Finder

Specialises in

• Behaviour Therapy
• Behavioural Activation (BA)

• CBT with Exposure and Response Prevention (CBT with ERP)
• Mindfulness based CBT

• Trauma focused CBT

Offers

• Face-to-face consultations
• Video and telephone consultations

About me

At some point in our life, we stop and think, ''How did I get here?''
The reasons will be because of the things which happened beyond our control and the paths we chose. We can't always influence everything as we might like to. Despite our best efforts, things can go wrong. However, what we always have are choices, even when we don't see them.
My mission is to help people understand past patterns and to see the choices they have now.
I completed my first degree in psychology and began work in the field of mental health as an assistant psychologist in various hospital and care settings, with children and older adults. Then, after completing an MSc, I discovered a passion for research. In 1994, I joined a small team within a biological psychiatry department at Newcastle University, focusing on psychological approaches to chronic depression and bipolar disorder. This was great exposure to multi-disciplinary teamwork comprising nursing, psychiatry and psychology, with different treatment modalities, challenging traditional processes with the aim of improving outcomes for patients.
The moment I met the members trained in CBT, I knew this was the modality which had the potential to really make a difference in mental health. I continued in research and also trained to practice CBT, becoming accredited with the BABCP in 1998. I was seconded to a service which was just beginning to provide psychological therapy to patients directly in primary care. This was aimed at improving links with GP's and access to 'talking therapies' for patients with common mental health issues at grass roots level.
This was a rapidly expanding area, in both the range of treatment protocol development and the delivery. The growth of cbt was exponential, and with the introduction of IAPT services, cbt became accessible in primary care nationwide. I continued both research (specifically re developing cbt), and clinical practice. I completed a PhD, and if you ever hear me say 'Perseverance pays off', this is where I learned that : )
In 2006 I attended an inspiring workshop by someone researching the efficacy of delivering cognitive therapy by telephone. The aim was to further widen accessibility to psychological treatment whilst retaining the effectiveness and quality of the therapy. I joined their team at Manchester University as a clinical research associate in 2008, evaluating the effectiveness of cbt for chronic pain. Since then I have practiced via telephone, video, and more recently online via written exchange. Combining roles continues to provide diversity in my work.
In more recent years, I've incorporated compassion based concepts, principles of 'Acceptance and Commitment', the role of gut health, and neuroscience into my practice.
I aim to continue to develop competencies in this ever-growing field and be a part of the ongoing evolution of mental health care.

Areas of interest

Age Range - 16yo - Older adults.

Conditions - Anxiety; Depression; OCD; non-complex Trauma; Low Self-esteem; Perfectionism; Stress; Bereavement and other types of Loss (eg loss of role); Musculoskeltal Conditions and Pain.

Procedures - Formulating complex factos; Developing Stable Foundations re lifestyle choices; Behavioural Activation; Cognitive Re-structuring; Behavioural Experiments; SMART Goals; Graded Exposure; Response Prevention; Acceptance and Commitment; Mindfulness; Developing a new stance to unhelpful intrusive thoughts; Tolerating Uncertainty; Understanding how Belief Systems operate; Revising Maladaptive Schemas; Building Flexibility and Resilience, Construcing a Blue Print to support longer-term sustainability.

Specialist interests and expertise in the following physical conditions

• Musculoskeletal conditions

• Pain management