Selecting the right therapist

The decision of choosing the right therapist can feel overwhelming and as part of the decision it is important to ensure the following:

1. They are accountable to a regulatory professional body.
   • I acquired my doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Sheffield in 2013 and have been registered with the Health and Care Professionals Council since 2013. My HCPC Membership number is PYL30313.
   • I am also accredited by EMDR Europe and UK organisation as an Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) practitioner.
     
2. They have completed the relevant therapeutic training.
   • I have undertaken extensive training in trauma-informed therapy. Since completing all 3 levels of EMDR training with EMDR UK Academy in 2018, I have completed level one child EMDR Europe Accredited training in 2019 and so can apply this approach across the age span. I have subsequently acquired accreditation status as an EMDR practitioner with EMDR Europe in 2024, demonstrating I meet the EMDR standards and regulations. I have also undertaken further training on adaptations for EMDR.
   • I have completed relevant training in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy with the British Isles DBT training from 2021 to 2023 for those with relational and emotion dysregulation difficulties, demonstrating destructive coping including self harm and substance misuse.
   • I have also completed Mentalisation Based Therapy in 2022 with the Anna Freud Centre. This therapy is designed to improve individuals ability to recognise their own and other peoples’ internal mental states and processes , which in turn enhances their ability to manage their emotions and improve their relationships with others.
   • I have completed Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (Level 1) with Family futures in 2015. This is a talking therapy with the aim of helping to improve relationships between young people and their main caregiver or parent.
   • I am also trained in Theraplay by the Theraplay Institute in 2014. This is a play based intervention, usually for younger children who have relational difficulties with their caregiver or parent, may have developmental delay, and have experienced developmental trauma
     
3. They have relevant experience.
   • I currently work within the NHS as a principal clinical psychologist treating adults with long standing complex psychological issues, largely trauma based, with experience of containing self-destructive coping including deliberate self-harm, suicidality and aggression towards others.