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About me

Dr Shelley Kerr is a Clinical Psychologist with specialist training in Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT). She is passionate about helping people find balance and value in their emotions, so they can live the lives they hope for. Within her clinical experience, Shelley has seen the power of compassion in releasing people from the suffering that comes with cycles of shame and self criticism. As a result of this experience together with the growing body of evidence for CFT, Shelley takes a compassion focused approach to therapy.

Shelley has extensive experience in working with people struggling with intense emotions, relationship difficulties, trauma, self harm, suicidal behaviours, chronic shame and low self esteem. She is well versed in helping people find a way forward from anxiety and depression.

Within her therapeutic work, she strives to create a safe, warm and non-judgemental space to support people to explore their difficulties and find ways to create positive change. She is grateful to be able to share her experience and compassion with people who wish to take the courageous and sometimes painful steps toward becoming the person they want to be.

Shelley gained her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Griffith University (Brisbane, Australia) in 2008. Her doctorate research focused on the healing potential of gratitude and kindness. She moved to the UK shortly after graduation, working for a decade in a specialist NHS, DBT service for people suffering with problems relating to personality disorder. She established a CFT pathway within this service, including group and individual therapy.

Shelley completed her initial CFT training in 2013. Shelley has been supervised by Dr Chris Irons since 2015, and Kate Lucre since 2018. In 2018 she graduated with a Post Graduate Certificate in CFT, studying under Professor Paul Gilbert at the University of Derby. She continues to engage in a variety of training to develop and maintain her skills (e.g. CFT for Complex Trauma with Dr Deborah Lee).

In terms of her DBT practice, Shelley was one of the first to be accredited by the Society for DBT in UK and Ireland. She has been supervised by Dr Janet Feigenbaum since 2008, completed DBT intensive training and a variety of training courses since this time (e.g. Emotion Regulation and Crisis Survival skills with Professor Marsha Linehan). She is also an accredited DBT supervisor for other therapists.

In line with the ethos of CFT and DBT, Shelley believes that personal practice is essential. She is after all a human being first, understanding that life can be tricky and suffering universal. She therefore maintains focus on trying to cultivate mindfulness and compassion in her everyday life.

Shelley is a HCPC Registered Clinical Psychologist (PYL26447).

Areas of interest

emotional dysregulation; relationship difficulties; sleep problems; complex trauma; trauma; self harm; suicidal behaviour; shame; low self esteem; self criticism; anxiety; OCD; depression; personality disorder; social anxiety; PTSD