Dr Mattie Idema-Sharman


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This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
About me
Psychological assessments
I have many years of experience in assessing cognitive, emotional, interpersonal and behavioural difficulties in a range of client groups, in order to help develop some understanding about problems experienced. I am trained and experienced in assessing Neuropsychological difficulties, such as Autistic Spectrum Disorder and Attention Deficit Disorder, in children and adults.
The number of sessions needed will depend on the nature of the assessment, but this will be explained in advance. Part of an assessment is the process of discussing the results and findings with the client, and considering how this may impact on their psychological well being and development.
Counselling and Psychological Therapies
I am trained and experienced in a range of psychological therapies, including Cognitive Behavioural intervention, Mindfulness and Mentalization, Systemic Family and Organisational Work, Psychological Counselling, EMDR, NVR, SPACE and Attachment Focussed Psychotherapy, and I will draw on such different perspectives and approaches, depending on each person's needs.
Supervision of psychologists and other mental health professionals
Having worked in a variety of multi-disciplinary and mental health settings, I have provided clinical supervision to a range of professionals in the psychological therapies sector and mental sector. Regular clinical supervision is an essential component of our continuing professional development, and it needs to be supportive as well as challenging. It helps us to reflect on our practice, and to think about our knowledge and skills and how they could be developed to improve in the work that we do.
How I work
My service will offer an initial assessment, to find out more about what the nature of the experienced difficulties or issues are, and what the client would like to achieve by coming for help. If we feel that I may not be the right professional to assist, this will be discussed openly and alternative support may be identified. Although face to face contact is helpful for both the psychologist and the client, telephone consultations are also an option prior to arranging an initial assessment meeting.
Following the assessment process, we will come to an agreement together about what kind of intervention would be helpful and suitable, and how the work and progress will be discussed and reviewed as we go along. It is helpful to have a clear and shared agreement about the frequency, length and duration of meetings, and this is part of the assessment process.
I value respect and collaboration in my work and I see my role as a facilitator of greater understanding, development and application of clients' own resources. We are all different and the work will aim to respect and reflect this diversity. Whilst we all experience problems and difficulties, we also have inner resilience to help us find solutions to our challenges and problems. Often, counselling or therapy is the process to help remind us of this and to have greater confidence in ourselves to change, learn and move on in a better way.
Training, qualifications & experience
Experience
I am a Clinical Psychologist with more than 35 years of experience working in the NHS and private sectors. I have worked work children and their families, adolescents and their families, people with learning disabilities as well as adults with psychological difficulties.
Training and Qualifications
I hold a BA(Hons) in Psychology (1983), an MSc. in Clinical and Community Psychology (1990) and a PhD in research psychology. In addition, I have engaged in additional training courses relevant to my clinical work. Like many psychologists, my therapeutic approach is now an integration of the many therapies and theories I have trained in, studied and applied along the way, a journey of more than 35 years through a range of services and settings.
I am trained and experienced in a range of psychological therapies, including Psychodynamic psychotherapy and Attachment focused psychotherapy; Systemic Family and Organisational Work, NVR and SPACE; Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR); Cognitive Behavioural, Mentalization, Compassion and Solution Focussed Interventions. I am experienced in assessing and working therapeutically with Neurodevelopmental challenges and abilities. I will draw on different perspectives and approaches, depending on each person's unique needs.
I am Chartered and a member of the BPS. I am also registered with the HCPC.
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
Therapies offered
Fees
£100.00 - £120.00
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
I charge between £100 and £120 per hour, but this fee is negotiable under special circumstances.
Charges for Psychological Assessment will also be set at £110 per hour, with a clear estimate of costs being provided and agreed upon prior to commencing the assessment. Once the assessment protocol and estimate is agreed upon, half the fees are due to be paid prior to commencing the assessment.
When I work
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Further information
Confidentiality agreement
My work with you will be fully confidential. But if I am very concerned about your wellbeing or the wellbeing of those around you, I will bring this to your attention and together we will find a way of making sure that everyone is as safe as possible. If that means having to ask for help from other services I will facilitate that.
I will be taking some notes during our sessions. These will be kept in a lockable file and coded so that your personal details are not kept on the notes. If you would find it helpful for me to summarise our work and my reflections, I would be happy to do so in a confidential report/letter addressed to you only. With respect to assessment reports, we will agree on who this may need to be shared with, and how we will do this.
My own clinical supervision
I am professionally duty bound to receive supervision and to reflect on my practice. This means talking about how I work with my clients. However, all your personal details are kept confidential during supervision. I also participate in continuous professional development and regularly update my skills.
I carry full professional insurance and am registered with Data Protection Authorities.