Lincoln Team

Expertise and Experience

Alice is the Director and lead Psychologist of the Purple House Clinic, Lincoln.

Alice is a highly experienced Psychologist, having led an NHS Forensic Child and Adolescent Service in Lincolnshire. She is a Registered and Chartered Forensic Psychologist. Alice is experienced in working with clients of all ages – adults, children and adolescents. She provides assessment and therapeutic intervention for a range of psychological difficulties including depression, anxiety, phobias, obsessive/compulsive problems, complex grief, addictions, trauma, and child behavioural problems. Within her NHS role Alice has gained a vast experience providing assessment and treatment, working predominantly with Looked After Children and young people whose behavioural difficulties have brought them into contact with criminal justice agencies, or have caused them to be excluded from educational settings. For this type of work, Alice works with children, their families and involved professionals in order to gain a deep understanding of the specific circumstances which may have contributed towards their difficulties. This holistic approach seeks to engender effective coping strategies, increased personal resilience, and minimise risk-related behaviours.

Alice specialises in Child Psychology, offending and behavioural problems, attachment and trauma (PTSD). She also has extensive experience of working with adults suffering with emotional and interpersonal difficulties (often linked to childhood), personality disorders and accompanying risk-related behaviours. Alice is skilled in working with complex presentations including dissociative conditions. She utilises several therapeutic approaches including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP) and Schema Therapy.

Alice is an EMDR Consultant who supervises groups and individuals in their EMDR practice. She also facilitates regional EMDR training events.

Alice has over 17 years’ experience working with clients within secure and community settings. Alice provides supervision, consultation and service development. She also provides supervision services for a number of public and private service providers.

Qualifications

2005 – Qualification in Forensic Psychology (Stage 2), British Psychological Society.

2002 – Master of Science in Applied Forensic and Legal Psychology (MSc.), University of Leicester.

1999 – Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Psychology (BSc. Hons).

Professional Registrations & Memberships

Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC): PYL06784

British Psychological Society (BPS): 098653

EMDR Association UK and Ireland.

Specialisms

Child/Adolescent Psychology (mental health problems, behaviour problems and parenting).

Attachment difficulties, including Looked After and Adopted Children.

Adult Psychology (PTSD, Personality Disorders, childhood trauma, interpersonal problems).

Offending Behaviours, Risk Assessment, Formulation and Management.

Main Therapeutic Approaches

EMDR – Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (Alice is an accredited EMDR Practitioner, Consultant and Facilitator).

Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP).

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).

Katie joined the Lincoln administrative team in August 2020, bringing many years of experience working in the public healthcare sector.

Katie will be your first point of contact in Lincoln and will guide you through the referral process in a warm, friendly and professional manner, whilst ensuring that all of your questions are answered.

With an empathic and considerate nature, Katie will always strive to do her best for everyone who contacts our service.

Expertise and Experience

Sarah Beddows is a HCPC registered Clinical Psychologist who currently specialises in Autism Assessments, working with Children & Adults with Learning Difficulties, Challenging Behaviours and Personality Disorders. Sarah has specialist skills in working with children, young people and their families systemically.

Sarah has experience of assessing and working therapeutically with clients of all ages. Sarah has specialism in working with children on the Autistic Spectrum, adults with Depression, Anxiety, Personality Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, PTSD, older adults post stroke, older adults with dementia and adults with acute mental health difficulties.

Sarah manages the Neurodevelopmental Pathway here at the Purple House Clinic  in Lincoln.

Sarah is skilled at working systemically with families and has developed specific training interests in this area.  She also has expertise in offering assessments for Neurodiversity in the area of Autism and ADHD assessments and interventions.

Sarah has also worked with adults with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, drug-induced psychosis and schizo affective disorder.

Sarah has engaged clients within a wide range of settings including the NHS, special hospitals and universities.

Sarah has worked therapeutically with adults and children with learning behavioural difficulties, young offenders with mental health and learning difficulties, university students, secondary school pupils with special educational needs such as autism, developmental delay and behavioural issues such as attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and also primary school pupils including those with english as an additional language.

