About me
I work with children, teenagers and families where school anxiety, EBSA, neurodivergence, autistic burnout, fatigue, chronic illness or persistent physical symptoms overlap and have become difficult to manage. I am an ACP-registered Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist with 10 years’ experience in NHS paediatric and CAMHS settings, including TRACCS at UCLH, working with young people affected by complex physical health conditions, functional symptoms, CFS/ME, Long Covid and FND, and families navigating complex school, family and healthcare systems. My approach is biopsychosocial and joined-up.
Therapy is not about suggesting difficulties or symptoms are "all in the mind". It can help young people and families understand how the body, emotions, stress, fear and avoidance interact, and work towards pain management, pacing, resilience and confidence. Where helpful, I use a joined-up approach with your medical team or GP.
Many young people and parents arrive feeling dismissed, confused or exhausted. I begin by taking symptoms seriously and thinking with you about what is happening, what has helped or not helped so far, and what kind of support could make everyday life feel more manageable. The foundation of our work will be realistic goal setting and building resilience.
Training, qualifications & experience
I completed my training (Professional Clinical Doctorate in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy) at the Tavistock, the leading child and adolescent psychotherapy training institution in the country. I also have an MSc in Psychoanalytic studies from University College London and a PGDip in Perinatal, Child, Adolescent and Family Work: a Psychoanalytic Observational Approach.
My clinical background spans nearly 10 years in NHS settings including CAMHS, paediatric hospital (University College London Hospital), community adolescent mental health services and private healthcare. I bring thousands of hours of direct therapy contact with children, teens and their families. I specialise in neurodevelopmental work and multidisciplinary care, having written my doctoral thesis on interprofessional collaboration in paediatric hospital settings. Alongside independent practice, I also work at The Soke, a specialist private mental health clinic in Chelsea, where I provide psychotherapy and assessment for children, adolescents, young adults and families facing complex mental health challenges, including neurodevelopmental presentations, chronic health conditions, chronic pain and persistent physical symptoms.
I am a full member of the Association of Child Psychotherapists and a fellow of the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme. My professional work sits at the intersection of child psychotherapy, paediatric health, neurodevelopment, identity, family life and mental health innovation. I also write and speak publicly about children's mental health, neurodivergence, racism, diagnosis, adolescence, family life and the role of psychotherapy in helping children and young people feel understood beyond symptoms or labels. My writing has appeared in The Guardian and Metro, and other publications, and I have presented clinical papers at psychotherapy conferences and delivered trainings in NHS and private healthcare settings.
Member organisations
The ACP is the registering body for NHS trained Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists. ACP members undergo a minimum 6 year training; two years at Masters level then 4 years full-time clinical in the NHS qualifying in a Doctorate Level course. Full members are able to work with neonates, mothers & babies, parents & toddlers, primary school age children & adolescents. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
Accredited register membership
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Fees
£300.00 per session
Additional information
Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy in Highgate is £300 per 50-minute weekly appointment for new treatment agreements, following assessment and subject to suitability and availability. A Parent Consultation is £185 for a standalone 40-minute online appointment and is the first appropriate step for new enquiries. Initial Assessment is a separate three-session process and is not directly bookable online. More information is available on my website.
Further information
Many families come to me after speaking to several professionals already. I do not assume that starting therapy straight away is always the right first step. Each new child or young person begins with a careful initial assessment, so we can think about what has already been tried, what may be contributing to the difficulty, and what kind of support may be most helpful.
This may lead to psychotherapy with me, parent counselling and guidance, school liaison, healthcare liaison, onward referral, or further assessment, such as an autism assessment or psychiatric consultation. Where helpful, I liaise with schools, GPs, paediatricians, clinical nurse specialists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and other professionals involved in your child’s care.
My approach is psychoanalytic, psychodynamic, evidence-informed and biopsychosocial. This means I think about the whole child: their emotional life, development, family relationships, school experience, neurodivergence, physical health, medical history and the wider professional network around them.
I do not see psychotherapy as simply managing symptoms or correcting behaviour. Symptoms matter, and families often need help quickly when a child is suffering. But meaningful therapy also asks a deeper question: who is this child becoming, and what parts of them have not yet been understood?
When a child feels that someone wants to know them, rather than just fix them, something important can happen. They may begin to feel less alone, more curious about themselves, and more able to discover that they are someone worth knowing.
I work beyond diagnostic labels and symptoms. I am interested in the child behind the presentation, and in helping families understand not only what is going wrong, but what may be trying to grow.
I have over a decade of NHS experience, including paediatric hospital settings such as UCLH TRACCS, where I worked with young people affected by complex physical health conditions, functional symptoms, CFS/ME, Long Covid and FND. My doctoral research focuses on integrated care between child psychotherapists and paediatricians in hospital settings, and my clinical qualification paper focused on working with CFS/ME patient groups.
Where physical symptoms or school attendance difficulties are part of the picture, I start from the position that symptoms are real. Therapy is not about telling a child that symptoms are “all psychological”. It is a space to understand how body, mind, stress, illness, school and family life may be affecting each other
