The Team - About Us and What We Do

Clinical and Counselling Psychologists assess (frequently diagnose) and treat mental health problems in children, teenagers and adults. Training to become a Clinical and Counselling Psychologist is extensive (minimum 6-7 years), which means we are suitably qualified to treat a range of psychological problems using a number of different therapies.

Training to become a psychotherapist takes a minimum of five years full time study including working with patients which ensures they are suitably qualified to treat a range of psychological problems using a number of different therapies.

At Hampshire & Surrey Psychology we use evidence-based therapies such as : Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness based therapies, Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), Psychotherapy, and counselling to help people deal with their difficulties, understand their emotions and behaviour - and regain control of their everyday lives.

We are Chartered Psychologists, which means we are registered with the Health Professions Council (HPC). The HPC ensures we're properly qualified, fit to practice, and keep up to date with latest developments. In addition, we are bound by the BPS code of conduct.

Unlike psychiatrists, we do not prescribe medication but we recognise that it may be helpful in overcoming some problems. We are happy to work with prescribing physicians to ensure the very best combination of treatment for our clients.

Please contact us (in confidence) by email or telephone on 01420 _540274 to discuss how we can help you.

Dr Karen Quatermass BSc (Hons), Dip.Crim., PsychD., CPsychol.

Qualifications and Specialist Training

BSc (Hons) Psychology (with Biochemistry) Royal Holloway College, University of London
Post-graduate Diploma in Criminology Middlesex University
Practitioner Doctorate in Counselling and Psychotherapeutic Psychology (Psych D.) University of Surrey

CBT for the treatment of anxiety – The Centre for Anxiety Disorders and Trauma, Institute of Psychiatry.
CBT for the treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) – The Centre for Anxiety Disorders and Trauma, Institute of Psychiatry.

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy for treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder. DBT is a structured therapy using a combination of one to one therapy and skills training in Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance strategies, Interpersonal Effectiveness Skills and Emotion Management.

Assessment/diagnosis and therapeutic support for individuals with Aspergers Syndrome.

Mindfulness based Cognitive Therapy for depression - University of Southampton CBT Centre New thinking in treatment resistant depression

British Psychological Society CBT for social phobia - University of Southampton CBT Centre

Cognitive therapy for chronic worry - Oxford Cognitive Therapy Centre

Clinical Experience

I completed my doctorate in Counselling and Psychotherapeutic Psychology in 2003. The training consisted of three components: academic, research and supervised practice within the NHS and in Student Services. This led to Chartered Counselling Psychologist status with the British Psychological Society.

Counselling Psychologists are trained to use a variety of therapeutic methods so as to be able to adapt the therapy to the particular needs of the individual. I trained to use Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Psychodynamic and Humanistic/Person centred therapies. I have a particular interest in the use of Positive Psychology in therapy as overcoming difficulties is only part of the journey to becoming happier. I am a member of the International Positive Psychology Association (IPPA).

I have particular experience of diagnosis and treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder and of high risk individuals presenting with self harm/parasuicide, self-destructive behaviours, addictions and other multi-impulsive and risky behaviours.

I have been in private practice since 2006 and I assess, treat (and write reports when necessary!) a broad range of mental health problems with adults, teenagers and children. I have considerable experience with treating depression, anxiety disorders (including general anxiety, panic disorder, health anxiety and OCD), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, addictions, eating disorders, adjustment disorders, anger and stress management. I also work with teenager and young adult difficulties, deliberate self-harm and extreme emotions.

From 2002-6 I worked as a Senior Clinical Psychologist at tertiary level in the NHS within a specialist psychology service within Surrey and Borders NHS Trust). This service comprised forensic psychology, personality disorder and learning disabilities services and a specialist Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Programme. I gained experience with a broad range of severe and enduring mental health problems: psychosis, personality disorders, chronic and severe anxiety and depression as well as those who experience extreme emotions, self-harm, self-destructive behaviours and parasuicide/suicidal behaviours.

I have also worked in student counselling services, general adult psychotherapy, Asperger clinic and learning disabilities services.

Before returning to clinical practice I founded a market research consultancy. Research Works Ltd (now based in St Albans, Herts). As a researcher I specialised in qualitative research (eg focus groups, in depth one to one interviews) for Government public health campaigns in various areas including addictions (smoking, drugs, alcohol), Sexually Transmitted Diseases (including AIDS), and skin cancer (sun awareness) as well as brand and product development programmes.

Dr Heidi Adshead, BA (Hons), Psych D., CPsychol.
Chartered Clinical Psychologist

Qualifications and Specialist Training

BA (Hons) Psychology, University of Liverpool.
Practitioner Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (PsychD.), University of Surrey.