Qualifications

2023 – PGCert Systemic Practice University of Leeds

2016 – Master of Clinical Psychology, CQ University, Australia

2001 – Master of Applied Forensic Psychology, University of Leicester

1995 – Bachelor of Science in Psychology (BSc Hons), University of London

Professional Registrations & Memberships

Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC): PYL06784

British Psychological Society (BPS): 098653

EMDR Association UK and Ireland.

Specialisms

Neurodiversity Assessment, specifically ASD & ADHD.

Adults with Learning Difficulties and Personality Disorders; Assessment and Therapy.

Adult Mental Health; Depression, Anxiety, Attachment Difficulties, Pain Management, PTSD, Dementia.

Assessment; Cognitive, Capacity, Functional, Neuropsychological.

Main Therapeutic Approaches

Systemic Therapy

Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR)

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Dialectical Behavioural Therapy and radically open (DBT and RO DBT )

Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Behavioral Therapy

Behavioural Family Systems Therapy (BFST)

Imagery Rescripting

Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT)

Trauma focused CBT

IPT for Depression

Play Therapy (Including Sand Tray)

Expertise and Experience

Sarah is a HCPC Registered Practitioner Psychologist and a BPS Chartered Psychologist.  Sarah has many years experience working as a Psychologist within both complex NHS services and Independent Practice.  Sarah is experienced in working with adolescents and adults of all ages and provides assessment, formulation and therapeutic intervention for a wide range of both common and complex psychological issues.  She specialises in the area of Trauma and Mental Health, including PTSD, complex trauma and dissociation, and she works with an attachment focussed and relational approach.  She is skilled in working with complex presentations and alongside her independent practice leads an NHS Forensic National Service for Deaf individuals who experience complex difficulties with mental health, personality and risk.

Sarah is an experienced Schema Therapist and uses this model of therapy with individuals of all ages and with couples.  She has an interest in working with those who experience difficult patterns in their relationships with both others and self, and individuals who struggle with their identity.  She is an experienced EMDR practitioner and enjoys using attachment focussed EMDR with those who have experienced attachment and relational trauma or who struggle in their view of self, relationships with others or with their emotional regulation.  Sarah is creative in her therapy and ensures she adapts formulation and therapy for everyone she works with making sure she is always responsive to their needs.  She draws on several varied therapeutic models and believes strongly in the therapeutic relationship’s role in promoting recovery and driving healthy change.

Qualifications

2006 – Qualification in Forensic Psychology (Stage 2) – British Psychological Society

2001 – MSc in Forensic Psychology – Leicester University

1996 – BA Psychology Degree – University of Newcastle Upon Tyne

Professional Registrations & Memberships

Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC) – PLY22639

British Psychological Society (BPS) – 151530

International Society of Schema Therapists (ISST) – Accredited Schema Therapist

EMDR Association UK and Ireland – Accredited EMDR therapist

Specialisms

Adolescent psychology (Trauma, mental health difficulties, attachment difficulties including looked after adolescents, emotional and/or behaviour problems.)

Adult Psychology (PTSD, Complex Trauma, mental health difficulties, relational and interpersonal difficulties, parenting support, struggles with identity.)

Couples looking to work through relationship issues (Including co-parenting, managing divorce, trauma.)

Main Therapeutic Approaches

Schema Therapy (Sarah is an accredited Schema Therapist.)

EMDR- Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (Sarah is an accredited EMDR practitioner.)

Compassion Focussed Therapy (CFT)

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Expertise and Experience

Dr Rushmere is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist who has 27 years’ experience working in the NHS in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, both in community and inpatient settings.

Dr Rushmere is highly experienced in supporting young people and their carers/ families with a range of significant Mental Health difficulties. This includes difficulties with anxiety, mood, self-esteem, self-harm, eating related issues, family relationships, trauma, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Gender Identity issues. She utilises her breadth of experience to deliver bespoke interventions dependent on the individual’s specific requirements. This can incorporate Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Developmental Dyadic Psychotherapy (DDP), EMDR, Solution Focused Therapy, Systemic Therapy and other integrated approaches.

