Registered Principal Clinical Psychologist:
Bsc Joint Hons, DClinPsych
I am a HCPC Registered Clinical Psychologist with over 25 years of experience of working with children, young people, adults and families. Prior to moving to Newcastle, I read a degree in Psychology and Neuroscience, then worked in Chester completing assessments for traumatised children and adults. Following this I worked at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital in the CAMHS department, carrying out assessments and interventions in the Child Development Centre and setting up an early intervention service for families with children with developmental and behavioural difficulties.
My training in Clinical Psychology provided me with qualification to work across ages, stages and settings. I have specialised in understanding and working with neurodiversity and its impact on children, young people, adults and families in the North East, developing and leading a multidisciplinary neurodevelopmental CAMHS team. As such, I both lead and offer consultations for assessments of individuals with complex presentations, and am one of the lead diagnostic clinicians within a CAMHS service for Autism, ADHD and Learning Difficulties and Disability. I have extensive experience of assessment and post diagnostic support for individuals and their families with Autism Spectrum Conditions, ADHD, Tic Disorders, Specific and General Learning Disabilities, associated conditions (including mental health conditions) and associated Special Educational Needs. I have
specialist training in the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, a number of parenting programmes, Cognitive Behavioural Intervention for Tics (CBITS) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for Adolescents (DNA-V). I currently divide my time between the NHS and Autism North East.
I have considerable experience of understanding neurodiverse presentations and a genuine passion for my work in neurodiversity, helping individuals attain a shared understanding of their strengths and difficulties with those around them. People struggling with their neurodiversity have often had an incredibly difficult journey, and I am keen to find ways to change this. I also have an interest in the principles of ACT and how it can be used to enable people to live their life in accordance with what matters to them, having developed strategies to reduce barriers to this.