Dr Michele McKenner
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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 with over 10 years experience of working with adults, children, adolescents and families in a variety of NHS settings.
Until recently I worked as part of a multi-agency (NHS and social care) team supporting with children with additional needs, including neurodevelopmental, learning, emotional & behavioural difficulties. Historically I have worked as part of an NHS Community Mental Health Team for adults with severe and enduring mental health needs.
Prior to becoming a clinical psychologist I worked for 13 years as a solicitor, in the City and then in the field of entertainment. I have first hand experience of working in demanding, high powered environments and the impact that these pressures can have on psychological well-being.
My approach:
My approach is collaborative, respectful and non-judgemental. I aim to support individuals and families to understand issues that are holding them back and improve well-being. Psychological therapy can help you to notice any unhelpful patterns of behaviour or ways of relating to others that may have developed for good reason over time and to work on areas of life that feel stuck.
Working with adults:
I work with a broad range of difficulties including depression, anxiety, OCD, relationship difficulties, problems at work, generally feeling stuck in life. As a clinical psychologist I have training in, and experience of working with, a range of therapeutic models / approaches:
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) - a therapy which aims to maximise your potential to lead a life which is rich and meaningful to you.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) - which aims to help you manage problems by changing the way you behave.
Psychodynamic perspective - considers any unhelpful patterns of relating to others that may stem from early childhood experiences.
Systemic / Narrative perspective - supports you to identify and acknowledge strengths, knowledge and skills that can help you to confront life's obstacles and build resilience.
Working with children, adolescents and families:
I offer support with a range of difficulties including anxiety, OCD, low mood, school refusal, difficulty managing emotions, challenging behaviour, parenting strategies, sleep / toileting issues. My work is based on approaches including:
Parenting Strategies - based on Social Learning Theory and Attachment Theory - aimed at promoting a secure attachment relationship between parent and child, increasing prosocial behaviour and reducing oppositional / challenging behaviour, maximising parental sensitivity to their child's needs.
Systemic Family Therapy - which aims to: promote mutual understanding between family members, provide a safe space in which to express and explore difficult thoughts & feelings, acknowledge family strengths and build on these to allow for positive change in relationships and lives.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) - which aims to help children and young people manage problems by changing the way they behave and think.
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) - which aims to support young people to maximise their potential to lead a life which is rich and meaningful to them.
Autism Spectrum Conditions:
I have a particular interest in Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC) and have extensive experience of working with children with ASC and of supporting parents to care for children with ASC. I am trained in the assessment of ASC using both the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) and the Developmental, Dimensional & Diagnostic Interview (3Di). I am offering multi-disciplinary ASC assessments, working together with a Speech and Language Therapist, in my private practice.
Training, qualifications & experience
Qualifications and memberships:
- Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) - PYL 33244
- Chartered Clinical Psychologist registered with the British Psychological Society - 354110
- Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from UCL (University College London)
- MSc in Experimental Psychology from University of Sussex
- Qualified solicitor with postgraduate diploma in law and diploma in law from College of Law
- BA Hons in French and Italian from University of Oxford, Wadham College
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
£140.00 - £150.00
Free initial online session
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
Preliminary 20 minute telephone consultation - free
An initial consultation for an individual costs £140-150 and lasts for about 60 minutes.
An initial consultation for a family (e.g. parent and child) costs £140-150 per hour and lasts up to about an hour and a half.
Subsequent sessions cost £140-150 and last for 50 - 60 minutes.
I have some availability for sessions at a lower rate, for example working with students.
Insurance companies - I am registered with Cigna and Aviva.
When I work
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My books are pretty full at the moment but I usually have availability for some parenting work, which could be a one-off session or just a few sessions, if clients are flexible around times.