Our Team

Catherine is a clinical psychologist with over 30 years’ NHS experience, and has worked with a wide range of different kinds of difficulties in a range of different settings. She has additional specialist training in Integrative Psychotherapy and Family and Systemic Therapy. A systemic approach to therapy focuses on helping people to use and build on their strengths and their family and social supports to tackle problems and move things forward in life. Systemic and family approaches have been shown to be effective with a wide range of different kinds of difficulty. They may be particularly helpful if you want to involve a friend or family member in helping you tackle things, or if your difficulties focus on family or relationship issues. Some people also prefer a systemic approach, which tends to be tailored to your strengths and preferences, to very highly structured forms of therapy such as some forms of CBT.

Professional Qualifications and Affiliations

• MSc in Clinical Psychology
• MSc in Psychotherapy
• MSc in Family and Systemic Therapy
• Member of British Psychological Society Division of Clinical Psychology
• Member of the Association for Family Therapy

Carolyn is a counselling psychologist who qualified in 2007. She currently works for the NHS in a veterans complex trauma service treating people experiencing trauma and for a human rights charity. She also works in private practice. Carolyn specialises in working with people who have experienced trauma, and is qualified in EMDR and NET, both evidence based trauma focused therapies. She also has experience working with substance misuse and worked for several years in a treatment unit. She has worked with people with a variety of mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, PTSD and OCD. She adapts her approach to the needs of her clients, realising that psychological therapy is not a “one size fits all” approach.

Carolyn is focused on hearing people’s stories and enabling them to implement positive changes in their lives through exploring and learning about themselves, their history, their behaviours and their relationships.

Professional qualifications and affiliations:

• Doctorate in Counselling Psychology
• Qualification in EMDR therapy
• Qualification in Narrative Exposure Therapy
• Health and Care Professions Council registered

James share his time between private practice and working as a Consultant Clinical Psychologist in the NHS. Whilst he typically works with clients who are experiencing anxiety or low mood, James has a special interest in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD).

James is qualified in Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Dialectic Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR).

I usually hold clinics in private practice on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.

Professional Qualifications and Affiliations

• Doctorate in Clinical Psychology
• Chartered Psychologist (BPS)
• HCPC Registered Psychologist

Jane is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist with over 20 years post-qualification experience working in both private and NHS mental health services including adult psychotherapy services and GP Practices.

Jane uses a diverse range of therapeutic approaches and tailors interventions to meet individual need.  Sher has undergone extensive training in evidence-based therapies.  She mainly uses CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) and Psychodynamic models as the basis for treatment.

Professional Qualifications & Affiliations

• Doctorate in Clinical Psychology
• Member of the British Psychological Society
• HCPC Registered

Jenny is an experienced Consultant Clinical Psychologist working in both the NHS and private practice.  She has worked for many years with a wide range of mental health difficulties (for example, anxiety and panic, depression, eating problems, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and relational difficulties/personality disorders). Jenny sees many couples experiencing difficulties in their relationship (for example, fertility, sexual problems, stress, relationship breakdown). She also has experience working with young people experiencing stress, anxiety, low mood or adjustment issues often (but not always) regarding school or university as well as mental health issues relating to an adult diagnosis of ASD (autism spectrum disorder).

Professional qualifications and affiliations

• Doctorate in Clinical Psychology
• Masters in Research and Statistics
• Health Professions Council Registered (HCPC).
• Association of Cognitive Analytic Therapy (ACAT)

Lisa qualifying as a counselling psychologist in 2009 Lisa is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the British psychological Society (BPS). She has a diverse range of experiences working therapeutically with clients across the lifespan both in private practice and in the public sector. In addition to her core training in counselling psychology Lisa has specialist training in therapies including interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) and Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR).

Professional Qualifications and Affiliations

•  Doctorate in Counselling Psychology
• HCPC Registered

Sarah has worked as a clinical psychologist in the NHS specializing in health psychology (cancer and HIV services), neuropsychology and she has also provided mental health services for older people.   In private practice, Sarah provides psychological assessment and therapy to adults working with a range of psychological difficulties including depression, anxiety disorders, low self-esteem, trauma and PTSD, personality difficulties, body image difficulties and psychological difficulties related to physical health and long-term conditions.

