Professional Profile
I am able to work with people of all ages from all backgrounds as well as provide input to broader based systems (e.g. clinical teams, staff groups, families) that would benefit from a psychological perspective.
Since qualifying, I have worked in the NHS and more recently the private sector offering support and therapeutic input in relation to a wide variety of needs.
I have worked extensively with adults and families with a broad range of presenting needs including those relating to learning disability, mental health and behaviour. I am also able to offer input and support for a variety of mental health conditions including anxiety, depression, OCD, psychological trauma and also issues relating specifically to parenting and behaviour management. I also offer professional support for difficulties not necessarily reaching a clinical diagnosis, but causing an element of distress. Such problems may, for example, focus around anger, phobias, panic, low mood, identity, bereavement / loss, self esteem, social anxiety, interpersonal relationships, and/or developmental needs.
I make use of a 'person-centred approach' to explore the personal needs and preferences of those I support and, based on shared thinking, I ensure the use of a working model adapted to suit an individual's, family's or team's particular need/s.
I also draw on a range of clinical models including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Narrative Therapy, Behavioural Intervention, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Solution Focused Therapy, Systemic Therapy and also Integrative Therapy to achieve this depending upon what feels appropriate to each individual / family or system.
I have also trained as an 'EAGALA Certified' therapist which means that I trained in equine (horse) therapy. This is a model that can be used to support people with a range of needs and difficulties that may be harder to meet in the clinic setting. The EAGALA model is a solution based therapy model that makes the assumption that individuals understand their own needs and know their own solutions better than anyone else. The model makes use of horses to provide individuals with opportunity to project their story in an emotionally safe way (i.e. indirectly and/or through metaphor) and, by keeping a focus on the horses, supports people to begin safely exploring possible solutions and changes that they could make to help them to meet their needs.
Professional Registrations
Professional Qualifications
Health Care Professional Council
Practitioner Psychologist
Member of the British Psychological Society
Chartered Member
Member of the Division of Clinical Psychology
University of Herfordshire
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (D.ClinPsy)
University of Leicester
MSc. Applied Forensic Psychology
University of Teesside
BSc. Psychology and Criminology (Joint Honors)
Eagala Certified
Certificate in Equine Therapy
Fully covered under Professional Indemnity Insurance
Research Interests
The role of the therapist in the process of therapy
I believe that 'self' of the therapist (i.e. the person that the therapist is, including their own culture, gender, life experience, roles, history etc. ) can have a significant impact on how they understand, work and relate to different people and processes associated with the therapy context. As a result, I previously completed a research project in looking at the experience of trainee clinical psychologists, who were also parents, working in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).
The use of animals in therapy
I hold a strong regard for the role of mediums that extend outside of the traditional clinic setting and, in particular, the role that animals may play with supporting people to explore their difficulties and challenge new ways of thinking and being. This is, however, an area which I consider to be vastly under-represented within the literature and one that I would like to undertake research in within the future. My interest in this has however led me to become involved with Pets As Therapy (PAT) charity and become a qualified equine therapist.
