About

“It’s the relationship that heals” Irvin D. Yalom, 1989

Background

I am an independent and highly experienced Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Systemic Psychotherapist with over 37 years experience working in the mental health field.  I have extensive knowledge of evaluating, diagnosing and treating emotional and behavioural disorders with a diverse range of client ages and groups within a variety of clinical settings, acute adult , out-patients, community alcohol team and specialist clinical service in schools for children with social, emotional difficulties. In my last NHS post, I was Consultant Clinical Psychologist for the CAMHS service in Hastings where I provided clinical services to support a range of mental health conditions including complex trauma, eating disorders, severe anxiety and depression. I have expertise working with adoptive\looked after children and work closely with East Sussex County Council and other Local Authorities to provide services for these children and families.

Approach

I  am able to offer a friendly, flexible and holistic approach. I consider my treatment  “eclectic”; I do not subscribe to just one theoretical perspective. I provide a range of therapeutic interventions tailored to you or your family’s unique needs. My psychological practice is embedded in a developmental and interpersonal approach. I tend to see people’s difficulties through  an ‘attachment lens’– meaning that how we are in our relationships and within our self-identity is influenced by our early experiences of being nurtured and cared for. I capitalize on my training in clinical psychology and family therapy by addressing the underlying factors that keep children, young people and adults from maximizing their potential.  I see value in helping people understand why they do the things they do: why they repeat self-defeating behaviors, how they keep themselves from achieving what they’d like to achieve, and what keeps them from becoming the person they’d like to become.

Education

I completed my Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at University College London (1987). My Doctorate thesis  was a ‘Study of the Inner World of Children with Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties’ and my elective placement was in adolescent psychotherapy, at the Brandon Centre and Anna Freud Centre, London. I am a Chartered member of the British Psychology Society (www.bps.org.uk) and registered with the Health & Care Professions Council (www.hcpc-uk.co.uk).  I have also trained as a Systemic  Psychotherapist at the Tavistock Clinic, London (1996) and I am a member of the UK Association of Family Therapy and Systemic Practice (www.aft.org.uk). I am also registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), which means I subscribe to certain measures to protect patient confidentiality and I hold a professional liability insurance. I also have an Enhanced Disclosure Certificate from the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS). As part of my continued professional development I have regular clinical supervision with a Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist.