Finder

Specialises in

• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

• Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)

• Motivational Interviewing

Bupa specialist

• Child and Adolescent Mental Health services

Offers

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

About me

I want to enable children, young people and adults living with acute or long-term physical health conditions, pain or trauma to manage the impact of these challenges on their mental health, and build fulfilling lives based on the things that matter to them. I have a specific interest in supporting younger children to process traumatic experiences.
Our physical health and mental health are closely linked. Living with a visible or invisible long-term illness can have physical and practical demands, and a negative impact on psychological and social wellbeing. Persistent pain following injury or surgery, or in the absence of any underlying damage can feel hopeless if it doesn't respond to medical interventions. Past traumatic events can be triggered and re-experienced in vivid ways as if you are re-living them in the here and now. Psychological support can help to manage these challenges, whether you are a child, adolescent, young adult, or a family member supporting a loved one.
Navigating different life stages can be more challenging for individuals living with a chronic illness or disability, pain and trauma. Treatments, procedures and appointments can feel like a burden, or be painful and upsetting. There may be barriers to education, training and employment, and a sense that others are moving on more easily. It might get in the way of relationships, disrupt plans and require family members to adopt carer roles that feel out of place. It's normal to have thoughts like 'It's not fair', 'Why me?', 'I wish it would go away', and to feel different to others, which can cause extra suffering.
As an experienced Clinical Psychologist, I have seen many successes with individuals facing upsetting and difficult situations, using a range of evidence based psychological therapies. I integrate Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Interpersonal Therapy (IPT). I make adaptations for neurodivergence, learning difficulties and visual or hearing impairments where needed, to make the experience of working with me as helpful as possible. I can help children to process traumatic events and worries about the future using stories or sandtray techniques that bypass the need to put things into words. I am able to deliver these professional, personalised services online or in person in Exeter, Devon.

Areas of interest

Adjusting to a diagnosis; Health anxiety;
Trauma (medical, sporting, other);
Low mood and depression;
Anxiety; Fear of needles and general anaesthetic;
Managing pain and unpleasant symptoms;
Living with visible difference; Living with equipment (e.g. stomas, insulin pumps, feeding tubes, prosthetics); The impact of health challenges on friendships, relationships, education and employment; Persistent and unexplained physical symptoms (such as pain, loss of movement, chronic fatigue and non-epileptic seizures).
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT, including DNA-V for adolescents); Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing therapy (EMDR), including sandtray EMDR, Interpersonal Therapy for adolescents (IPT-A).
I work with all ages across the lifespan, with a specialism in children and adolescents age 0-25, and their families.

Specialist interests and expertise in the following physical conditions

• Gastrointestinal disorders
• Musculoskeletal conditions
• Neurological disorders

• Oncology
• Pain management
• Psychophysiological disorders

• Physical disability
• Rheumatological conditions