Hello, I’m Dianne
When I first started my own practice, a supervisor told me to build a practice that I wanted to work in. That advice came to shape my journey, and I have spent the last seven years building a practice that I love, figuring out exactly who I want to work with and what difficulties I want to solve. In 2022, I expanded my team, and carefully selected practitioners who are aligned with my values and way of working, and whom I would trust to work with my own family. I can confidently say you will be in the hands of an empathic, competent and highly skilled practitioner if you work with any one of us.
A bit about me
I am a wife, mum to three lively children, therapist and educator. I value authenticity and strive to live wholeheartedly. I am what I call a ‘why’ person, and spent most of my younger years trying to figure out why certain aspects of life left me feeling stuck. This lead to a progression where psychology found me as a career, and it felt like a natural fit. My own journey of overcoming numerous challenges was ultimately about discovering who I am, and when this clicked into place everything in my life changed profoundly. I feel incredibly privileged to be able to walk with others in their own journey of overcoming. I love what I do, and appreciate the value inherent in each person that shares their story with me. One of the greatest rewards of my career is to journey with people in becoming a more authentic version of themselves.
My style
I am easy going, down to earth, slightly irreverent and all about connection. I don’t take myself too seriously and have a good sense of humour. My style in therapy is collaborative, engaging, and not very formal. I am real, warm, and honest. I love a good mystery and thrive on problem solving. I’m a big picture thinker and tend to get to the heart of a matter fairly quickly. Being a bit of a nerd, I pride myself on being competent.
My approach
I believe that the process of how we do things is often more important than what we do. I like to get into the process and start to implement change as quickly as possible, and will only revisit your past as it fits into what you are struggling with in the here and now.
I use an integrative approach drawing on a range of theories, depending on what the presenting problem is. These tend to include systemic psychology, narrative therapy, person-centered therapy, solution focused therapy, and interpersonal therapy. At times we will use bits from other theories like CBT, ACT, and positive psychology.
My experience
I am a Practitioner Clinical Psychologist registered with the HCPC (PYL31336). I gained my qualification at the University of South Africa in 2012. I worked for the South African Military service as an intern, and then for one of the largest medical hospitals in Southern Africa. I moved to the UK in 2015 and spent three years working for the NHS in a specialist service for medically unexplained symptoms and long term conditions. In 2018 I left the NHS and have built a thriving private practice that I love working in. I now work predominantly with high achievers who struggle with self-doubt, anxiety and relationship difficulties.
Hello, I’m Stephanie
Having worked on various community outreach programs at school I initially thought I would become a journalist. My passion for people’s stories and being an advocate for others were my central motivations. Thankfully I attended a first year psychology course and quickly realised this was my calling. I have always had a particular interest in people who feel misunderstood or who aren’t given a voice, having been fortunate to have people in my life who saw what I was capable of and advocated for me. I truly love what I do and feel blessed to be able to do this work. I have been told I make people feel calm, comfortable, encouraged and nurtured. In therapy I’m collaborative with my clients so that we can create an intervention that’s effective for you.
A bit about me
Outside of my love of psychology I enjoy spending time with my big family, traveling and meeting new people, and doing a variety of sports. Having grown up with three brothers I can be quite a tomboy, although people often don’t expect that when they meet me as I am still very much a lady. I also find a lot of joy and peace in art, both creating it and learning about it.
My style
I’m empathetic, modest, warm and caring, honest and transparent, intuitive, and approach problems in a creative way. I’m easy going, and clients have described me as calm, comfortable and and affirming. I’m a firm believer that psychology has something for everyone if applied appropriately, and finding the right therapist for you is an essential key in the process of change. There is still a fair bit of stigma around mental health and I aim to demystify and empower people with psychological knowledge.
My approach
I use an integrative approach which means I draw on a number of theories to make sure the therapy is designed for you. I pride myself on working in an evidenced-based way, meaning I draw on current research around best practice given the presenting problem. I am also a qualified yoga teacher so can bring in elements of Yoga Therapy, which includes guided meditations and progressive muscle relaxation.
My experience
I am a Psychologist registered with the HCPC, and have over 10 years’ experience. I’ve worked with a broad range of mental health difficulties, with both adults and young people. I’ve had the privilege of working across South Africa and the UK in a range of settings, including health and social care settings, community outreach programs, social enterprises, and in the third and private sector.
I currently work in private practice with adults and young people who are struggling with neuro-diversity and trauma.
