… but my brain won’t let it go.”

That sentence is something I hear a lot from people living with OCD.
And honestly? Recent brain research finally explains why.

New studies are no longer just looking at brain areas, but at individual brain cells, genes, and signalling systems. And what they’re finding is powerful. OCD isn’t about weakness or overthinking. It’s about how certain brain cells fire, learn, and struggle to switch off.

In this article, I break down the science in a simple, human way.
No jargon. No blame. Just clarity.

If you’ve ever wondered why OCD feels so real, why reassurance doesn’t last, or how therapy actually changes the brain, this one’s for you.

👉 Learn more here: https://www.federicoferrarese.co.uk/2026/01/07/how-ocd-works/

What do you think? Does this way of explaining OCD resonate with your experience?

Discover how OCD works through recent brain cell research. Explore effective online therapy for OCD and anxiety in English and Italian.

05/01/2026

Shame, self-diagnosis, community — living with OCD in the digital age is complicated, emotional, and deeply real. Swipe through to explore how online spaces shape our experience of OCD… and how we can find real support and connection.✨

If this resonated with you or someone you care about, head to the link to read the full article.

https://www.federicoferrarese.co.uk/2026/01/05/ocd-in-the-digital-age-2/

Let’s break stigma and talk openly about OCD.

Shame, Self-Diagnosis, and Solidarity: OCD in the Digital AgeHave you ever read something online about OCD and thought, ...
05/01/2026

Shame, Self-Diagnosis, and Solidarity: OCD in the Digital Age

Have you ever read something online about OCD and thought, “Wait… that’s me”?
Then maybe felt relieved, confused, or even a bit ashamed straight after?

You’re not alone. The digital age has changed how we understand OCD. We can find information in seconds, connect with others across the world, and finally put words to experiences we’ve kept hidden for years. But at the same time, shame still creeps in. Self-diagnosis can become overwhelming. And online solidarity can both help and hurt.

I’ve just written a deep, honest piece about what it really means to live with OCD today. Not the Instagram version. The real one. The one with intrusive thoughts, endless Googling, quiet shame, and also moments of relief when you realise you’re not broken.

If you or someone you care about struggles with OCD, or if you’re just curious to understand it better, this might be worth a read.

You can learn more here 👉 https://www.federicoferrarese.co.uk/2026/01/05/ocd-in-the-digital-age-2/

What’s been your experience with mental health online? Helpful, confusing, or a bit of both?

Explore self-diagnosis and support for OCD in the digital age with insights from an Italian CBT therapist based in Edinburgh.

30/12/2025

Some thoughts feel too scary to say out loud—especially when you’re a parent.

If you’ve ever been haunted by intrusive thoughts about your child and wondered “What does this say about me?” — this is for you.

OCD doesn’t target bad parents.
It targets caring ones.

Intrusive thoughts are not intentions.
Anxiety is not evidence.
And having these thoughts does not make you dangerous or broken.

There is help. There is treatment. And you are not alone.

👉 Read the full article here:
https://www.federicoferrarese.co.uk/2025/12/30/ocd-intrusive-thoughts/














When OCD Targets Parenting: Intrusive Thoughts About Your Children You’re Terrified to Say Out LoudAs a therapist, I’ve ...
30/12/2025

When OCD Targets Parenting: Intrusive Thoughts About Your Children You’re Terrified to Say Out Loud

As a therapist, I’ve worked with many parents who carry a heavy, silent fear they’re ashamed to admit—even to themselves.

Thoughts like “What if I hurt my child?”
Images or urges that feel completely at odds with who they are as loving parents.
And a constant worry that having these thoughts must mean something terrible about them.

I want to say this clearly: these thoughts do not mean you are a bad parent.
In fact, they often show just how deeply you care.

In this article, I explain:

Why OCD targets what matters most—our children

How intrusive thoughts differ from intentions

Why avoiding these thoughts makes them stronger

And how evidence-based treatments like ERP can truly help

If you’re a parent struggling in silence, or if you support someone who is, I hope this helps you feel less alone and more understood.

👉 Learn more here: https://www.federicoferrarese.co.uk/2025/12/30/ocd-intrusive-thoughts/

Explore insights on OCD intrusive thoughts in parenting from a CBT expert. Access online support for worried parents today.

29/12/2025

“Pure O” isn’t OCD without compulsions — it’s OCD with hidden ones.

