Qualifications and Experience
Professional Qualifications
I am a fully qualified Educational Psychologist with full chartered status and a member of the Health Care Professionals Council (HCPC). I am a affiliate member of the British Psychological Society (BPS) and the Association of Educational Psychologists (AEP). I have the following qualifications:
- Social Psychology degree (BA hons)
- Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) (secondary level)
- MSc in Educational Psychology
- MSc in Applied Forensic Psychology including Level one Practising Certificate as a Forensic Psychologist
- Certificate in the Fundamentals of Counselling and Psychotherapy
- Certificate in Cognitive Therapies
- Theraplay levels 1 and undertaking Level 2
- Certificate in Restorative Justice
- Certificate in Critical Incidence Debriefing
- Consultant Psychologist in Pillars of Parenting (therapeutic parenting model for children in care)
- Currently working on Doctorate in Child and Adolescent Psychology at University College London
Other Courses
Solution focussed brief therapy
Motivational Interviewing
Developmental trauma
Attachment based interventions for school and the home setting
Therapeutic story writing and telling
Childhood anxiety and depression
Children's drawings and personal construct approaches to assessment and intervention
Autism
ADHD
Language and Learning difficulites
Areas of Specialism
I was a qualified secondary school teacher in an inner city London school for 3 years where I became Head of Year 10 before training as a psychologist. As a Head of Year I managed a variety of issues including, antisocial behaviours, school exclusion, bullying and various mental health difficulties. As a Child and Adolescent Psychologist I have 19 years experience (including 3 years in an assistant post) working with children, teens and young people who have complex needs. I also have extensive experience with working with adults caring for children and carry out direct therapeutic work with parents, teachers and social workers.
I have worked for the local authority (children's services) for the last 16 years and have a specialist post with children in care. My areas of specialism are working with children, teens, young people and families who are experiencing emotional and behavioural needs including antisocial and offending behaviours. They may be related to attachment difficulties and trauma, sexual assault, bullying, low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, poor peer relationships, eating difficulties and self-harm. I have worked closely with CAMHS and YOT (Youth Offending), schools, colleges, preschools and parents. In addition, I have offered extensive individual therapeutic support to parents who are struggling.
I have extensive experience with working with children and teens with a variety of needs including Attachment and Trauma, Autism,, emotional and behavioural difficulties, ADHD as well as language and learning difficulties. I have various publications including guidance for schools on how to manage the needs of children and teens experiencing attachment and trauma needs in school and have regularly spoken at national and international conferences and having some of my work rolled out internationally.
Personal Approach
I take a systemic approach to working with children and teens. By this I mean I will look at the presenting concerns and needs of that individual but I will also explore what is happening in the life of the child/teen. This is carried out through a mixture of direct assessment and consultation with parents and child/teen. Influencing factors may be family factors, school factors, learning difficulties, friendship difficulties, bereavement, or any significant life event. I believe in working closely with parents to utilise support for their child/teen and will offer individual therapeutic support/guidance to parents if requested.