Dr Rushmere has a particular interest in trauma and attachment-based difficulties, and within her NHS work has provided specialist services to Looked After and Adopted Children and to community projects promoting healthy attachments in babies.

Dr Rushmere also advocates the benefits of human-animal contact and is a trained Animal Assisted Therapist. She was joined by her Therapy Dog Petra, in 2012, who continues to work alongside her as a loyal friend and invaluable co-therapist. Dr Rushmere is also trained in Equine Assisted Therapy and has been involved in research and service developments in this area.

Dr Rushmere has a passionate interest in the increase in prevalence of Mental Health difficulties in young people, and has been vocal in raising awareness of the benefits, challenges and pitfalls of social media on psychological wellbeing.

Qualifications

1998 – Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy), University of Birmingham.

1992 – Bachelors of Science (Honours), Joint degree in Psychology and Music, University of London.

Professional Registrations & Memberships

Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC): PYL25863

Specialisms

Neurodevelopmental Assessment

Child/Adolescent Psychology (Mental health difficulties including Anxiety and Depression)

Childhood Trauma & Attachment Difficulties (Including Looked After and Adopted Children)

Main Therapeutic Approaches

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT).

Developmental Dyadic Psychotherapy (DDP).

EMDR.

Solution Focused Therapy.

Systemic Therapy.

Animal-assisted therapy (AAT).

Sensorimotor Psychotherapy.

Expertise and Experience

Dr Mary Jinks is an Associate Clinician of the Purple House Clinic. She is a registered dual qualified Clinical and Forensic Psychologist (HCPC) and a Chartered Psychologist.

Mary is experienced in working with clients of all ages – children, adolescents and adults. She provides assessment, formulation and therapeutic intervention for a range of psychological, emotional and relational difficulties including anxiety, depression, phobias, eating disorders, low self-esteem, interpersonal difficulties, behaviours of concern, addictions, and trauma.

Mary draws on several therapeutic approaches depending on clients’ needs. For example, Cognitive Behavioural therapy (CBT), Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET), Schema Therapy, Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Analytical Therapy (CAT). She is an accredited Schema therapist. Mary is creative in her ability to adapt the model to suit each individual client and is responsive to their particular needs. Mary engages in evidence-based practice.

Mary delivers staff training and consultancy and can assist with service evaluation and reflective practice-based groups/team supervision.

Mary currently works full-time in the NHS with clients with complex needs. She has worked in criminal justice and forensic mental health settings. She previously held an academic post at the University of Nottingham whereby she co-authored publications on topics including alcohol-related violence and engagement and readiness for intervention for individuals with personality difficulties.

Qualifications

2016 – Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy), University of Lincoln.

2013 – Qualification in Forensic Psychology (Stage 2), British Psychological Society.

2008 – Masters in Forensic Psychology (MSc), University of Leicester.

2006 – BA (Hons) Psychology.

Professional Registrations & Memberships

Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC): PYL29371.

The International Society of Schema Therapy (ISST).

Specialisms

Adolescent psychology (mental health problems, attachment difficulties, behaviour problems).

Adult psychology (PTSD, eating disorders, Personality Disorders, childhood trauma, interpersonal difficulties).

Forensic Psychology (offending behaviours, risk assessment, formulation and management).

Main Therapeutic Approaches

Schema Therapy (Mary is an accredited schema therapist).

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).

Cognitive Analytical Therapy (CAT).

Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET).

Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT).

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

Expertise and Experience

Zoe Powley is a Registered Mental Health Nurse and an accredited Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist.  She has over 25 years’ experience of working clinically, within a variety of mental health settings, with clients of all ages – adults, children, adolescents and their families. 

Zoe provides assessment and therapeutic intervention for clients experiencing a range of mental health difficulties, including depression, anxiety, phobias, obsessive-compulsive difficulties and post-traumatic stress. 

Zoe’s Masters qualification in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) allows her to specialise in using cognitive-behavioural interventions to help address the above, with both individuals and their families, adapting these to suit individual needs, differing developmental abilities and complex presentations. 

