I have been privileged to enjoy a varied career in psychology, both in clinical and research roles. I have worked with parents and children in countries such as Canada, South Africa, Norway, Switzerland, and in multi-cultural communities across the U.K, giving me a rich understanding of parenting across different contexts.

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Before moving into independent practice in 2019, I spent a decade working in UK NHS mental health services, with a broad spectrum of individuals and mental health needs.

 

I worked as a Specialist Clinical Psychologist in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in central London, with children (and their parents) with complex mental health problems and trauma; neurodiverse conditions; and/or physical health conditions (including diabetes, and pain conditions). I also worked therapeutically with parents whose babies were being cared for on the Neonatal Unit at St Thomas's Hospital, London.

 

I am experienced in detailed mental health assessments alongside cognitive and neurodevelopmental assessments, as well as therapeutic work individually, in families, and in groups.

 

I led service development projects whilst working in CAMHS, including improving therapeutic group provision for parents, training clinical staff in understanding neurodiversity, and setting up a new Neuropsychiatry Assessment Hub for complex cases. As a CAMHS Team Lead, I provided clinical, operational and strategic management, leading a team of psychologists, psychiatrists, and mental health nurses.

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My research roles at University College London and King's College London have focused on various aspects of child mental health and parenting. Most recently, I co-developed and ran a new parenting programme for parents of autistic children, which has shown promising results in an initial Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT).

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I am a visiting lecturer for King's College London, training CAMHS practitioners in running group programmes for parents of neurodivergent children. I have delivered training to the Royal College of Psychiatrists on psychological interventions for autistic children. I am also adapting Emotion Focused Parent Skills Training for clinicians with the Institute for Emotion-Focused Therapy.

 

I work as an examiner and research supervisor for the Clinical Psychology Doctorate at the Salomons Centre for Applied Psychology, Canterbury Christ Church University, U.K. I am currently supervising research into autistic women's experience of self-compassion; the role of self-compassion in parents of adolescents with eating disorders; neuroaffirmative assessments for autism; and into Emotion Focused Parent Skills Training.

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I was awarded the Donald Cohen Fellowship for Emerging Leaders by the International Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions (IACAPAP) in 2016. I present at national and international conferences, and have published a number of scientific articles.

 

I provide expert psychological comment to the media on topics related to parenting, parent mental health, and neurodivergence. I also provide expert consultancy, for example, as a psychological advisor for Your Mood Journal, a book promoting emotional literacy for children by British influencer Fearne Cotton. I provide clinical supervision to other psychologists and therapists.

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I am proud to volunteer as an International Paralympic Classifier for athletes with Intellectual Impairments at World Para-Athletics events, undertaking cognitive and sport-specific assessments.

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In my clinical work with parents, I draw upon my own personal experience including my journey towards becoming a parent, birth experience, and the day-to-day realities of parenting two lively children. While everyone has their own unique parenting pathway, parents often find it comforting that I have some lived insight into the difficulties they are facing.

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I am committed to transparent and ethical practice. My professional registration is with the UK Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), and my registration number is PYL28684. I am a member of the UK Association of Clinical Psychologists (ACP-UK), and the Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health (ACAMH).

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You can read more about my experience and qualifications in the FAQs.