My experience includes a focus on family therapy, which is a helpful paradigm to understand the interpersonal dynamics that play out in relationships, with both ourselves and others. My experience also includes Trauma, and Neurodevelopmental Conditions (Autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) across the lifespan.
Initially working at the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS), I went on to work at several schools in Sutton where I worked with children who didn’t feel they fit into the system and needed help succeeding. At Southwest London and St Georges' I focused on honing my skills with doing children’s’ Autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder assessments. I went on to work at an NHS Adult Autism and ADHD service to gain a better understanding of adults with neurodiversity. More recently I’ve worked at two public inquiries. At the Independent Inquiry into Childhood Sexual Abuse (IICSA), as a psychologist in the civil service, I worked predominantly on the Truth project. Concurrently working with the Essex Mental Health Independent Inquiry (EMHII) I assisted them in developing their services and offered psychological consults. I have also lectured and enjoy developing and implementing training. At present I'm also doing a PhD at the University of Essex, with a focus on trauma.
Neurodiversity
I have a passion for working with people who feel their voices haven’t been heard and facilitating empowerment. This has included people who identify as neurodiverse. In the late 1990’s Judith Singer coined the term ‘Neurodiverse” and although initially this term was used to talk about experiences of Autism, it has come to represent all forms of diversity; including Autism, ADHD, all the ‘dys’s (-praxia, -calculia etc), learning difficulties and so on.
It is an inclusive term which aims to celebrate differences and focus on strengths, pushing for a societal change, namely one that’s more inclusive. This is something I endorse. Singer said “Neurodiversity may be every bit as crucial for the human race as biodiversity is for life in general. Who can say what form of wiring will prove best at any given moment?” (Silberman, 2015).
Hello, I’m Georgi
Having trained and worked as a CBT therapist on the NHS before qualifying as a Clinical Psychologist, I am in the fortunate position of being able to draw from CBT as well as other paradigms to work in an integrative way. Having followed my passions, I found myself working primarily with depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and chronic health conditions, in both adult and adolescent populations. I feel fortunate to have this range of experience, and have been told that I am a calming and compassionate influence by former clients.
A bit about me
I value empathy, adventure and compassion, and do my best to live by these values. I enjoy new challenges, and I like to learn different skills and start projects, such as gardening and DIY, normally listening to a podcast whilst doing this. I am also a big animal lover and I think animals can have very soothing qualities and can encourage us to have small moments of being in the present moment.
My style
I believe that offering a safe space is one of the most important keys in therapy. I believe that most people can benefit from having dedicated time to understand an area of difficulty or distress in their life, or to focus on something they would like to change or improve.
I have been told my clients experience me as compassionate and calming. I think that appropriate humour can be helpful at times of distress and I think it is important to meet you where you are at, and to go at a pace that feels comfortable to you.
I always aim to offer specific strategies, advice and guidance in a concrete and tangible way. I like to adjust my style according to what is most fitting, and this varies from taking a very solution focused approach where we deal with problems head on, to working creatively and introducing things like videos, drawings, and apps in the session.
My approach
I commonly use Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Committment Therapy (ACT) and Compassion Focussed Therapy (CFT). These are also more appropriate approaches for when someone is motivated to learn more about making shorter and longer-term changes to the difficulty that is impacting their life.
Difficulties I commonly support in this way are generalised anxiety and worry, stress, phobias, panic attacks, OCD, health anxiety, sleeping problems, post-traumatic stress disorder, low self-esteem, depression/low mood and adjusting to major life changes and health conditions. I have a special interest in supporting people with insomnia, mostly using CBT and ACT.
I also use narrative, systemic and person-centred approaches. I support individuals in making sense of their story, and how they have been impacted throughout their life by society, culture, and the environment. I encourage compassion, understanding new perspectives, and working towards a life that is in line with people’s values and what is meaningful to them.
My experience
I am a UK registered Clinical Psychologist. I have 7 years of experience delivering therapy and mental health support in the NHS.
For five years I worked in NHS primary care health setting. Within these services I worked as both a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner, and a Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist, offering Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for a range of anxiety difficulties, low mood, and low self-esteem. I also held a role supporting individuals with the challenges and adjustments to living with a long-term health condition, such as diabetes, chronic pain, chronic fatigue, heart conditions and respiratory conditions.
As a Qualified and Trainee Clinical Psychologist, I worked in Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and a Paediatric service, working with families together, and also with children and adults separately. I have supported children with anxiety, low mood, low self-esteem, difficulties attending school, phobias, and sensory difficulties. I have also been completing and supporting neurodiversity assessments and treatment, primarily focussing on Autism and ADHD.
