My Specialist Training
This page has detailed information on my specialist training and expereince. For more general information on my approach click here.
Doctoral Training and Research
I completed my doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the Salomon's Institute for Applied Psychology in 2017, and have remained registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC; Registration Number: PYL35064) as a Clinical Psychologist since then. During my clinical doctorate, my interest was always in the mental health and well-being of children and families and in parent-child relationships. The three therapeutic models (sometimes called 'modalities') I chose to focus on were:
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) including Compassion-Focussed Therapy (CFT)
- Systemic theory and practice including Narrative Therapy
- Psychodynamic theory and practice
My doctoral research focussed on self-compassion and wellbeing in new mothers. You can access a publication from this research here if you are interested.
Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP)
Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (and an associated model of Dyadic Developmental Practice) has been developed by American Psychologist Dr Dan Hughes over the past twenty years. It is based on a theoretical understanding of attachment and intersubjective relationships and the impact of developmental trauma. DDP was developed to help children who have been harmed and/or neglected in their early years. You can find out more about DDP here.
I completed my Level One DDP Training in 2019 and my Level Two DDP Training in 2024 and began my DDP Practicum in 2025. DDP was the primary model on which I drew in my NHS Children in Care work, both in my therapeutic work with children and families and in the training and consultation I offered to Foster Carers, Social Workers and residential homes.
I am currently a Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP) Practitioner in Training. This means I am continuing to work towards my DDP practicum with specialist supervision from an experienced DDP Consultant (please note, this is higher level of DDP practice than those who describe themselves as 'DDP-informed' or 'working with DDP principles').
Attachment and Bio-Behavioural Catch-up (ABC)
Attachment and Biobehavioural Catch-up (ABC) is a brief, evidence-based, video-guided programme to support strong early attachments between parents and babies. Dr. Mary Dozier (a professor and researcher at the University of Delaware) developed ABC over 25 years ago and has evaluated the program through several randomised trials. Significant positive change has been found with children’s attachment, biological regulation, impulse control, language and brain development that persist at least into adolescence. The ABC Programme can be helpful for any family to build confidence in parenting and their relationship with their baby or young child, including for fostered or adopted children who have had early disruptions to their attachments. You can find out more about ABC here.
I am an accredited ABC Parent Coach (Infant Module) with the ABC Parenting Institute, having completed my initial Parent Coach Training in early 2025 and the required post-training experience and supervision from approved ABC Institute Supervisors.
Autism Diagnostic Assessments (ADOS and ADI)
I completed my training in the 'gold standard' autism diagnostic tools (the Autism Diagnostic Observation-Schedule; ADOS, and the Autism Diagnostic Interview; ADI) in 2011 and 2012 respectively, whilst completing my masters in Child Development (conversion route to Clinical Psychology). I continued to gain diagnostic experience during my clinical training and then led small, specialist autism diagnostic clinics for children in care in the NHS from 2019-2023. Whilst I do not currently offer autism diagnostic assessments, I find my specialist training and experience can help if parents/carers are wanting to unpick whether there is a need for neurodevelopmental assessment, which can be particularly complex in the context of early relational trauma.
P.L.A.Y. Home Consultant (for autistic pre-school children and their parents)
Prior to my Clinical Psychology Doctorate, while working for an autism charity, I completed my P.L.A.Y. Home Consultant Training with the P.L.A.Y. Project, USA.
The P.L.A.Y. Project was developed by Richard Solomon MD, a developmental behavioural peadiatrician. The PLAY Project is based on the DIR® (Developmental, Individualized, Relationship-based) theory of Stanley Greenspan, MD and Serena Weider PhD, and emphasizes the importance of helping parents become their child’s best play partner. You can read more about the P.L.A.Y. Project here.