Sarah has extensive experience and knowledge of a range of evidence based psychological models and her main therapeutic approaches are CBT, a CAT informed approach and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

Professional qualifications & Affiliations

• PgDip Clinical Neuropsychology (with Merit 2018)
• Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (2012)
• BSc (First Class Hons) Psychology (2007)
• HCPC Registered Applied Psychologist

Simon is a highly experienced Clinical Psychologist with approximately 20 years clinical experience
across a wide variety of specialist services. He has a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and Chartered
status with the British Psychological Society.

Simon has experience working in primary care (adults), substance misuse, chronic
pain and occupational health. He has extensive teaching experience at undergraduate and
postgraduate level, and is a qualified executive coach as well as a trained mediator with over 10
years’ experience managing interpersonal conflict.

Simon works with a variety of therapeutic modalities to suit individual clients, including CognitiveBehavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Compassion Focused Therapy and Eye Movement and Desensitisation Reprocessing.

Professional Qualifications and Affiliations

• PhD Doctorate in Clinical Psychology
• MA Psychology (Hons)
• Chartered Psychologist (BPS)
• HCPC Registered Psychologist

Registered with most major Health Insurers

Stephen has been a Consultant Clinical Psychologist since 2007, working in both the NHS and private practice.  He specializes in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) particularly for mood disorders such as depression, bi-polar disorder and related difficulties including trauma, anxiety and relationship problems.  Other interests include clinical complexity.  Stephen has an active research program developing CBT for complex depression (Barton, S. & Armstrong, P. (2019) CBT for Depression: An Integrated Approach. Sage) and extensive experience delivering postgraduate training in clinical psychology and CBT.  Stephen was an Associate Editor, British Journal of Clinical Psychology until 2009 and Program Director, Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Newcastle University between 2011 and 2016.

Professional qualification & memberships

• M.A. Hons. (2:1), Psychology
• Ph.D., Cognitive Science
• D.Clin.Psychol (Clinical Psychology)
• PGDip in CBT (Newcastle)
• Accredited CBT Practitioner, Supervisor & Trainer (British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, BABCP)
• Registered Practitioner Psychologist (Clinical) with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)

Tim has worked in psychological services since 2006 and has experience of working with a wide range of difficulties in adult mental and physical health. He qualified as a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist from the University of Hull (2009-2010) and is a registered Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist with the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies. Tim is also a trained practitioner in Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy and is a member of the EMDR Association, UK and Ireland. After his extensive experience as a Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist Tim undertook a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology in 2012 and qualified as a Clinical Psychologist in 2015.

Tim gained his experience of providing psychological therapy in the NHS, as well as supervising other health professionals and delivering teaching and training on psychological wellbeing. His clinical training and experience enable him to draw upon a range of therapeutic techniques, with his approach to therapy generally being underpinned by cognitive and behavioural principles, compassion-focused therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

Some of the difficulties Tim has experience of working with include: anxiety and worry, symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), low self-esteem or lack of confidence, social anxiety, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety about health, pain management, living with a long-term health condition, non-epileptic attacks, dissociation, phobias, depression and rumination, self-criticism, stress, fears related to death and dying, distressing thoughts and memories, relationship problems, anger, and addiction.

Professional Qualifications and Affiliations

• Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (2015)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (2010)
• Postgraduate Certificate in Low-Intensity Therapies (2009)
• BSc (Hons) Psychology & Neuroscience, (2002)
• BABCP Accredited Psychotherapist
• Registered Psychologist HCPC
• Chartered Psychologist (BPS)

Victoria is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist with over 13 year’s experience in the NHS and private sector. She has a special interest in supporting adults with emotional difficulties that they may face around their physical health conditions. This may include health anxiety, adherence issues and adjustment to living with a long term or life limiting condition.  Victoria has had extensive experience of working with anxiety, low mood, adjustment and relationship issues. She also has a special interest in trauma and uses EMDR to formulate and work with adults who have experienced complex or single event traumas.

 Professional Qualifications and Affiliations

•  Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (2006) – D.Clin Psych
• BSc (Hons) Psychology
• Health Professional Council Registration – (HPCP)
• Accredited Practitioner in EMDR – EMDR UK and EUROPE

Pete is a Chartered Counselling Psychologist who trained and qualified at the University of Dublin, Trinity College in 1999. He has been working as a senior psychologist in the NHS since 2003 and has also worked in private practice since 2006.  Pete has skills and experience in working with all common mental health problems.  Over the years he has developed specialist expertise in the assessment and treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). He is an accredited E.M.D.R Therapist and holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Cognitive Therapy from the University of Durham.

