My Background

Qualifications

• BSc Honours Psychology. University of Plymouth, (2004)

• Msc Applied Psychology of Learning disabilities. University of Portsmouth, (2010, Distinction)

• AFT Foundation level: Family and Systemic therapy, University of Plymouth, (2012)

• AFT Intermediate level: Family Therapy and Systemic Practitioner (Systemic Practitioner award). University of Plymouth (2015)

• Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DclinPsy). University of Plymouth, (2015)

• Core Training in Intensive Short-Term Dynamic therapy (ISTDP-UK, 2017-2020)

• Advanced Training and Skills in ISTDP with ISTDP-UK (2021)

• Advanced Training and Skills in ISTDP with Dr Allan Abbass and Dr Joel Town. Dynamic Health Services and Dalhousie University. Halifax, Novia Scotia, Canada (2021-2024 and ongoing)

Private Practice

In private practice I work with a range of emotional and psychological difficulties including depression, anxiety, fear, anger, sadness, guilt, rage, emotional regulation, attachment and complex trauma. I specialise in an attachment-based ISTDP and have trained with Dr Sharon Lewis, (DclinPsy, ISTDP-London), Dr Leo Russell (ISTDP-UK), Alexandra Knowles (ISTDP-UK) and Professor Robert Neborsky (Californian Society for ISTDP and ISTDP-UK), who have each been central to the development of attachment based ISTDP in the UK, Europe and America. Professor Robert Neborsky trained with Dr Habib Davanloo, who is the originator of ISTDP. Robert is co author of leading text: Mastering Short Term Intensive Psychotherapy (Karnac books). I continue to receive clinical supervision from Robert, Alexandra and Leo in the UK.

More recently I have been undertaking online advanced training and supervision with Dr Joel Town and Dr Allan Abbass with Dynamic Health Services, Nova Scotia, Canada. Allan also trained with Dr Habib Davanloo. Over the last 20 years, Allan has been responsible for the continuing development and publication of a leading research practice and evidence base in ISTDP. Allan is the author of the leading text Reaching Through Resistance (Seven Leaves Press).

NHS

I have worked in the NHS for over 16 years. For the last six years I have been working as a clinical psychologist in a rural community mental health team in Devon. In this role, I specialise in providing assessment and psychotherapy to adults with complex mental health difficulties. This ranges from people with anxiety-based disorders, depression and PTSD, to people who have experienced multiple (complex) traumas including most forms of abuse. I also work part time in a family therapy service in the NHS, providing systemic therapy to couples and families who have relational difficulties.

Prior to training as a clinical psychologist I worked in learning disability services supporting carers of, and people with autism and challenging behaviour. I have experience of working with families and systems, as well as designing services for people with complex needs in the private and voluntary sector. I have experience of delivering reflective practice to enable teams to better understand their clients and their roles, helping staff to feel supported, enabling them to work through inevitable challenges that arise in their work.

Training

I gained a place on the Plymouth Clinical Psychology Doctorate in 2012 and successfully completing my clinical training in 2015. During my time training as a clinical psychologist, I worked in several areas including working with young people and families, as well as adults with complex mental health difficulties. I knew that I wanted to specialise in adult mental health during my clinical training and tailored my placement and training experiences accordingly. I also trained at foundation and intermediate level in systemic family therapy and qualified as a systemic practitioner at the same time as completing my clinical doctorate in 2015.

Education

My progression into clinical psychology originated from being a mature A-level student in a working-class context of northern England.  In 2001, I moved to the South West of England to study psychology at University. I fell in love with Devon and after graduating in 2004, I decided to stay. I started work in the NHS working with adults with learning disabilities and their supporters. I provided tailored positive behavioural support, systemic interventions and reflective practice to individuals and staff teams. I worked ‘hands on’ and learned about the importance working ‘non expertly’ in partnership with staff teams, developing rapport, reflective practice and clinical leadership skills. I also learned a lot about bespoke service design, organisational and staff culture and the general behavioural psychologies of people working in and users of human services.