Hi, I’m Danielle.  

HCPC Registered Clinical Psychologist BSc. (Hons). D.Clin.Psychol

Thank you for being here 🙂

Here’s a little more about me.

This might sound a little cheesy but I genuinely love working with people and feel lucky to do my job.  Seeing the positive impact that psychological therapy can have for many people, I am passionate about sharing my knowledge to benefit others both in therapy, courses and supervision of professionals.  I love listening to the people with whom I work, being alongside them as we make sense of their specific difficulties and applying psychological understanding to each person’s unique circumstances.  I provide a safe, non-judgemental, confidential space in which you are highly valued and treated as an individual; no two therapy experiences look the same.  I truly recognise what a privilege it is to be trusted and I have a great deal of respect for the people who have the courage to make contact with me and allow me to be a part of their lives for a short while.  

My Training and Experience

I graduated from the University of Birmingham with a First in Psychology in 2005 and was determined to work towards a career in clinical psychology.  I held two assistant clinical psychologist positions as well as a research assistant post (University of Cambridge) before gaining a place on doctoral training at the University of Liverpool.

The doctorate involves three intense years of study, clinical placements where you work under supervision, academic requirements such as essays and exams and a major research project which spans most of the three years.  I absolutely loved my training, despite how intense it was at times! I particularly enjoyed the variety of experience as training includes working across the full life span (from babies to older adults) and with people with a huge breadth of difficulties and circumstances.

Since qualifying in 2011, I have held a number of posts in the NHS, which have involved working with both adults and children with a wide range of difficulties.  These have included an adult eating disorder service, a child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS), a home-based treatment team (working with adults with severe depression, anxiety and other mental health problems) and a perinatal mental health team (working with mothers, fathers and babies).

I have had a small private practice alongside my NHS role since 2013 and have been solely in private practice since September 2020.

Therapies Offered

In addition to my doctoral training during which I developed skills in a range of therapies including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), I have undertaken some additional training in CBT, Compassion Focussed Therapy (CFT), Narrative Therapy and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing therapy (EMDR).  I am always striving to learn more and am currently developing my knowledge of Cognitive Analytical Therapy (CAT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). 

I usually offer a bespoke, evidence- based approach using one or a combination of several of these therapies depending on your particular difficulties, needs, goals for therapy and personal preferences.  This is something we will discuss in more detail during the first one or two sessions, and will be decided together.

Me as a Person

My way of working is very collaborative – that is I see you very much as the expert on your experiences (with me having the expertise in psychology) so that we can work as a team to help you move towards your personal goals.  I will seek your thoughts and views about the direction of any therapy throughout the work we do.  I am usually described by others as approachable, kind and compassionate and I will always do my best to make you feel as comfortable as possible.  I also love clinical psychology, and have a particular interest in understanding and teaching others about how our amazing (but very tricky) brains work, and how we can best deal with them.  

As my experience has been so varied, I can usually bring something fresh and different even if you have had some therapy before.   Therapy with me usually involves having the open space to talk about what is important to you, as well as some structure which may include teaching you some skills, practicing techniques together and setting challenges to complete between sessions.  The degree to which sessions are structured or more open is something I always discuss at the start of therapy and we can make a plan that fits your preferences and needs.

Outside of the therapy room (real and virtual!) I love running, dancing and reading, and after winning a £20 piano on ebay, which may have been one of the most exciting things to happen to me, I have started trying to teach myself.  It’s not going brilliantly but is great fun!  Much of my time is taken up with my two little ones, so I do far less of these things than I used to. 

Making the decision to begin therapy, and getting to this very point of reading this sentence, is often not easy.  I really do see my job as a privilege and will always treat you with kindness and respect.  Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or to book an initial phone appointment.