Intrusive thoughts can feel terrifying, isolating, and deeply personal, especially when the compulsions happen entirely in your mind. Mental reviewing, reassurance-seeking, analysing, praying, or trying to neutralise thoughts are all part of the same OCD cycle.

If your thoughts distress you because they go against your values, that’s not a sign you’re dangerous or broken — it’s a sign of OCD.

Understanding what’s really happening is often the first step towards effective treatment and real relief.

Learn more here:
https://www.federicoferrarese.co.uk/2025/12/29/pure-o/

“Pure O” OCD: 5 Myths Debunked by a CBT ExpertOver the years in my clinic, I’ve lost count of how many people have said ...
29/12/2025

“Pure O” OCD: 5 Myths Debunked by a CBT Expert

Over the years in my clinic, I’ve lost count of how many people have said to me: “Federico, I think I have the rare kind of OCD – the one without compulsions.”

I get why this belief is so common. The term “Pure O” is everywhere online. But the reality is very different – and understanding it can be genuinely life-changing.

In this article, I explain why there’s no such thing as OCD without compulsions, how mental rituals and reassurance-seeking often stay hidden, and why recognising them is essential for effective treatment. If you struggle with intrusive thoughts around harm, sexuality, morality, relationships, health, or religion, this is especially for you.

If you’ve ever felt confused, misdiagnosed, or “different” from other people with OCD, I wrote this with you in mind.

👉 Learn more here: https://www.federicoferrarese.co.uk/2025/12/29/pure-o/

Explore the reality of "Pure O" OCD with insights from an Italian CBT psychotherapist in Edinburgh offering online therapy.

28/12/2025

OCD doesn’t stop at one question.
It always finds one more “what if.”

Reassurance feels relieving — but it keeps the cycle alive.
Certainty feels necessary — but it’s never enough.

Recovery isn’t about proving your fears wrong.
It’s about changing how you respond to doubt.

If this resonates, you’re not alone — and help is available.

🔗 Read the full article here:
https://www.federicoferrarese.co.uk/2025/12/28/thoughts-with-ocd/

There will always be one more “what if” with OCDHave you ever noticed how, just when you think you’ve answered one worry...
28/12/2025

There will always be one more “what if” with OCD

Have you ever noticed how, just when you think you’ve answered one worry, another “what if” appears?

That’s not because you missed something.
It’s because that’s how OCD works.

In my work as a CBT therapist, I see every day how OCD creates an endless stream of doubt — checking, reassurance-seeking, mental reviewing — all in the hope of finally feeling certain. But certainty never lasts, and the cycle keeps going.

In this article, I explore:
• Why OCD always finds “one more what if”
• How doubt and uncertainty fuel intrusive thoughts
• Why reassurance makes things worse (even though it feels helpful)
• What actually helps people break the cycle and reclaim their lives

If you or someone you care about lives with OCD, this might help you understand what’s really going on — and why you’re not failing.

👉 Learn more here: https://www.federicoferrarese.co.uk/2025/12/28/thoughts-with-ocd/

Learn effective techniques to cope with intrusive 'What if' Thoughts With OCD, guided by an experienced Italian CBT Therapist based in Edinburgh.

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My story

I became initially interested in psychology when I was young, and I had the opportunity to do the experience of volunteering in helping people with a problem of addiction. I felt so helpless trying to deal with their issues that I decided to learn more about human behaviour and how to help those in need. I have become more and more interested in the field of psychology during my five years of University. I graduated in Psychology in 1999, and initially, I have chosen to work in the HR sector. After six years of working in this area, I decided to change my career. I started to work as a Psychologist self-employed, and I used the previous skills, that I have achieved as Human Resources Assistant, to help people with physical and learning disability, to find and maintain a job. I enjoyed this experience, and I felt it was necessary to learn more about the brain and the neurophysiology. I started another BSc degree, and I graduated in Neurocognitive Rehabilitation at the University of Padova. Having always pursued study and work that allows me to make an impact on the lives of the vulnerable through a range of approaches, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is a field through which I can continue to develop these skills and passions. What excites me most about the potential of the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is the focus on helping people to learn strategies to modify unhelpful thoughts and behaviours. For this reason, I started the CBT training at Queen Margaret University, and I have completed the Diploma level. I use a warm, pragmatic approach and work as a catalyst for positive emotional and behavioural change. I treat adults for assessment and psychological therapy at private practices in Edinburgh and Glasgow.