In particular, Zoe is skilled in using creative approaches to engage young people in therapy and working with clients who have more than one presenting mental health problem. 

Zoe is also trained in, and experienced in using, Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing therapy (EMDR), solution-focused and systemic approaches within her clinical work.

Zoe is highly experienced and skilled in providing clinical supervision and enjoys teaching and training, holding posts as an Associate Lecturer within several local universities.

Qualifications

2017 –  Post-Graduate Certificate in High Intensity Clinical Supervision, University of Derby.

2016/2017 – Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) Parts I, II and III.

2012 – Masters in Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy (Distinction), University of Derby.

2004 – Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Healthcare Studies (Child, Adolescent and Families Pathway), University of Nottingham.

1997 – Diploma in Mental Health Nursing (RMN), University of Nottingham.

Professional Registrations & Memberships

British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP): 100054.

Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC): 94C0322E

Specialisms

Adult, child and adolescent mental health.

Working systemically with families.

CBT for complex presentations.

Main Therapeutic Approaches

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).

EMDR.

Solution Focused Therapy.

Systemic Approaches.

Expertise and Experience

Dr Emma L. Mercer  is an Associate Psychologist at Purple House Lincoln and a Registered Educational and Child Psychologist. Emma is experienced in working with children and young people from ages 0-25 years, with a focus on supporting development, success in learning and a positive educational experience for all.  She provides holistic assessments, not only focussed on the individual difficulties of the child or young person, but also on the potential barriers in the systems surrounding them; at home, at school, and in the community.

In this way,  adults around the child can be guided and supported to strengthen and adapt the child’s support networks, ensuring a more accessible educational experience, and complementing any individualised assessment or intervention that takes place with the child themselves.

Emma has experience in supporting the educational, social and emotional needs of children and young people who experience a range of barriers to their education. These include, but are not limited to;

• Individuals who are on the autism spectrum or have other communication and language needs
• Those who experience ADHD or other attention difficulties
• Those who have specific medical needs (e.g. a genetic condition, brain injury, additional mobility needs or Down’s Syndrome)
• Those individuals who have faced difficulties in their young lives leading to trauma impacting upon their ability to feel safe and to learn.

She has extensive experience in providing training  to school staff on a range of topics and leading collaborative problem solving consultations with parents, carers, school staff and other professionals to untangle and begin to solve complex and problem-saturated situations. Emma also works in private rehabilitation teams providing educational neuropsychological support for children and teenagers who have sustained acquired brain injuries.

Prior to working in private practice, Emma worked for a number of local authorities, supporting schools and other educational provisions, running reflective practice groups for school staff, completing individual therapeutically informed work with children and young people to ascertain their thoughts, feelings and dreams about their life and their education, and completing statutory assessments to contribute to Education Health and Care Plan requests. She also worked for a number of years in the care sector before retraining in Psychology, and had the privilege of learning her craft from some of the most resilient and amazing young people she has ever met. She thanks each and every one of them for the teaching they gave her.

Qualifications

2020- Doctorate in Educational and Child Psychology (DEdCPsy), University of Sheffield.

2015- Masters of Science in Psychology (MSc, conversion course route), University of Nottingham.

2010- Diploma in Teaching in the Lifelong Sector (DTLLS), Anglia Ruskin University.

2005- Bachelor of Art Philosophy and Politics (BSc Hons),  University of Sussex.

Professional Registrations & Memberships

Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) – PYL38502

Association of Educational Psychologists (Full member)

Specialisms

Educational access and inclusion, trauma and attachment needs (including care experienced and adopted children), social/ emotional/mental health (SEMH) difficulties, acquired brain injury and impaired cognitive functioning.

Main Therapeutic Approaches

Narrative informed approaches to support children to explore their views and thoughts through storytelling.

Personal construct psychology.

Solution focussed consultation.

Trauma informed approaches to education and behaviour.

Holistic and systemic approaches to assessment and interventions.

