Professional Qualifications, Accreditations and Memberships

I am a Registered Mental Health Nurse (RMN) with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and hold a specialist qualification in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Nursing (ENB 603). I trained in London at Thames Valley University and completed my specialist training at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge.

I hold a Certificate in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and am a fully trained Dialectical Behaviour Therapist, having completed my training with the DBT British Isles Association.

Additionally, I have specialist training in Mindfulness for children and adolescents (Youth Mindfulness), and a Certificate in Solution-Focused Therapy.

My Professional Experience

I have over 23 years of experience working in Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMHS) across both the NHS and private sectors. My career has included a wide variety of clinical and leadership roles.

I have:

• Managed a Tier 4 in-patient unit in the NHS

• Served as the Professional Lead for all nurses across CAMHS

• Held a senior lead management role for Tier 4 and specialist services, giving me substantial experience in service development and operational leadership

Other roles I’ve undertaken include:

• CAMHS Liaison Specialist Practitioner at the Royal Free Hospital Trust

• Staff Nurse in a specialist eating disorder unit

• Work within community crisis teams

• Clinical involvement in a specialist ADHD clinic alongside medical colleagues

In addition to my clinical work, I’ve been actively involved in mental health education and outreach—delivering sessions in local schools and supporting parents with:

• Mindfulness practices

• Parenting skills and behaviour management programmes

• Promoting mental health awareness within the school and community context

Personal Approach

My approach is always centred around the individual child or young person, ensuring their voice is heard and prioritised. I work closely with families to support meaningful change and co-develop goals that feel acceptable and achievable for both the young person and their parents.

I provide support for children and families through all stages of development, particularly when difficulties arise that make daily life feel stuck. This support may involve:

• Assessment

• Coping strategy development

• A specific therapeutic model (e.g. DBT, CBT, mindfulness or solution-focused therapy)

• Psychological support for children with chronic physical health conditions causing emotional distress

My work is holistic and relationship-based. In our initial meetings, I focus on getting to know the child, their family, and the wider context. I may use different engagement tools such as drawing or writing, especially with younger children.

Together with the family, I develop a care plan with shared goals, which we regularly review and adapt as needed. I offer a mix of joint and individual sessions with the child and parents and liaise with other professionals to ensure the most integrated and effective support possible.