Simon S
Areas of expertise:
- Extensive experience working with complex clinical cases involving domestic violence, sexual abuse, OCD, psychosis, and adolescents presenting with severe self-harm and suicidal behaviours.
- Skilled in managing high-risk situations with sensitivity.
- Systemic therapeutic work spans individuals, couples, families, and adolescents with multifaceted needs.
- Delivered systemic training across social services, the NHS, and the private sector, supporting professionals in developing psychologically informed care.
- Approach grounded in systemic thinking, enabling effective multi-agency collaboration and the ability to offer clear, reflective insights in emotionally charged contexts.
- Bringing a thoughtful and compassionate presence to complex cases, drawing on a depth of experience to support safe, coordinated care.
Experience:
- Experienced systemic psychotherapist with a strong background in CAMHS, adult CMHT, social services, and inpatient settings.
- Worked with complex clinical presentations including eating disorders, psychosis, self-harm, gender issues, somatisation, and trauma.
- Led service innovation, provided supervision and line management to clinicians across therapy, nursing, and medical teams as lead Family Therapist at Forest House Adolescent Unit.
- Work is grounded in systemic, psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioural, humanistic, and artistic approaches.
- Have taught and supervised MSc students as a Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Family Therapy and delivered systemic training to Social Services across the UK.
- Skilled in multi-agency collaboration, offering critical insight into case formulation while avoiding duplication of care.
- My leadership training within the NHS supports my capacity to contribute to service development and team cohesion.
Bio:
I am an extremely caring and considerate therapist with over 20 years of experience working in social care and mental health settings with both children and adults. I spent many years working in the NHS within Specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), where I developed a collaborative and sensitive approach to working with clients. I work within a systemic framework, which means I take into account the various contexts and relationships that shape people’s lives.
Currently, I am the Lead Family and Systemic Psychotherapist in CAMHS. In addition, I provide high-level organisational consultancy and training to the NHS and Social Services.
I have particular expertise in working with children and adolescents experiencing anxiety and depression. I also have significant clinical experience supporting young people who have faced self-harm, eating disorders, conduct disorders, bereavement, trauma, and interpersonal difficulties. I work with children and families adjusting to divorce and separation and have experience working across different cultures and religions. I have also undertaken research at the Tavistock Centre, focusing on separated fathers.
