Personal Experience
From a young age I was interested in my relationships with others, why some people liked me and others didn’t, how my family felt different to others, who I understood myself to be, what I learnt to keep hidden, and what I learnt was acceptable to show. For many reasons I struggled with my mental health during adolescence and, as anxiety and depression weren’t discussed openly, in fact were often stigmatised, I didn’t know what I was experiencing, or know how to ask for help. Reflecting back this is likely one of the reasons I chose to study A-Level Psychology, which cemented my choice to complete my BSc in Psychology.
Personal Experience
From a young age I was interested in my relationships with others, why some people liked me and others didn’t, how my family felt different to others, who I understood myself to be, what I learnt to keep hidden, and what I learnt was acceptable to show. For many reasons I struggled with my mental health during adolescence and, as anxiety and depression weren’t discussed openly, in fact were often stigmatised, I didn’t know what I was experiencing, or know how to ask for help. Reflecting back this is likely one of the reasons I chose to study A-Level Psychology, which cemented my choice to complete my BSc in Psychology.
Third Sector Experience
Once I completed my undergraduate studies I went onto complete my MSc in Health Psychology, leading me to take my first step on the career ladder as a healthcare support worker, working with clients with heroin dependencies who had been issued Drug Treatment and Testing Orders from the courts. This job was definitely a baptism of fire and I learnt a lot from my team, who were dedicated to improving the lives of others.
Inspired, I became a substance misuse practitioner and worked in various settings for the next seven years, providing one-to-one and group therapy in:
- A structured day programme for drug and alcohol users
- An open access drop-in for crack cocaine users
- A prescribing service for clients with alcohol, GHB and heroin dependencies
Working in this field helped me gain a deeper understanding of how Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) can have an incredibly detrimental impact on our mental and physical health, and why people turn to substances to cope.
Third Sector Experience
Once I completed my undergraduate studies I went onto complete my MSc in Health Psychology, leading me to take my first step on the career ladder as a healthcare support worker, working with clients with heroin dependencies who had been issued Drug Treatment and Testing Orders from the courts. This job was definitely a baptism of fire and I learnt a lot from my team, who were dedicated to improving the lives of others.
Inspired, I became a substance misuse practitioner and worked in various settings for the next seven years, providing one-to-one and group therapy in:
- A structured day programme for drug and alcohol users
- An open access drop-in for crack cocaine users
- A prescribing service for clients with alcohol, GHB and heroin dependencies
Working in this field helped me gain a deeper understanding of how Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) can have an incredibly detrimental impact on our mental and physical health, and why people turn to substances to cope.
NHS Experience
Wanting to broaden my experience I joined an Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) NHS service and trained to become a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP), who uses the principles of CBT (such as behavioural activation, exposure and thought challenging) to help clients who were experiencing moderate to severe anxiety and depression. I worked in group and individual settings in addition to providing CBT workshops at pulmonary rehab clinics, domestic violence services, housing services, a brain injury service and other community-based services.
Two years later I completed my diploma in CBT to become a Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist, where I trained in disorder-specific CBT protocols for generalised anxiety disorder, low self-esteem, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, recurrent depression, eating disorders, phobias, health anxiety, panic disorder, perfectionism and social anxiety.
Parallel to this I undertook mindfulness teacher training and became the lead facilitator of my IAPT team’s eight-week Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) programme.
NHS Experience
Wanting to broaden my experience I joined an Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) NHS service and trained to become a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP), who uses the principles of CBT (such as behavioural activation, exposure and thought challenging) to help clients who were experiencing moderate to severe anxiety and depression. I worked in group and individual settings in addition to providing CBT workshops at pulmonary rehab clinics, domestic violence services, housing services, a brain injury service and other community-based services.
Two years later I completed my diploma in CBT to become a Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist, where I trained in disorder-specific CBT protocols for generalised anxiety disorder, low self-esteem, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, recurrent depression, eating disorders, phobias, health anxiety, panic disorder, perfectionism and social anxiety.
Parallel to this I undertook mindfulness teacher training and became the lead facilitator of my IAPT team’s eight-week Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) programme.
On completion of my diploma I trained in EMDR and became one of my IAPT services trauma specialists.
With my background in health psychology I started worked with a specialist team dedicated to working with clients with long-term health conditions (LTC’s). I was seconded to the Health Psychology department at Charing Cross Hospital where I used Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in both individual and group settings to help those with LTC’s, such as diabetes and chronic pain.
On completion of my diploma I trained in EMDR and became one of my IAPT services trauma specialists.
With my background in health psychology I started worked with a specialist team dedicated to working with clients with long-term health conditions (LTC’s). I was seconded to the Health Psychology department at Charing Cross Hospital where I used Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in both individual and group settings to help those with LTC’s, such as diabetes and chronic pain.
Private Sector Experience
After seven years in the NHS, I decided to move into the private sector and started working for The Mindworks, a specialist psychology practice for clients with OCD. I therefore gained a wealth of experience working with OCD in this setting.
After a couple of years of working for The Mindworks it was acquired by HelloSelf, a psychology practice catering for all diagnoses and no longer OCD specialist. I worked for this practice for a further two years.
To further my skills as a trauma specialist I trained in DBR and then set up my own practice: ‘Ease of Mind Therapy’.
Private Sector Experience
After seven years in the NHS, I decided to move into the private sector and started working for The Mindworks, a specialist psychology practice for clients with OCD. I therefore gained a wealth of experience working with OCD in this setting.
After a couple of years of working for The Mindworks it was acquired by HelloSelf, a psychology practice catering for all diagnoses and no longer OCD specialist. I worked for this practice for a further two years.
To further my skills as a trauma specialist I trained in DBR and then set up my own practice: ‘Ease of Mind Therapy’.