Expertise and Experience

Jade Williams is an Associate Occupational Therapist at the Purple House Clinic in Lincoln. She is a Registered Occupational Therapist and a member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists and Association of Sensory Integration Practitioners. Jade has been qualified for over 10 years and has experience working with clients of all ages. She specialises in working with autistic people and people with intellectual disabilities with a range of common mental health needs. She provides specialist OT and Sensory Integration assessments and interventions to support clients to reach their full potential. Jade works closely with clients, families, schools, employers to support clients holistically.

Jade has specialist knowledge around sensory, environmental and rehabilitation approaches to improve functional skills in activities of daily living (self-care, play, dressing).

Jade is currently working towards her master’s qualification and has an interest in trauma and attachment theory.

Jade also has experience of delivering training in sensory awareness, working part of a multi-disciplinary team and providing clinical supervision.

Qualifications

2023 – Currently studying Post graduate diploma in Sensory Integration/Advanced Sensory Integration Practitioner

2023 – Diagnosis and treatment of Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, University of Winchester

2022 – The SOSI-M and COP-R: Theory, Administration and Scoring, Sensory Integration Education

2022 – Post grad Certificate in Sensory Integration- Distinction, Sheffield Hallam University

2013 – Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy, Oxford Brookes University

Professional Registrations and Memberships

Health Care Professions Council

Royal College of Occupational Therapists

Association of Sensory Integration Practitioners

Specialisms

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Intellectual Disabilities

Mental Health conditions

Expertise and Experience

Mrs Giles is an Associate Specialist Speech and Language Therapist at the Purple House Clinic in Lincoln.  She is a registered Speech and Language Therapist with both the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapy and the Health Care Professionals Council.

Mrs Giles is experienced in working with a wide range of clients with communication difficulties and diverse client groups.  She now specialises in the assessment, diagnosis and therapeutic interventions within Autism.  Additionally, she has specialist knowledge in Selective Mutism, Dysfluency and other speech, language and communication difficulties.

Mrs Giles uses the Autism Diagnostic Obeservation Schedule (ADOS) and the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) for which she is fully trained.  She also undertakes training and consultancy with external agencies and clinical supervision.

Alongside working in private practice, Mrs Giles still works within the NHS where she has over 20 years experience.  For the last 6 years, she has worked and continues to work as a Speech and Language Therapist within a multidisciplinary team on a diagnostic pathway for Autism.

She is able to offer her expertise to provide direct and indirect assessment alongside therapeutic interventions within the field of Autism.

Qualifications

1998 – Bsc (Hons) Speech and Language Therapy, University of Wales, Cardiff.

Professional Registrations & Memberships

Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists – RC0012747

Health Care Professionals Council (HCPC) – SL00872

Specialisms

Autism

Communication Difficulties

Main Therapeutic Approaches

Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS)

Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R)

Expertise and Experience

Dr Cullingford is Registered Clinical Psychologist and an Associate Psychologist at Purple House Clinic in Lincoln.  Dr Cullingford has experience of working with clients of all ages – Children, adolescents, and adults.  He provides assessment and therapeutic intervention for a range of common psychological difficulties including depression, anxiety, phobias, obsessive/compulsive difficulties, difficulties with relationships, and trauma. Dr Cullingford utilises several therapeutic approaches including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). In addition to working with people with a range of needs and backgrounds, he has a special interest in autism. This includes autism assessment, post-diagnostic support, and adapting psychological therapies to meet the needs of neurodiverse individuals.

Alongside working as an Associate Psychologist, Dr Cullingford has worked in the NHS for over 6 years, including working in adult mental health and within an autism diagnostic service. 

Qualifications

Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy), University of Lincoln.

Master of Science (MSc) in Psychology.  

Professional Registrations and Memberships

Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC): PYL041348.

Member of the Association of Clinical Psychologist (ACP-UK).

Specialisms

Child/Adolescent Psychology.

Adult Psychology.

Autism assessment.

Adapting psychological therapies for autistic people.

Supporting individuals and family/carers to understand autism.

Main Therapeutic Approaches

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT).

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).

