Dr Abaigh Devine
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This professional has no current availability for new clients. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
This professional has no current availability for new clients. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
About me
I am an experienced, approachable Clinical Psychologist, specialising in work with children, young people and families. I have over 20 years of relevant experience, including 14 years as a Psychologist within NHS mental health settings, mainly Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHs). I really enjoy my work and am committed to providing a creative, safe, compassionate and individually tailored service to help alleviate distress and improve quality of life.
What I can help with:
I am able to offer help with a broad range of difficulties including anxiety, low mood, trauma, adjustment to life events, low self-esteem, eating disorders, emotional/ behavioural difficulties and attachment difficulties (children).
I have a special interest in helping children, young people and adults overcome the negative effects of trauma on their lives (e.g. accidents, abuse, childbirth trauma). I also have special skills in helping people who experience extreme emotions to better understand and manage the unhelpful effects these can have on their behaviours, relationships, and their coping strategies (including self-harm).
How I work:
As a Clinical Psychologist I am thoroughly trained in the detailed assessment and understanding of a broad range of complex emotional, behavioural and mental health difficulties. I am also trained in a range of 'evidence-based'/proven treatment approaches.
I use this knowledge to work together with my clients in coming to a shared understanding of their difficulties and strengths, and then make a joint plan about how to change things (a psychological formulation). I am then able to use a variety of therapies, tailored towards what best suits my individual clients' needs and preferences. These include Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), Mindfulness, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP), Group work with Children and Adolescents, and various family/parenting interventions.
With children and young people I might also use toys, drawing or more structured activities/ worksheets, alongside talking therapies, depending on what suits the individual. I also include parents/ carers in the work as much as possible, as they are obviously the experts on their children and usually the key people to help their child overcome their difficulties. This will vary from having a parent/ carer sometimes join us at the end of sessions, to joining us throughout the session, to me meeting with parents alone - all depending on the age and needs of the young person and the preferences of the family.
Registrations and Memberships:
I am Chartered with the British Psychological Society (BPS) and registered with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC). I am also a member of the BABCP and The EMDR association UK and Ireland.
Training, qualifications & experience
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (Oxon)
BA hons degree in Psychology (The University of Sheffield)
Therapy trainings include: CBT, DBT, EMDR, DDP.
Previous work settings include: CAMHs clinics, Youth Offending Team, Paediatrics (Children's Hospital), Specialist Adolescent Eating Disorder service, Adolescent Inpatient Psychiatric Unit (lead Psychologist), Intensive Home Treatment/ Outreach (CAMHs), Community Mental Health team (adults), Community Learning Disability Service, schools and youth work.
Within my CAMHs roles I helped establish a CBT clinic as well as a specialist DBT service (for young people who self-harm). I also worked for a number of years as part of our CAMHs Family Therapy team and had a specialist role providing psychological input to Looked after and Adopted Children.
In my current independent practice I also provide input for a specialist school for children who are on the autistic spectrum, as well as providing Psychological assessments for children in residential care.
I am an experienced Clinical Supervisor and Trainer in topics relating to child and adolescent mental health.
I very much enjoy running groups for young people - for example, depression, self-harm, body image.
Member organisations
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
British Psychological Society
The HCPC are an independent, UK-wide health regulator. They set standards of professional training, performance and conduct for 16 professions.
They keep a register of health professionals who meet their standards, and they take action if registered health professionals fall below those standards. They were created by a piece of legislation called the Health Professions Order 2001.
Registration means that a health professional meets national standards for their professional training, performance and conduct.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
Birth trauma
Emotional Regulation
Challenging Behaviour
Therapies offered
Fees
Additional information
Please contact me for information about fees.
When I work
Monday daytime, Wednesday daytime and early evening
Further information
I work from a lovely therapy room in the centre of Belper, with its own parking and excellent bus service - right outside. Home and school visits can sometimes be arranged on request.
I am also available for training and Clinical Supervision (fees dependent on requirements)
If you have private healthcare insurance which covers talking therapies I may be able to see you using this method of payment (with agreement by Insurance Company).
Please do contact me at any time - I will always get back to phone messages if i'm unavailable when you call. I am usually easier to get hold of by email in the first instance.
