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. I am trained in a number of evidence-based approaches, to work with all sorts of difficulties. In the NHS I worked mostly in teams across community and inpatient settings. The people I worked with had complex and longstanding mental health concerns, enabling me to develop a set of skills that I bring to my work now. I have had my own practice since 2016.
Seeking help can feel daunting and often comes after a long period of wondering what to do and trying other ways to feel better. If you decide to get in touch we will arrange an initial call where we can start to talk through your concerns and I can answer any initial questions you might have. You can then decide if you would like to arrange to meet. My practice is located in a quiet street in Tooting and I encourage everyone to come in person.
What to expect
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.
Over time I have found I work best using a psychodynamic approach. This means working within a safe and reliable relationship to gradually make sense of your difficulties. I will help you bring underlying, often hidden, ideas and beliefs to light. Most people find that being able to look at these buried ideas helps them to make sense of themselves, opening up options and reducing self-defeating and painful patterns of behaviour.
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 deeper. 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 aren’t really sure how to describe the problem. Whatever the concern, as your therapist I will help you to make sense of what seems to be happening, put words to it, and help you think about how you would like to move forward. Therapy can be rewarding but also challenging. I pay close attention to how you are finding the process, adjusting the pace and depth to suit you as we progress.
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 at CPU London, a well-respected charitable organisation offering 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.
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
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
The initial consultation is for 75 minutes, charged at £100
The second consultation is for 50 minutes, charged at £85
The fee for 50-minute weekly sessions is £85
Some people come more frequently, in which case the fee per session is reduced.
I also work as part of the Low Fee Scheme with the British Psychoanalytic Association, which means I can offer psychoanalysis (4 or 5 times a week) at a significantly reduced fee. Please get in touch if you are interested.
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.
