PERSONAL PROFILE

I have been working as a Cognitive Behaviour Therapist (CBT) for 19 years and I have had extensive experience in a wide range of psychological and emotional disorders. I am an accredited member of the British association of behavioural and cognitive psychotherapies (BABCP). I started in private practice in 2005 having worked for The Liverpool and Sefton Eating Disorder Service for the previous 6 years. Prior to that I spent several years working within Psychology and Psychotherapy departments. I graduated from Queens University Belfast with my first degree in Psychology and I gained my post graduate degree at Liverpool University with a MSc in Applied Psychology in 1998. I completed my CBT training at Chester. I have carried out research around OCD and I have worked as a psychology lecturer lecturing in areas of Clinical Psychology.

Over the years, I have gained interest in other areas with compliment and enhance the application of CBT. I am particularly interested in and regularly use Compassionate Focused Therapy (CFT) which is excellent in helping to understand and manage the stress chemical cortisol. CFT is also fundamental in learning strategies in self-soothing and dealing with shame and self-criticism. I also have a strong interest in Mindfulness and Mindful meditation. I will use as part of therapy when appropriate in helping. I am also a Mindfulness in schools accredited practitioner having completed an intensive 4 day course. Also, I am an accredited life coach.

When I am not working, there are lots of things I love to do. I have been practising yoga for about 20 years and used to run regularly having completed numerous 10k’s some half marathons and the Liverpool marathon. I have now swapped that to cycling. I love reading books, good food, going walking and spending time with my gorgeous teenage boys and my partner.