I completed a Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology at the University of Surrey in 1992. This training consisted of three components: academic, research and supervised practice within the NHS and led to Chartered Clinical Psychologist status with the British Psychological Society. This MSc was converted to a Doctorate in 1998 following further academic study and research.

I have had a broad training to work with people throughout the lifespan and with people with learning disabilities. Training includes assessment and intervention for a wide range of difficulties including anxiety disorders and depression, childhood behavioural disorders, neurological disorders, addictive behaviours, aggressive behaviour and self-injury.

I am a full practitioner member of the Clinical Psychology Division of the British Psychological Society.

Recent Training

Update in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy – Oxford Centre for Cognitive Therapy
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Workshop – Jack Rachman - University of Southampton CBT Centre
Social Phobia Workshop – Jennifer Wild - University of Southampton CBT Centre

Clinical Experience

I have 17 years experience working as a clinical psychologist within the NHS. I have worked as a Consultant Clinical Psychologist since 2002. Most recently I have worked for the Kingston Community Team for People with Learning Disabilities (Kingston Primary Care Trust). I have also worked with those with severe and enduring mental health problems and clients adjusting to physical health problems. I have conducted assessments and interventions for clients with a wide variety of emotional and behavioural difficulties, including anxiety, depression, OCD, phobia, self-harm, aggressive and challenging behaviour, bereavement, autism and Asperger’s syndrome. I have also had experience in group work, training, lecturing, supervision of psychologists and other professionals, and research.

As an Honorary Clinical Tutor for the University of Surrey, I follow trainee clinical psychologists through their 3 year doctoral training, conducting NHS placement visits and assessing progress. I am also a mentor for trainee clinical psychologists at the University of Surrey. I act as an external marker for both the University of Surrey and the University of East London Clinical Psychology doctoral training courses.

Caroline Nairn, BA (Hons), PGDip, ADIP, MBACP, UKCP
Psychotherapist

Qualifications and Training

BA (Hons) in Music, Long Island University.

PGDip in Integrative Psychotherapy, Regent’s College School for Psychotherapy and Counselling Psychology, London.

ADIP (Advanced Post Graduate Diploma in Integrative Psychotherapy), Regent’s College School for Psychotherapy and Counselling Psychology, London.

MBACP, Member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychologists.

UKCP, Member of the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy

Recent Training

CBT, Level 3: Advanced Techniques in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Motivational Interviewing Techniques

Aftermath: Treating Trauma

Clinical Experience

Training to become a psychotherapist takes a minimum of five years full time study including working with patients which ensures I am suitably qualified to treat a range of psychological problems using a number of different therapies.

I have wide ranging experience working within the NHS, initially in a large, inner city hospital outpatient psychiatric ward working with patients for periods of up to two years. Alongside work in the hospital, I also saw patients in a Community Mental Health Team (CMHT). I then worked in GPs' surgeries across rural Wiltshire seeing patients for shorter periods of time (at the discretion of the patient). The work was from a psychodynamic and integrative basis, while incorporating where appropriate some of the newer cognitive approaches to therapy such as CBT and Schema therapy.

Because of my experiences within the NHS, I am accustomed to working with people from widely differing backgrounds, seeking a variety of different types of therapeutic intervention and with varying concerns and needs. I work flexibly to combine what I believe are the best aspects of the different therapeutic approaches to working with my clients.

Though my work is not limited to these clients, I have a special interest in working with members of the Armed Services and their families. I also have a keen interest in working with clients who have suffered, or are suffering from traumatic events.

I see people for both short and long term work. Normally, a set number of sessions will be agreed at the outset, and that agreement can be reviewed at any stage.

Dr. Lucy Furlong BSc (Hons), Psych D., CPsychol.
Chartered Clinical Psychologist

Qualifications and Training

BSc (Hons) Psychology, University of Surrey (Included professional training year at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, Eating disorders Service).

Practitioner Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (PsychD.), Canterbury Christ Church University

HPC, Member of Health Professions Council

BPS, Member of British Psychological Society and Division of Clinical Psychology

My training included working with adults and children with a wide range of difficulties including, anxiety disorders, depression, post traumatic stress disorder, psychosis, physical health problems, autism spectrum disorders and childhood difficulties including, eating, sleeping, toileting and behavioural difficulties, as well as social skills difficulties. I have a particular interest in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and my doctorate research investigated different Cognitive Models of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

My training involved a wide range of therapeutic models including, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy and Schema Therapy.