Pete has a particular clinical interest in the treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD); Childhood Trauma; Acute and Chronic Depression; Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD); Alcohol / drug dependency; Body Dysmorphic Disorder; Complex Grief/bereavement; Bulimia Nervosa; Panic Disorders; Adjustment disorder; Social anxiety/performance anxiety; treatment of Common phobia/s; Health Anxiety; Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

In addition to offering therapy, Pete also offer supervision to other therapists and provides expert witness reports.

Dr Janet Grace

Consultant Psychiatrist

Janet has been a consultant psychiatrist since 2003. She worked in the NHS until 2016 and is now in fulltime private practice. Janet has a special interest in brain injury psychiatry and the effect of physical illness on mental health. She also has extensive experience in helping people with depression, anxiety, mood instability and PTSD.

Janet’s private work comprises one off assessment to understand diagnoses, second opinions and longer-term treatment.

Janet works closely with other members of mental health teams and will advise not just about medication but also about other treatment modalities, such as referring patients for psychological intervention.

Professional Qualifications and Affiliations

• BMedSci, University of Nottingham 1989
• BM BS, University of Nottingham 1991
• MRCPsych 1999
• MD, University of Newcastle 2003

Dr Vishaal Goel

Consultant Psychiatrist

Vish has been working as a Consultant Psychiatrist in the NHS since 2013. and in independent practice since 2019. He runs a 24/7 Liaison Psychiatry service in Sunderland Royal Hospital, a service which has won local and national recognition. He has a special interest in the management of chronic pain, persistent physical symptoms and perinatal mental disorders, but is also experienced in the assessment and treatment of a wide range of mental disorders including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, psychosis and personality disorders. In particular, Vish enjoys working in an integrated manner with professional colleagues to ensure that all aspects of illness, both related to the mind and body, are addressed.

Vish is active in medical leadership and teaching and is currently an Assistant Medical Director at a local mental health Trust, as well as an Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer at Newcastle University.

Professional Affiliations and Qualifications

• MBBS (Hons)
• MRCPsych
• PGCertHBE

Jane trained as a Registered General Nurse at the Royal Marsden Hospital (London) and specialized in cancer nursing. She has been in practice as a counsellor since 2000 and she was accredited by the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) in 2003.  Jane has completed specialist  training in cognitive behavioural therapy, transactional analysis, solution-focused therapy and holds an accredited certificate in Interpersonal Therapy for Depression.

Jane has worked in a variety of mental health settings including Primary Care and Improving Access to Psychological Services in the Newcastle and Northumberland NHS Trusts for 16 years and I have provided counselling services to Staff Occupational Health Services at John Lewis plc in Newcastle, Twinings in North Shields, Northumbria and Newcastle University, several Employee Assistance Programmes.

Professional Qualifications and Affiliations

Michelle works in the NHS and in private practice and has extensive experience working in the voluntary sector and in education settings including schools and Newcastle University Wellbeing Service. She is a graduate of Newcastle University, University of Northumbria and Sunderland University. Michell has ongoing links with Newcastle University and offers CBT supervision to trainees on the CBT Diploma course and she teach on a PgCert workshop.

Professional Qualifications and Affiliations

• BABCP (British Association of Cognitive and Behavioural Psychotherapy)
• Accredited Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist
• Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapist
• Inter-Personal Therapist (IPT)
• Pg Cert Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP)
• FdA Psychodynamic Counsellor
• Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT)
• Solution-Focused & Motivational Interviewing approaches

Louise is a registered and accredited counsellor and is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. She has been providing counselling to individuals since 2002 and has taught counselling at various colleges in the north east for the past 15 years. Louise uses the counselling process to activate unused potential, identify unused opportunities and support the development of independence and increase psychological and emotional resilience. When more serious underlying mental health issues are evident, Louise facilitates referral to more appropriate forms of treatment and support.

Professional Qualifications and Affiliations

• BA Honours in Humanistic Counselling 2013
• REBT Advanced Practicum 2015
• REBT Primary Practicum 2013
• Diploma in CBT 2008
• Registered accredited member of BACP