Areas of expertise
Anxiety Disorders
While it’s not unusual to feel stressed out or anxious occasionally, being unable to escape negative thoughts or feeling like your mind can’t switch off isn’t something you should suffer with alone. I understand that these symptoms often feel overwhelming, unfamiliar and frightening, so I want to reassure you that help is available. I’ll guide you through treatment in small, manageable steps. I have extensive experience treating anxiety disorders, including generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and phobias.
The first step I take is assessing what kind of anxiety someone is experiencing so I can identify the most effective treatment. For example, I’ll consider personal stress tolerance, the severity and type of anxiety symptoms, potential triggers, and your lifestyle. For parents with children experiencing anxiety, we will work together collaboratively to plan treatment in a way that’s aligned with your family values and discuss parenting strategies and skills that will help your child.
Alongside therapy, we can discuss trying different evidence-based strategies to improve your sleep quality, diet and nutrition, or physical activity, which can further help reduce anxiety symptoms. After treatment starts, most people experience a noticeable improvement in their anxiety symptoms within two to three months. My goal is to help you feel knowledgeable and confident in managing anxiety, so you feel capable of maintaining your well-being independently after therapy finishes.
Emotional & Mood Disorders
When you’re out of touch with your inner self, the mind feels uncontrollable, and you lose the ability to enjoy the present moment. I’ve helped many patients with all types of emotional difficulties and mood disorders, including depression, dysthymia, emotional dysregulation, and personality disorders. My approach focuses on helping you gain insight and understanding into your mind and body, allowing you to feel in control of your mind and live in the moment.
Psychoeducation (psychological education) is a crucial first step in treatment that enables you to understand how emotions affect you and how they relate to physical sensations. Some people find it helpful to learn how their environment affects their mood and energy levels, or how different brain neurotransmitters cause emotions. Sometimes it’s more beneficial to focus on building healthy habits that regulate mood before therapy begins, which we work on together by setting goals to build your confidence. For patients interested in trying mindfulness, I can help you learn techniques that encourage you to become aware of your thoughts, feelings, and needs.
I always tailor therapy around your personal preferences and needs so that you don’t feel pressured to try an approach you’re uncomfortable with. Change happens when you feel confident experimenting with different strategies and developing awareness about what works best for you.
Psychosis & Schizophrenia
I understand how confusing it feels for patients and their families to navigate treatment for psychotic symptoms. Much of my clinical experience has involved helping patients with psychosis or schizophrenia, working in specialist inpatient and community settings within the NHS. I always work alongside a psychiatrist, but my role is to provide patients and families with tailored support, psychoeducation, and strategies that fit their loved one's unique experiences. I develop clear and personalised care plans that help you identify triggers and prevent relapses or crises before they occur.
In the first stage of treatment, I want to understand each patient’s personality, relationship dynamics, routine, and the content of their delusions or hallucinations. Therapy can be highly beneficial for psychosis, but I believe it’s crucial to be mindful of what each patient wants and tailor treatment based on their goals so they feel motivated to engage in therapy proactively. Home visits are sometimes preferable for patients with psychosis, as it allows them to engage in therapy in a familiar and comfortable environment. I also advocate positive behaviour support plans that encourage patients to participate in different group activities and their community. If they cannot work, participating in volunteering helps them regain a sense of self and build independence.
I also provide psychological support and care for family members, partners, or carers of patients through individual or group sessions. Allowing yourself to talk about your feelings, challenges with coping, and expectations about treatment improves communication and helps you to work through the process of grieving and change in your family dynamic. Understanding how to react in different situations also helps you regain a sense of stability, predictability and hope.
My approach to treatment
Taking the first step in seeking help can feel daunting, but I want you to feel cared for and supported from the first time you come to see me. There will be no judgment regarding your needs or thoughts. Therapy is a safe space where you can talk about any difficulties or issues you cannot discuss in other places.
I believe in a holistic and person-centred approach based on respect and an empathetic understanding of each individual’s struggles and difficulties. As a Counselling Psychologist, I’m trained in various psychotherapy approaches, so I can flexibly adapt interventions based on your unique circumstances and personal preferences. I follow the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines for treatment and consider the latest clinical evidence so that I can adapt treatment to your needs.
