Claire
Areas of expertise:
Assessment and treatment of adults who present with psychological problems or mental health conditions, including those who may pose a risk to themselves or others:
- Psychological assessment, formulation and treatment of psychological/mental health difficulties (anxiety disorders, depression, trauma and PTSD, dissociative disorders and problems arising from developmental trauma, psychosis-spectrum conditions, complex emotional needs/personality disorders, substance use disorders and co-morbidities).
- Assessment of attachment and the impact of trauma and neglect.
- Assessment of risk in suicidal/para-suicidal presentations.
- Specialist forensic assessments including the use of HCR20 v3: risk of violent offending.
- Psychological formulation of criminal behaviour and specialist treatment of offending behaviour.
- Family safety assessments – assessment of risk/vulnerability in the family context, parental functioning, risk to children and protective capacity.
- Psychological provision of evidence-based individual and group therapies for adults: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Integrative Therapy (assimilative and theoretical).
- Needs based formulations from a Critical Community Psychology perspective.
Experience:
- Experience of working with clinical and forensic populations in criminal justice, inpatient and community settings.
- Provision of comprehensive psychological assessments, interventions and case formulations using the most appropriate psychological models.
- Risk assessments and formulation of risk, specialist advice to other professionals on psychological aspects of risk assessment and management.
- Development and provision of psychological programmes and therapies addressing various psychological/mental health conditions and based upon appropriate conceptual frameworks and evidence-based practice.
- Delivery of psychologically informed care pathways across specialised services and settings: secure settings, acute care, personality disorders, and community services.
- Development of trauma-informed care service delivery and training.
- Management, leadership and consultancy: teaching and training, clinical supervision and reflective practice, consultation to multi-disciplinary teams, governance and quality improvement initiatives.
- Starting out as an expert witness providing independent psychological and risk assessments of adults involved in civil matters, in family matters or in childcare pre-proceedings
Bio:
I am a Chartered Counselling Psychologist with over 12 years’ experience in the field of mental healthcare. I specialise in working alongside individuals and families to support them through psychological, emotional, social, and interpersonal difficulties, utilising a wide range of evidence-based approaches including relational, attachment based, cognitive behavioural, and compassion focussed therapies. I have worked in a multitude of settings and can provide psychological assessment, formulation, and intervention for diverse populations, offering a working ethic in consideration of intersectionality and trauma-informed care.
Further to my clinical work, I am expanding my practice by offering consultancy, training, and working as an Expert Witness, dedicated to working with mental health and law, communicating complex psychological concepts in an accessible manner. I am committed to building safe therapeutic and professional relationships, working from a social justice perspective, and reducing oppressive practice.
