Central to my way of working is offering a non-judgemental, safe and relaxed therapeutic environment where clients can feel understood and reflect on their experiences. Establishing a genuine and warm therapeutic relationship is key. I am interested in the uniqueness of each individual’s experience and how the relationship with oneself, others and the world shape how people operate in their environment and give meaning to their experience. I strongly believe that my approach needs to be tailored to the needs of each individual and I integrate the therapeutic models I am trained it to find the best fit for you.
I have 15 years experience of working within different NHS services alongside my private practice, which was established in 2012. My most recent role in the NHS is working as a Senior Psychologist in a Chronic Pain Service. Other services I have worked in include a primary care psychology service, a Community Mental Health Team, and a specialist personality disorder service In these settings, I have worked both short-term and long-term with clients experiencing a broad range of emotional and psychological difficulties from mild depression and anxiety to complex trauma and difficulties managing strong emotions. I have also worked with people who live with chronic health conditions, in particular chronic pain, to help them adjust to their condition.
In 2011, I completed a Doctorate in Psychotherapeutic and Counselling Psychology at the University of Surrey. During my training I was exposed to various therapeutic models (Psychodynamic, Person-centred and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy ). Being trained in using different therapeutic approaches allows me to integrate them in a creative way taking into account the client’s individual needs and preferences. I also have a personal and research interest in mindfulness and I draw from the new developments in mindfulness-based therapies to help clients become more aware of unhelpful patterns and develop the ability to be more present in their lives. In particular, I use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) in my work. Learning never stops as a psychologist and I very much value developing my therapeutic skills. Since qualifying, I have trained in Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DIT) , a psychodynamic therapy focused on improving relationships that looks at patterns of relating to others that usually stem from childhood and impact on current relationships with both self and others. I have also completed EMDR training, a therapy that works with difficult past memories and trauma and can be very effective to reduce the hold of negative past experiences in the here and now.