CBT Practice

My name is Fiona and I am a qualified and accredited Cognitive Behaviour Therapist with the BABCP, as well as being a qualified play therapist and trained in EMDR.  I have over 30 years experience of working within the NHS, 16 of those have been within Specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) working with children and young people and their families.  Currently, I continue to work in the NHS, as well as working in private practice.

I have experience of working with people of all ages with Anxiety, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Trauma and Low mood, as well as previously working within Action for Children's Sexual Abuse Service.  I also work with children and young people who have Autism and are struggling with their emotional wellbeing, as well as children who have suffered developmental trauma in younger years.  I work collaboratively with people working towards the goals you wish to achieve through therapy.

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I started my career as a General Nurse and once qualified, undertook extra training to become a Registered Children’s Nurse.  I was fortunate enough to work in areas such as pediatric burns as well as the Regional Center for Children with Cancer.  It was here my interest started to grow in the psychological aspect of care for children.  As a Senior Staff Nurse, I worked within a CAMHS day unit for children presenting with mental health difficulties under the age of eleven years, providing assessments, as well as facilitating groups for both parents and children with a diagnosis of autism (ASD) and ADHD.  My career lead me to stay within the CAMHS and develop with the role of  Community Nurse Therapist, working with young people up to the age of 18 presenting with various types of anxiety, low mood, OCD, body dysmorphic and low self-esteem. 

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To increase my therapy skills I commenced a Masters in Play Therapy within the University of South Wales and a few years later I undertook a Diploma in CBT, specifically related to children and young people. I have continued to study to be able to enhance the psychological support I provide to children and young people, the most recent being a foundation in Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT).  Skills from this can be used to help young people manage distressful emotions and behaviours. 

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Within my therapeutic work, I like to use creative means in order for children and young people to express their emotions in a safe space.  I also work on the premise that children and young people are part of a family, so find it helpful to include parents in part or some of the sessions provided. 

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I have a qualification in supervision of psychological therapies and enjoy helping other professionals to reflect on their practice, in order for us to provide the best psychological care for young people.