During your first consultation, we will begin by getting to know each other and talking about your goals and expectations for therapy. If you don’t have a clear goal in mind, I’ll help you to define goals based on your values and preferences. Together, we will identify you or your child’s strengths and difficulties, sensory needs and coping strategies to ensure that treatment feels manageable and fits your needs. The first session doesn’t usually involve any psychological work because it’s more important for me to understand the challenges you’re facing from your perspective before I create a treatment plan.
Personalised treatment plans
At the end of our first session, I’ll discuss my recommendations for your personalised treatment plan so we can collaboratively choose an approach you feel comfortable with. Integrating your personal interests into the treatment plan is crucial for it to be effective and encourages you to become actively involved in your recovery. Psychoeducation (psychological education) is always the first step that provides you with support and information about the condition. This is followed by a gradual process of ‘mentally unpacking’ the different challenges you’re facing and creating a package of strategies and skills that helps you reframe and overcome them.
Some of the approaches I use include:
- Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT): understanding the connection between thoughts and behaviour to help you break out of negative emotional cycles.
- Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT): learn strategies to manage complex and intense emotions, increase stress resilience, and improve communication skills.
- Mentalisation-based therapy (MBT): understand how thoughts, beliefs and emotions influence behaviour and why others may have different perspectives or feelings from us. Improved awareness leads to better communication and fulfilling relationships.
- Health Psychology: advice and guidance on sleep, physical activity, a balanced diet, how to manage and monitor health conditions, and when to speak with your GP or another specialist.
- Behavioural activation: integrating small changes into your lifestyle and routine improves therapy outcomes and provides you with life-long skills.
- Motivational interviewing: inspire you to become your own expert and create positive change with support and practical guidance.
- Mindfulness techniques: teaching you to live in the present moment and become aware of your thoughts, feelings, and needs
Medication
As a Counselling and Health Psychologist, I don’t prescribe medication. However, I believe medication is helpful and needed in some cases. When symptoms are highly distressing or severe, this can prevent people from gaining the full benefit from their treatment. Research shows that in these circumstances, treatment is most effective when medication is combined with talking therapy. Hence, I will encourage people to consider therapy while taking medication to learn new skills and boost their capacity to eventually cope with challenging situations rather than relying solely on their medication. For patients with psychosis or schizophrenia, medication is necessary and crucial for engaging with therapy and preventing symptoms from worsening.
If you are currently taking medication or considering trying it, I can work collaboratively with your psychiatrist or GP to create a collaborative treatment plan that works with your medication.
Education & Training
I’m a Highly Specialist Counselling and Health Psychologist registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). I have a Master’s degree in Teaching High School Education, and I’m a Qualified Teacher accredited by the UK Department for Education. I also have a Master’s degree in Social Psychology and postgraduate qualifications in Neuropsychology and Neurodegenerative diseases.
Alongside my private practice, I’m currently working as a Highly Specialist Counselling Psychologist at the Hammersmith West London NHS Trust. In this role, I provide individual and group therapy, behavioural activation and support to people with complex psychosis living in the community. Previously, I worked in Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) at the Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trusts, specialising in complex mental health and social needs. As a member of the enhanced treatment clinical case management team, I conducted neurodevelopmental assessments, risk assessments, and provided dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) for children with complex social needs. I’ve also worked as a Registered Psychologist with Vision Mental Health and as a Health Psychologist and Lead Learning Support Assistant at Woodfield School.
Additionally, I gained varied clinical experience through volunteer placements, including a Prison Social Psychologist Internship at Podemos (2014), a Counsellor specialising in trauma and grieving at the Centro de Humanización de la Salud (2013-2014), and a Sexual Education Adviser at an NGO in Madrid (COGAM, 2012-2013). My volunteer experience in these organisations taught me the value of active listening skills and providing compassionate care.
I hold the following qualifications and certifications:
- Health Psychologist, Health and Care Professions Council, UK (2019)
- Qualified Teacher Status, Department for Education, UK (2018)
- Masters of Teaching in High School Education at Rey Juan Carlos University (2018)
- Masters in Social Psychology at Complutense of Madrid University (2015)
- Bachelor in Psychology at Complutense of Madrid University (2014)
Personal interests
I am a big fan of video games, anime, dancing (Latin rhythms) and research exploring gender and sexual orientations. I am very interested in research and new technology, and I am delighted when I find a new therapy or assessment to learn.