Hello, I’m Lindsay
After qualifying as a Psychologist in 2010, I found myself being fortunate enough to get experience in a broad range of settings, from hospitals, couples’ therapy and student support, to employee wellness. I have always had a love of learning, and have spent the years gaining additional training to equip me to offer a uniquely broad yet bespoke intervention to clients. I have gleaned from the knowledge of some of my favourite authors, including Irving Yalom and Esther Perel. I value authentic connections and clear communication in relationships, and believe that a lot of the healing and growth happens in the therapeutic relationship.
A bit about me
I am a wife, mum to two children and therapist. I share a love of dogs, being in the outdoors and connecting with nature. My passion lies within understanding and exploring the complexities of being in relationship and I fully appreciate what it means to ‘do the work’ in relationship. Having immigrated from South Africa to the United Kingdom at the beginning of 2023, I have a newfound empathy for those that are experiencing grief and change.
I love my therapeutic work and feel privileged to hold space for my clients as they work through their journey of personal self-discovery. Irvin Yalom an American Psychiatrist and influential author in the field of psychology wrote a book titled “The Gift of Therapy”. I do believe that therapy is a gift, it is a gift that we give to ourselves and if we are prepared to do the work, it is the gift that keeps on giving.
My style
I am warm, easy going, and curious. I work in a concrete, direct and collaborative way with my clients.
My approach
Esther Perel says that the quality of your relationships determines the quality of your life. Our world is made up of relationships, and relationships are made up of communication.
In my therapy approach with clients, I help my clients understand their pattern of communication within their relationships and help them communicate more effectively and therefore promote psychological health and wellness.
I work from a Person-Centred approach and draw on Systems Theory, Interactional Pattern Analysis, Imago Relationship Therapy, Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, Brain-Works Recursive Therapy (BWRT) and Brain Based Therapy.
Interventions are tailor-made to suit the specific needs of the client and aim to assist clients with self-awareness, healthy emotional boundaries and coping skills.
My experience
I am a Counselling Psychologist registered with the HCPC (PYL041255). I gained my qualification at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in 2010 and completed my internship at McCord Hospital in Durban, South Africa. I have worked within a range of hospital, rehabilitation clinics, Student Counselling and Employee Wellness settings.
I have been in full-time Private Practice for the last 8 years. Much of my early work as a therapist involved working with couples to repair hurt and find connection and healing and as a certified Imago Therapist, I facilitated couples with the Imago Dialogue to bring shifts within the relationship dance and create intentionality and consciousness.
I now work predominantly with adolescent and adult individuals who are experiencing relationship difficulties, trauma, grief and anxiety. My job is to understand the person as a system, the person in a system and the system in context in order to meaningful therapeutic work. More recently I have become interested in Brain Based Therapy which focuses on understanding the autonomic nervous system and our experiences of connection and protection. This new way of working has added to my therapeutic role and skill repertoire and my clients have responded meaningfully and profoundly to Brain Based Therapy.
Hello, I’m Claire
About me
I’m a Mum to two little girls and two cats. I’m down to earth and value honesty, authenticity and integrity in those around me (as well as a good sense of humour!).
I’m a passionate foodie and love to eat, cook and talk about food. Travel is another great love of mine and I’m excited to show my little girls more of the world.
My style
I’m warm and approachable and don’t take myself too seriously. I love to work collaboratively to solve problems, uncover insights and develop practical coping strategies that can make a real difference.
My approach
I work integratively, customizing treatment to meet each individual's unique goals and needs. My therapeutic approaches include Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), psychodynamic therapy, and person-centered therapy. I provide a safe, non-judgmental space for personal exploration and growth.
I aim to help individuals not only overcome their immediate challenges but also develop the skills and insight needed for lasting change and personal growth.
My experience
I’m a Chartered Counselling Psychologist, registered with the HCPC. I have wide-ranging clinical experience across the lifespan, having worked in a variety of settings. This includes practising in both NHS primary care and charities, incorporating young people’s counselling and specialist bereavement services.
I also have a background in the corporate world, from large multinationals to tech startups, giving me a deep understanding of the pressures that can accompany professional life. I can provide practical strategies to foster resilience and manage stress and burnout effectively.
