Dr Nina Fernandes
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
I am a Chartered Clinical Psychologist with over 15 years’ experience working within the NHS. I have worked in various mental health services across the UK with children and young people, adults and older adults, in the community and in hospital settings. I have also worked with people with long-term health conditions. My specialty lies with adults over the age of 18 in the community, with difficulties ranging from general distress to the more complex end of the spectrum including complex trauma and dissociation.
I appreciate that seeking therapy can be a daunting experience requiring a certain level of vulnerability. I offer a warm, respectful and supportive environment within which we can safely and collaboratively explore your experiences. My training in trauma-informed therapies and care allows me to understand your mental health within the context of your circumstances, particularly in terms of how early life events may have shaped your responses and contributed to the way in which you navigate your life at present. We are all unique and so it is important that I meet you where you are at in your journey to understanding your own mental health and adapt therapy to suit your needs.
I have extensive training in a wide range of psychological therapies including, Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS) as a Level 1 therapist. I also trained in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and worked as a CBT therapist prior to completing my clinical psychology doctoral training. I have also received foundational training in Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), Systemic Family Therapy and Cognitive Analytic training and I frequently use these approaches successfully in my work. I completed Motivational Interviewing training quite early on in my career and weave this in when it is appropriate.
Additionally, I draw from Polyvagal Theory to understand each of our unique nervous systems' responses to our life experiences. My clients have found that when they develop this understanding, they are able to form a deeper understanding of the impact of their life experiences and have a more non-blaming and compassionate view towards themselves and others.
Most of us will struggle with our mental health at some point. It is important that you are heard in your experience without negative bias or judgment, and I do this by getting to know you and gently visiting your past to understand some reasons for why you may be here today. All of you and your experiences are so welcome and it is so important to me that you find relief in the short and long term for your difficulties. I sincerely hope you will get in touch if this feels right to you.
Training, qualifications & experience
- Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy)
- Level 1 Internal Family Systems Training
- Introduction to Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
- PG Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy (CBT)
- Motivational Interviewing
- PG Diploma in Psychology
- Compassion Mind Training for Eating Disorders (CFT)
- MSc in Work and Organisational Psychology
- BA in Psychology
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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
Relational trauma/difficulties, Dissociative presentations, complex trauma, sleep problems, generalised anxiety, social anxiety, panic, adjustment to life experiences and transitions, relationship difficulties.
Therapies offered
Fees
£120.00 per session
Free initial telephone session
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
Sessions last 50 mins. If you require letters or reports, then this will be upon request and will be charged at my hourly session rate as I will use this time to write them.
Payment will be made via bank transfer which you will need to make before a session. I will give you further details about how you can do this when we book a session.
Further information
I welcome referrals from adults over the age of 18 with a range of mental health difficulties. I offer assessments and bespoke therapeutic interventions to meet your needs.
In some instances, you might have a knowing that something does not feel right to you in terms of your mental health, but you might not have the language or words which accurately account for or describe your experiences. In these instances, it can be useful to come to therapy as the process of collaborative sense making or formulating can be hugely beneficial.
I do not make formal medical diagnoses as clinical psychologists use assessments and formulations to make sense of your difficulties. If you have a formal diagnosis of a mental health condition(s) then this is welcome too and will be considered alongside your experiences.