Expertise and Experience

Dr Gibson is an associate Psychologist at the Purple House Clinic in Lincoln.  She is a registered Clinical Psychologist & Psychodynamic Psychotherapist.  She is experienced in working with Adults (aged 16 years and above).  She provides assessment and psychological therapy for a range of emotional problems such as anxiety, depression, difficulties related to trauma, loss or bereavement, appearance/body issue concerns, relationship/interpersonal issues and distress related to physical health conditions.  She draws upon a range of therapeutic approaches but specialises in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy.  This is an approach which explores a deeper understanding of psychological difficulties.  This can be helpful when problems are longstanding or there are repeated negative patterns that feel difficult to change.  Therapy can be short or longer term (depending on the problem) and it may involve working through painful feelings related to past experiences and early relationships.  It aims to provide long term change and benefit, rather than short term relief of symptoms

Dr Gibson has worked as a private practitioner since 2017, this has largely involved therapeutic work with adults.  She has been a Clinical Psychologist in the NHS since 2007, working in adult mental health and also a health psychology service.  As well as direct clinical work, she has also offered supervision to a range of other therapists.

Qualifications

2016 – Intercultural Psychodynamic Psychotherapy: Qualifying course in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (Northern School of Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy/University of Essex)

2012 – Post Graduate Diploma (PGDip) in Foundations of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (Northern School of Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy/Tavistock & Portman NHS Foundation Trust)

2007 – Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy) (University of Hull)

2004 – Bachelor of Science in Psychology (BSc Hons) (University of Hull)

Professional Registrations and Memberships

Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) – PYL25054

British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC) – 157325

Tavistock Society of Psychotherapists – Member

Specialisms

Adult Psychology (16 years plus): Anxiety, depression, trauma, loss, bereavement, appearance or body issue distress, relationship/interpersonal problems.

Health Psychology (16 years plus): Distress caused by or exacerbated by physical health conditions

Main Therapeutic Approaches

Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (Shorter or Longer Term)

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Compassion Focussed Therapy (CFT)

Expertise and Experience

Kerry is a registered Drama and Movement Therapist. She is experienced in working with clients of all ages – adults, children and adolescents. Kerry has developed and delivered therapeutic provisions across a variety of settings, supporting adults and young people with the broadest range of needs. Previous clients have included Great Ormond Street Hospital, The Royal School for Deaf Children, West London Mental Health NHS Trust, as well as mainstream and specialist primary and secondary schools across London and the East Midlands.

Dramatherapy is a branch of psychotherapy that supports people in developing resources to build social skills, self-esteem and confidence. It helps develop emotional, behavioural and psychological resilience. Dramatherapy as an individual or group intervention can promote trust and empowerment, helping young people to feel heard and valued. It can encourage imagination and the ability to reflect on feelings and experiences. Dramatherapy can help to communicate appropriately and develop relationships with others; it helps develop identity, autonomy and ease difficult transitions.

Qualifications

• 2004 – 2006 – MA Drama and Movement Therapy – Central School of Speech and Drama
• 1997 – 2000 – BA (Hons) Acting – Guildford School of Acting, University of Surrey
• British Sign Language – Level 2

Professional Registrations and Memberships

• Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC): AS08345
• The British Association of Drama therapists (BADth)

Specialisms

• Education – Experience including bereavement and loss, parental divorce and separation, bullying, eating disorders, self-harm, emotional, social and behavioural difficulties and families in crisis.
• Attachment difficulties, including Looked After and Adopted Children

Main Therapeutic Approaches

• Dramatherapy – A creative and imaginative way of working therapeutically.

Expertise and Experience

Qualifications

2003      Post Master of Science Diploma in Counselling Psychology, City University (London)

2002      Master of Science in Counselling Psychology, City University (London)

1997      Master of Science in Health Psychology, Bristol University

1993      Bachelor of Science in Psychology, (B.Sc., Hons), The Open University

Professional Registrations and Memberships

Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC): PYL15355

British Psychological Society (BPS): 74105

Specialisms

Adult Psychology

Main Therapeutic Approaches

EMDR – Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (Sharon Gardner is an accredited EMDR practitioner)

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) – (Sharon Gardner is an accredited practitioner)