Qualifications and Experience
I have over thirty years of experience working as a qualified professional, with twenty two of these being in the NHS. I have worked across a wide range of services, including Adult Psychological Therapies Services, Older Adult Psychological Services, Neuropsychology, Mental Health Liaison, Child and Family Services and a charitable organisation providing therapy for individuals and couples. During my time in the NHS I have held Consultant Psychologist posts and taken the lead role as Head and Professional Lead of a Psychology Service. I have also provided consultation to the private sector. More recently I have stepped down from my senior roles in the NHS and I am now focusing on my private practice where I work with adults and specialise in individual psychological therapy and couples therapy.
Couples therapy
The first therapeutic training I ever undertook was in a service for families where I was trained in couples therapy. I found this learning experience invaluable and I really loved the work. Over the years I have again and again witnessed the significant contribution supportive relationships make to wellbeing. Now that I have my own private practice, this is one of my areas of specialism. The main approach I use is called Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). EFT focuses on emotional experience and expression, understanding habitual ways of responding and how these impact on each of you, while also aiming to help you listen and become more available to one another. I may draw on other approaches if appropriate, such as cognitive behavioural therapy or aspects of mindfulness as well as a psychological understanding of the difficulties you are facing.
Individual therapy
I provide therapy to adults of all ages and offer short term or longer term treatment. The areas I can provide help with include PTSD and trauma, interpersonal and relationship problems, low mood, depression, anxiety disorders (such as generalised anxiety, panic, phobia, social anxiety), obsessive compulsive disorder, low self esteem, stress, adjustment difficulties, bereavement, health-related conditions and pain.
I work in a psychologically informed and collaborative way which means that our therapy will be led by a psychological formulation and understanding of your difficulties. Based on this, we will together work out the best way forward regarding your treatment. The main therapeutic approaches I use are Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and a person-centred process oriented approach. Most often I work in an integrative way, using more than one therapy. Ultimately the approach taken will depend on your individual needs, the psychological formulation of your difficulties and what appears to be the most appropriate approach.
As I am also trained in neuropsychology, I understand how changes to the brain caused by, for example, head injuries, stroke, dementia or health can affect behaviour, thoughts and emotions and I can provide help with these areas of difficulty and their impact, for example on close relationships.
Interventions
- Counselling / Clinical Psychology
- Individual Psychological therapy
- Couple’s counselling
- Neuropsychological assessments, advice and support
- EMDR
- CBT
Professional Registration & Membership of Professional Organisations
Health Care Professions Council (HCPC):
Registered Practitioner Psychologist, Clinical and Counselling
British Psychological Society (BPS):
Member Division of Clinical Psychology
Member Division of Counselling Psychology
Member Division of Neuropsychology
Specialist Register of Clinical Neuropsychologists
Register Applied Psychologists Practice Supervisors and approved supervisor for the BPS
AFBPS: Associate Fellow British Psychological Society
Other
Member of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) UK, EMDR therapist
Member of ICEEFT (International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy) and BEFT (British Emotionally Focused Therapy)
Registered with the Information Commissioner Office for compliance with standards of data protection
Insurance Recognition
- AXA-PPP
- Vitality
- Aviva
- Aetna Global
- Cigna