Dr Debbie Stuart
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
About me
I am a Chartered Clinical Psychologist working with adults. This means I trained to doctorate level in the NHS, where I worked for 15 years before setting up my own practice in 2016. I am trained in a number of evidence-based approaches to work with all sorts of mental health concerns. However, over time I have found that I work best with those who are interested in understanding themselves and their concerns rather than focusing on managing symptoms.
Therapy is an investment in yourself: I take this seriously and provide a regular protected space where we can think together about your concerns. I use psychodynamic or psychoanalytic psychotherapy. These approaches can take some time but offer more sustained change as the focus is on understanding and resolving the underlying causes of problems. My practice is in a quiet street in Tooting and I encourage everyone to come in person.
What to expect
If you decide to get in touch, after an initial call we would usually arrange to meet for two initial consultations. I find it takes time to get to know one another and having two initial meetings can help us decide whether I am the right person to help you. If at the second meeting we agree we would like to continue working together, we will arrange to make a start on regular sessions. If not, I will do my best to suggest colleagues or other services that might suit you better.
The type of therapy I use is based on the psychoanalytic concept that many of our painful or self-defeating behaviours are driven by anxieties or old beliefs that are hidden to us. Psychodynamic therapy works to gradually uncover these hidden or unconscious ideas within the safety of a reliable therapeutic relationship. As they emerge and can be understood, these anxieties lose their power over us. Most people find this then opens up options, allowing them to move forward in life in a more healthy way. The main difference between psychodynamic psychotherapy, psychoanalytic psychotherapy and psychoanalysis is the depth at which the work is undertaken. Often this is linked to frequency of sessions.
Whilst many people come for weekly sessions, I also offer more frequent work, which means coming two or three times a week. If this is a new approach to you it might sound daunting, but actually you will probably find the extra time, plus the shorter gap between sessions, mean we can go deeper into what is troubling you. This more in-depth work can be very rewarding and often leads to profound change. The fee per session is reduced for those wishing to come more frequently.
What I can help with
People come to see me with different problems or concerns. Often the people I work with have tried shorter, symptom-focused therapies and are now looking for something more exploratory that will help with understanding. For some this is their first encounter with therapy. Many people come with things like:
- Anxiety or panic
- Depression
- Low Self-Esteem
- Childhood trauma
- Loss
- Problems in finding or sustaining relationships
- Feeling overwhelmed by or cut-off from their emotions
Some people don’t have a ‘name’ for their concern, or aren’t even really sure how to describe the problem. Whatever the concern, we will work together to unpick it and help you understand it. Most people find this then opens up options when previously they may have felt stuck, isolated or in painful repetitive loops of thinking and behaviour.
Training, qualifications & experience
My Qualifications and Training
- Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, 2006, University of East London
- MSc in Systemic Psychotherapy, 2014, Kings College London
- MSc in Philosophy and Ethics of Mental Health, 2000, University of Warwick
- BSc (Hons) in Psychology, 1999, University of York
- I am registered with the BPS (Membership no. 456123) and HCPC (Registration no. PYL17582).
- Candidate Member of the British Psychoanalytic Association
My experience
I worked in the NHS before, during and after my training, from 2000 to 2016. Post-qualification I worked mostly with people who had severe and complex issues. This meant working as part of a team both in the community and on inpatient units. For the last seven years there I held a senior post which meant my work also included managing and training others, collaborating in research, and teaching at various training institutions. I bring these skills to my work now, having moved into private practice in 2016.
I now also work part-time as an Honorary Psychotherapist at CPU London, a well-respected charitable organisation offering free or low-cost long term psychotherapy to those less able to access the private sector. Prior to this I worked for 5 years as a Clinical Tutor at The Anna Freud Centre for Children and Families. In addition I am a candidate member of the British Psychoanalytic Association, which means I am undertaking training in psychoanalysis. This is a lengthy and rigorous training that enables me to understand my work in greater detail and depth.
Member organisations
school Registered / Accredited
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.
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
Fees
£85.00 per session
Additional information
The fee for 50-minute weekly sessions is £85
This fee is reduced for those wishing to come two or three times a week.
I also offer one place at a greatly reduced rate for four times weekly therapy (psychoanalysis).
When I work
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I don't offer evening or weekend sessions but I have some early sessions for those needing to fit this in around their work.
