Robert William Hawkes. Consultant Psychological Therapist. MSc PgDip BSc (Hons)

Training, qualifications & experience

My background in Health Care:

• In 1989 I started out on a Youth Training Scheme (YTS) in the area of Community Care, oddly, in the very building where I currently provide Psychotherapy. My placements were within two local nursing homes, the second of which I gained a permanent role as a care assistant.

• I was then employed (and formally trained) as a health care assistant (HCA) in 1994 when moving to Acute Medicine (Ward 24) at North Tees General Hospital in Stockton, gaining a NVQ Level 2 in Direct Care.

• In 1995 I was then drawn to psychiatary, working with individuals with acute mental health needs on an inpatient ward at North Tees. I again underwent formal training as a HCA, also completing a NVQ Level 3 in Mental Health Care.

• Then, in 2000 I started university and trained as an Occupational Therapist (OT). My placements included a children’s team, two adult mental health teams and James Cook Hospital. During this period I still worked as a HCA to fund my studies. When qualifying in 2003 I set up an OT therapy service ‘from scratch’ within the mental health unit I’d previously worked within. This service provided assessment and treatment through a number of forms of therapeutic activities and psycho-educational groups. In 2007 the service briefly merged with the Crisis Team, therefore, I was also responsible for providing care to those who were also actively suicidal within the local community.

• In 2008 I decided to move into Primary Care Mental Health, and began a role as a Gateway Practitioner. Working closely with GPs, who referred patients with depression and anxiety. At this point, training in Solution-Focused Brief Therapy is when I became really interested in psychotherapy. Therefore, added to this, I undertook a Level 5 CBT course at Teesside University. The Theory and Practice of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Anxiety and Depression, this sparked a new found passion.

• In 2011 I retrained as fully as a Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist, building on the previous course and completing a PgDip in CBT (Level 7). This was with MIND and The University of Teesside. I was based within the local Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) service, Hartlepool branch.

• Then I moved to Secondary Care mental health (Sedgefield Affective Disorders) within the community as a Psychological Therapist in 2014, providing highly complex psychological therapies. During this period I trained to deliver Dialectical Behavioural Psychotherapy (Skills Group and individual). I also became fully qualified as a mindfulness teacher and delivered Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) in a group format, or individually. I am deeply passionate about delivering the highest standard of care and in 2016 I won a People's Choice Award whilst working with Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust.
• https://mobile.twitter.com/tewvresearch/status/722770942083100672

• In April 2017 I opened my clinic (alongside my NHS work) to ‘test-out’ the therapeutic market place. After it’s success, in June 2017 I decided to moved fully into private practice. This is where I can use my vast wealth and knowledge of mental and physical ill health from a wide and varied number of settings to treat you in a highly flexible way.

• In 2018 after further intensive training, I advanced from a Post Graduate Diploma in CBT to a Masters degree in the same subject. This has given me a greater insight into the field of psychotherapy.

• In 2019 I sought to enhance my skills even further. I qualified in Eye Movement and Desensitization and Reprocessing training with EMDR Association UK and Ireland. I have completed Parts 1, 2 and 3. Finally, I have increased my knowledge of EMDR with the added feature of Attached Focused-EMDR. This was completed with EMDR Focus Limited, November 22nd and 23rd. I also began a new role within the NHS, working with a local Youth and Wellbeing service, where I provide psychotherapy (ages 11-19).

• In 2020 I completed the Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy for Life (MBCT-L) training with Oxford Mindfulness Centre. A course aimed at the general population with a focus on wellness. Therapy Made Easy is now moving towards it’s 3rd year and I feel incredibly lucky and blessed to be able to do the thing I love the most, supporting others in their therapeutic journey.

Other areas of counselling I deal with

Borderline Personality Disorder

Substance misuse

Transgender

Gay

Bisexual

Lesbian

Suicide

Confidence building

Improving self-worth

Further information

Regulating Professional Bodies:

As a member of four professional bodies I adhere to their strict codes of professional conduct. These organisations are responsible for maintaining the highest standards of health care, they are listed below. If you are concerned about my practice you can contact the appropriate service listed.

• The Health Care and Professions Council:

I am registered with the Health Care and Professions Council (HCPC)- Occupational Therapist (OT). This is an independent, UK-wide regulatory body responsible for setting and maintaining standards of professional training, behaviour and health. Check my details here- https://www.hcpc-uk.org/

• The British Assocation for Behavioural and Cognitive Pyschotherapies:

Fully accredited with the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (UK lead organisation). You can check my details here- http://www.cbtregisteruk.com/Default.aspx

• The Royal College of Occupational Therapists:

Currently, I am a member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, who set the professional and educational standards for the occupational therapy profession and represent the profession at national and international levels. RCOT plays a crucial role in promoting the profession and meeting the professional needs of occupational therapy staff in the UK. https://www.rcot.co.uk

• EMDR Association UK and Ireland:

As a member of EMDR Association UK and Ireland my membership number is; H0453. Currently, I am working towards my EMDR practitioner accreditation, this generally takes a year after qualifying http://emdrassociation.org.uk