Professional Experience
Over the past 23 years I have worked within NHS and Independent Practice. During my early career, I focused primarily on helping people overcome severe conditions such as schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder but interestingly found it was experiences such as high anxiety or depression that these clients wanted the most help with.
As my interest and experience in this area grew, I contributed to the innovative development of services for young people experiencing their first episode of psychosis where the focus was on helping them get back to school, college or work and live independently, in other words to recover as much as possible and lead a full life.
In 2002, I studied at one of this country’s Centres of Excellence for CBT training ~ Newcastle Centre for Cognitive & Behavioural Psychotherapies ~ and since then I have worked exclusively as a Cognitive Behaviour Therapist within the NHS. In the past 10 years I have established and developed my own private practice within the Burton and Derbyshire areas, as a result of getting increasingly frustrated with the waiting lists for well-needed psychological therapy. Now there is a much recognised need for CBT and other psychological treatment for people who prefer to tackle their problems this way, sometimes alongside medication, but often because they are opposed to taking medication.
In addition to therapy I offer clinical supervision and mentorship to others training in CBT or working within the field of mental health. I am also accredited with the BABCP as a Supervisor and Trainer. Alongside me, Associate therapists see clients on a consultancy basis to help me to provide the service I originally envisaged – one with flexibility and immediate accessibility for people who want help when they decide they want it, not when the service dictates.
Qualifications
Introductory and Advanced workshops in Compassion Focused Therapy with Professor Paul Gilbert.
Cognitive Behavioural Clinical supervision for IAPT at University of Birmingham.
EMDR training (parts I, II & III) at University of Birmingham.
Post-graduate Diploma in Cognitive Therapy University of Durham/Newcastle Centre for Cognitive & Behavioural Psychotherapies.
Diploma (Distinction) in Psychosocial Interventions for Serious Mental Illness. University of Derby.
ENB 998 Teaching & Assessing. University of Derby.
Diploma of Higher Education Nursing Studies (Mental Health); Registered Nurse (Mental Health). University College of St Martin, Lancaster.
Professional Organisations
Nursing & Midwifery Council: Full Member.
British Association of Cognitive & Behavioural Psychotherapies: Full Accredited Member.
EMDR Association UK & Ireland.
Current Professional Activities
Clinical supervisor for qualified and BABCP accredited Cognitive Behaviour Therapists within the region and nationally
Senior Academic Tutor for Post-graduate Cognitive Behaviour Therapy programmes at the University of Birmingham.
Design and deliver high quality bespoke training programmes in East and West Midland regions to companies in industry, health professionals, charitable organisations.
Family
Married with 2 (mostly) delightful children and 2 boinging Chocolate labradors.
Interests
Books, books, books!
Cinema
Theatre
Restaurants
Music
Art
Travel