As a working mother myself I understand the challenges of balancing work and family life and I have a particular interest in supporting working parents with their mental health. Common issues I work with include, the loss of confidence, identity, managing feelings of guilt and overcoming perfectionism. I firmly believe that psychological support can be invaluable in the workplace.
Hello, I’m Ellen
My journey into the field of mental health has been a personal one, as I witnessed my sister struggle with her mental health from a young age. This sparked a desire in me to develop resources to support people with such difficulties, and the journey lead me to pursuing a career doing so. I consider myself privileged to be in a position where I can support people in their quest for better mental health. I believe the the right support can make a significant difference when facing mental health difficulties, and I love my work.
About me
I’m a down-to-earth kind of person who loves the outdoors, my wellies and going on dog walks. I’d describe myself as reliable, honest and open. I have a curious nature and love travelling and immersing in different cultures. I enjoy being creative, engaging in baking, crafts and crochet. I bring all these qualities into my work with individuals, as this enables me to understand their perspective and better connect with them. I feel proud to work in a job where individuals let me into their world, uncovering parts of themselves not yet shown to others, or sometimes even to themselves.
My style
In my clinical practice, I often adopt a direct and transparent approach, as I've observed that individuals value honesty, enabling us to efficiently delve into the core of the issues. As a visual thinker, I utilise imagery and metaphors to enhance communication and understanding during therapeutic sessions. I welcome feedback and am open to exploring alternative methods, recognizing therapy as a dynamic and collaborative process that evolves over time.
My approach
I use an integrative approach, meaning that I draw upon a number of therapy models to best suit the individual.
I've found that adopting a relational approach and using the therapeutic relationship can be really helpful in understanding difficulties and in exploring change. I acknowledge the importance of tailoring communication and interpersonal style to fit with each individual, including the consideration of neurodiversity. I incorporate aspects from the following models in my work: Cognitive Analytical Therapy (CAT), Compassion Focussed Therapy (CFT), Acceptance and Commitment based Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
My experience
I am a Clinical Psychologist, registered with the HCPC (PYL039909). I have extensive experience in a range of NHS mental health settings, as well as numerous research publications. In my current NHS practice, I support individuals who suffer with a range of difficulties including trauma, which can present itself in relationship difficulties, anxiety, depression, low self esteem or a sense of feeling stuck. I specialise in psychological formulation, a method that supports individuals to explore connections between their past and present. Formulation offers individuals an understanding of their difficulties and guides effective strategies for change. Through collaborative work with individuals, my aim is to enhance understanding and facilitate meaningful changes within a relatively short period of time.
Hello, I’m Alastair
I was initially drawn to psychology in school due to a natural curiosity about how we come to be who we are, how problems develop, and for helping people. I was fortunate enough to have an excitable psychology teacher who would frequently go off the curriculum to share interesting anecdotes about how psychological theory and evidence can be applied to understanding human nature and distress. This sparked a life-long interest for me in understanding our emotional worlds through the impact of experiences and life events on how we see ourselves and others, and how we interact with the world around us as a result. Having now worked in the field for 10 years, I very much enjoy being alongside people on their journey to greater self-understanding alongside conducting research to learn more about how we think, feel and behave.
About me
I value openness, learning and connecting with people where they are. I have always enjoyed learning new things, be it new cultures through travelling or meeting new people, or skills. People would describe me as analytical, laid back and humorous.
My style
My therapeutic style is focused, open and collaborative. I put empathy first, working to build a clear picture of you, your life and how your difficulties work, whilst exploring what change looks like and what might be getting in the way of it. My analytical nature helps to make sense of themes, patterns and processes with a focus on your aims, goals and hopes. I believe in being flexible wherever possible to meet your needs, while drawing on specific, evidence-based theories and techniques as relevant to you. I have never believed in putting people into boxes, so each therapy is based on an in-depth understanding of you, your difficulties and what knowledge from research, your own experiences and my experiences suggest will help.
My approach
I integrate from a range of evidence-based therapeutic approaches depending on your context, difficulties and goals. I initially focus on building a shared, in-depth understanding of how your difficulties have developed, and what might be keeping them going. I use techniques from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Compassion-focused Therapy (CFT) to understand and address any negative or self-limiting beliefs and behaviours, and to promote a more positive relationship with yourself and others. I also attend to aspects of identity and culture to consider how life experiences, the social world and beyond might have shaped how we perceive ourselves and others, which can sometimes contribute to difficulties.