Other Training

Introduction to psychodynamic concepts, Tavistock Clinic London

Anxiety Disorders workshop, Paul Salkovskis and David Clark

Narrative therapy, Highbury, Michael White

Building Resilience, Oxford Cognitive Therapy Centre, Christine Padesky

Clinical Experience

I have worked within the NHS since 2001. I have worked in children and adolescent mental health services working with children with a variety of difficulties including autism spectrum disorders and attention deficit disorder. I have also had experience working with young adults and children with eating disorders. As well as working in high secure forensic hospital with people with long term mental health problems including schizophrenia and personality disorders.

Since qualifying as a clinical psychologist in 2006, I have worked for Sussex Partnership NHS Trust in the early intervention for psychosis, rehabilitation and recovery and assertive outreach services. Working across these three services, I have worked with clients with schizophrenia, young people with early onset psychosis and their families, and clients with OCD, depression, anxiety disorders and Aspergers Syndrome. I have provided assessment and therapy for individuals as well as groups. I have also provided consultation to other members of the team.

I work mainly within a Cognitive Behavioural framework and draw on psychodynamic concepts as well as schema therapy, narrative, and solution focused therapy when necessary. I am able to work to flexibly and adapt this range of different therapeutic interventions to meet the particular needs of my clients.

Anita Westmoreland B.A.(Hons),B.Sc.(Hons),M.Sc.,Post-M.Sc.Dip., CPsychol.
Chartered Counselling Psychologist

Qualifications and Training

BA(Hons) Business Studies, Middlesex University

BSc (Hons) Psychology, University of Surrey

MSc Counselling Psychology, City University London

Post Masters Diploma in Counselling Psychology, City University London

Other Training

Intensive Treatment for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - Paul Salkovskis Institute of Psychiatry

Building Resilience – Christine Padesky Cognitive Workshops London

Schema Therapy - Jeffrey Young – BABCP

Experiential Cognitve Therapy Training Course – Oxford Centre for Cognitive Therapy.

Member of Health Professionals Council (HPC)

Member of British Psychological Society and Division of Counselling Psychology (BPS).

Clinical Experience

I specialise in the treatment of OCD and Recurrent Depression. I worked within Specialist Psychological Therapies for Surrey Hampshire Borders NHS Trust and was responsible for the psychological assessment and treatment of adults referred to tertiary care for specialist treatment. I worked with both individuals and groups. In addition, I undertook an advisory and training role liaising with other health professionals and supervising trainee psychologists. More recently, I worked for Primary Care, in a GP surgery, providing individual and group treatment for a wide range of issues.

I have worked in a variety of NHS adult mental health services including Primary Care, Community Mental Health Teams and Specialist Clinics. I have worked within multidisciplinary teams and with adults with a range of difficulties such as anxiety disorders, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) including hoarding and acquiring difficulties, stress management problems and issues of low self esteem.

My training required knowledge and practice of a number of therapeutic approaches including Person Centred Approach, Psychodynamic Therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy which enable me to draw on the most effective therapeutic method for a range of problems. I have a particular interest in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and work mainly within this framework drawing on other models when appropriate. After a long and rewarding career in commerce, I began training as a psychologist in 1996. I first graduated from Surrey University and then began post graduate training as a Counselling Psychologist. The training included academic study, research and clinical experience. I completed a masters degree and post masters diploma in Counselling Psychology which led to Chartered Psychologist status in 2004.

Dr. Donna Miller, BA(Hons), DipPsych, PsychD, CPsychol
Chartered Counselling Psychologist

Qualifications

Practitioner Doctorate, Psychotherapeutic and Counselling Psychology (PsychD), University of Surrey (2005)

Graduate Diploma with Distinction, Psychology, University of East London (2001)

Intensive Foundation Certificate in Counselling and Psychotherapy – Regent’s College, London (2000)

BA (Hons) Psychology, Pitzer College, Claremont Colleges, California (1972)

Registered Practitioner Psychologist, Health Professions Council (HPC)

Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol), British Psychological Society (BPS) and Division of Counselling Psychology

International Affiliate Member, American Psychological Association (APA)

Other Training

Trauma Skills Summer School – CONFER, London

Treating PTSD the Evidence-Based Way: CBT – Prof Anke Ehlers, Charlie Waller Institute, University of Reading

Therapeutics of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) – Jyoti Nanda, Guildford

Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depression (IPT): How to Apply the Protocol – Dr. Scott Stuart, Charlie Waller Institute, University of Reading

Compassion-focused Therapy (CFT) for Shame-based Difficulties – Prof Paul Gilbert, University of Derby

Clinical Experience

I have been practicing for ten years and completed my doctorate in 2005. My clinical experience includes a variety of settings: Occupational Health (Shell International Ltd, London), Specialist CBT Clinics for treatment of OCD and Recurrent Depression in the NHS (Surrey Hampshire Borders), NHS Outpatient Eating Disorders Service (South West London and St. George's), Student Counselling (King's College London, Surrey Institute of Art and Design), and private practice.