My experience
I am registered Clinical Psychologist with the HCPC, an accredited Cognitive Behavioural Therapist with the BABCP, and a registered Gender Specialist. I have 10 years’ experience working in the NHS in a range of mental health services, and have also worked in academia delivering teaching and training, and in charities providing support groups for people experiencing mental health difficulties.
I have worked in settings treating mild-to-severe mental health difficulties across the range of complexity, including in inpatient hospitals, community settings and a national outpatient clinic supporting transgender and non-binary people. I have worked a lot with a range of types of anxiety and mood problems, such as OCD, persistent worry, perfectionism, low self-esteem, confidence issues and social anxiety. I commonly support with issues around identity, fear of change and where difficulties arise with your relationship with yourself and others. I have also had a range of experience with autism and ADHD, both in providing support and in diagnostic assessments.
In the last few years, I have had a lot of experience supporting LGBTQ+ people, and have published a range of research in the field. I can help people where there are needs relating to identity, such as exploring one’s gender or sexuality, going through a gender transition, thriving as an LGBTQ+ person where stigma and discrimination still exists, aspects of sexuality and relationships, and in general mental wellbeing as an LGBTQ+ person.
Hello, I’m Naomi
I’m a Clinical Psychologist offering ADHD assessments. During my therapy work, I noticed a lot of adults with ADHD underpinning other difficulties, and hadn’t received a diagnosis. This led me to pursue an in-depth understanding of neurodivergent conditions and how they may impact every area of our lives. Receiving a diagnosis and the right treatment is profoundly life changing. I am passionate about providing ADHD assessments that provide a holistic picture, and inform an accurate treatment plan.
About me
I’ve wanted to be a Clinical Psychologist since I was young! I’ve always been fascinated by our brain and behaviour and wanted to learn more about it.
I value openness and compassion. I love that as a Clinical Psychologist every day is different, I enjoy working flexibly and responding to the moment as needed.
Alongside being a psychologist, I am also a wife and mum to two daughters. I love spending my spare time outside in nature, practising yoga & Pilates and reading novels.
My style
It’s important to me to be open, curious and compassionate when working with clients.
I feel honoured to work alongside clients, to understand their inner system. I like to help clients get to know all the different parts of themselves and to respond to those parts with care and curiosity. I truly believe there are no bad parts and it is my role to sit alongside my client to support them to live a life that is meaningful to them.
I value helping clients develop more acceptance of ADHD and working with parts that hold shame and self criticism around ADHD.
My approach
I value working in a neuro-affirming way. With a personal & family history of ADHD, I am particularly interested in how ADHD impacts women, especially those who are late diagnosed. I hope that having an ADHD assessment as an adult can help to bring a deeper understanding and compassion to how we relate to ourselves.
My other specialist areas of interest are gut and bowel health, eating behaviour, body image and helping people to adjust to and live well with long-term physical health conditions. I’m interested in bringing the body into Psychology, so I also draw heavily on Polyvagal Theory, the gut-brain axis, yoga and how body systems affect psychological well-being.
I believe that empowering people to understand how their body works and how the mind, brain and body are interlinked helps to support better psychological and physical health
My experience
I currently work in independent practice, specialising in working with clients who have gut and pelvic floor conditions and offering adult ADHD assessments.
Prior to this I worked in the NHS for over 10 years, primarily in physical health settings including bariatric surgery, weight management, chronic pain, gastroenterology and pelvic floor health.
I completed my doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Oxford and my undergraduate degree at the University of Reading.
I’ve completed additional therapy training in Internal Family Systems (IFS), Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and polyvagal informed therapy.
I’ve also completed adult ADHD assessment and diagnosis training with UKAAN.
In addition to my clinical psychology work, I am also a qualified Yoga Teacher. I teach workshops combining psychology and yoga. I specialise in restorative and yin yoga.
Are we right for you?
Finding a therapist who is a good fit for you is one of the most important aspects of the therapy process. We are likely to work well together if you:
Have high expectations of yourself
Feel like you have lost yourself
Like to spend time reflecting
Want to build your confidence
Are looking to work with the here-and-now
Want to implement healthy boundaries
Want to understand the impact you have on others and others have on you
Have unresolved trauma from your past
Want to understand how your past is impacting your life now
Want to work on any type of relationship
Are struggling with a break up
Are looking for parenting strategies
Want to understand your partner better
Have a tendency to choose the wrong type of partner
Need help with your career
Simply want a space to reflect and process
Have symptoms of ADHD or Autism
Are a teenager struggling to navigate the challenges of adolescence