This has given me experience assessing and treating a broad range of mental health problems such as depression, anxiety disorders and chronic stress (general anxiety, social anxiety, panic attacks, health anxiety, OCD), complicated grief and loss, adjustment disorders, eating disorders, trauma (single incident and complex), relationship difficulties, issues of identity and sense of self.

My work with employees and students has given me particular experience with work stress, bullying, relationship difficulties in training or the workplace, performance/exam anxiety, role transitions, redundancy, problems with achievement, professional development issues.

I have worked with clients ranging in age from 16 to 65+, including ex-pats from many parts of the world who come to live, work, or study in the UK, and have a particular interest in the psychological dimensions of cross cultural living.

I have been trained in multiple therapeutic methods and stay abreast of current therapy outcome research. This helps me to work flexibly and efficiently with clients, using a single therapeutic method or incorporating elements of different approaches that I believe will be most helpful to an individual based on research evidence and clinical experience. Therapies I most frequently draw on:

• Humanistic – emphasising therapist qualities recognised as ‘best practice’ in therapeutic relationships generally: empathy, genuineness, and a non-judgmental stance in relation to the client.
• Psychodynamic—using the relationship between the therapist and client to understand the unconscious influence of past emotional experiences on the present in order to loosen the bonds the past and create new life possibilities.
• Cognitive Behavioural (CBT)— emphasising links between how we feel, think, and behave, and experimenting with changes in behaviour and habitual ways of thinking to bring about improvements in feeling and function. Recommended by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) as a frontline treatment for depression, anxiety, and OCD.
• Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), recommended by NICE as an effective alternative to CBT for treatment of depressions involving grief or loss, interpersonal disputes, role transitions, or interpersonal sensitivity.
• Compassion-focused Therapy (CFT), innovative biopsychosocial approach with roots in neuroscience, evolutionary psychology, and CBT that has a growing evidence base for effectiveness with complex shame-based difficulties.

Dr. Abi Leah, BSc, PsychD
Clinical Psychologist

Qualifications

Psychology BSc, University of Surrey, Guildford (1999-2002)

Post Graduate Certificate in Mental Health, University of Surrey, Guildford (2007-2008)

I am a BPS and HPC Registered Clinical Psychologist with a speciality in working with children, young people and their families with a range of presenting difficulties. I have over 6 years of working in the NHS with individuals presenting with a wide range of difficulties. In addition to my private practice, I am also currently working as a clinical psychologist in the NHS in a child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) in West Sussex.

I am a member of the Health Professions Council (HPC) and British Psychological Society (and the Division of Clinical Psychology).

As a clinical psychologist I use evidence-based therapeutic interventions (verified by scientific research to work for specific types of problems). My primary training is in cognitive behavioural therapy approaches, but I also have training in other approaches, including a number of Systemic therapy approaches (in particular Solution Focused Therapy), Cognitive therapy and Psychodynamic therapy. However, I would describe my overall approach as 'integrative', in that I try to choose whatever method appears to be best suited to the client at that particular time.

Other Training

Working with individuals with eating disorders and their carers, Sussex Partnerships Nhs (2010-2011)

Child Protection Training, West Sussex Local Safeguarding Children's Board (2010)

Brief Solution Focused Therapy in CAMHS, Sussex Partnership NHS Trust (2009)

CBT – Building Core Competencies, Dr Christine Padesky (2009)

Solution Focused Brief Therapy, APT (2007)

Therapeutic Work

In my clinical work I aim to promote positive mental health in children and young people and to support parents to confidently deal with emotional and behavioural difficulties. I am particularly interested in promoting positive attachment between parents and children as this is a key way to improve children's mental health. I have experience providing consultation, assessment and psychological intervention with children, young people and their families presenting with a wide range of emotional, psychological and behavioural difficulties, including those presenting with:

• Anxiety (including phobias, separation anxiety, school refusal, phobias, panic attacks and social anxiety)
• Depression and low mood
• Eating disorders (including anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa)
• Attachment difficulties
• OCD and tics
• Difficulties relating to chronic health conditions
• Self-harming and emotional regulation difficulties
• Difficult or challenging behaviour

As well as working with children, young people and their families, I am also able to provide consultation and liaise with schools on a range of issues including those above and also ways in which emotional well-being can be promoted amongst children and young people.

Cognitive Assessments

For children who are struggling to keep up with their peers academically, I am able to carry out cognitive assessments to help identify areas of strength and learning need. This will usually involve a psychometric assessment and a detailed report including recommendations to schools to ensure that a child or young person is appropriately supported in school to reach their academic potential.