Shelley has considerable experience in treating a broad range of mental health problems and extensive continued professional development in the area of PTSD and complex trauma. Trained to deliver additional CBT based approaches such as Cognitive Processing Therapy, Imagery Rescripting, Narrative Exposure Therapy, Compassion Focussed Therapy, Interpersonal Therapy and Mindfulness.

Shelley’s training and knowledge spans an 18 year career in Mental Healthcare during which she has experience in the NHS, Private Sector and Ministry of Defence. With experience in acute and forensic mental health settings such as secure psychiatric inpatient facilities and prison in-reach teams, Shelley is skilled in working with complex patient groups.

Shelley served 13 years in the Armed Forces working in Defence Mental Health Services, delivering mental healthcare to personnel in the firm base and on combat operations in Afghanistan. She has experience of delivering occupationally focussed mental health assessment and treatment, focussed on working collaboratively to make real changes.

After my BSc(Hons) Psychology, I embarked on my Psychotherapy training with the University of Manchester, graduating with a Post Graduate Diploma in Cognitive Therapy in 2004.

Since then, I have worked in Service Development roles in Severe and Enduring Mental Health and worked in Senior roles in the NHS Primary and Secondary Care Psychology Services, and as a Consultant Psychotherapist in Forensic Psychiatry, successfully developing a Psychotherapy department and service in a Secure Hospital. I have also worked as Modality Lead in an NHS IAPT Service, and for a time in full time Private Practice. I currently work in Secondary Care Psychology for complex psychological presentations.

I have worked with most psychological difficulties, and am comfortable treating adolescents and adults. I am also qualified in Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (Parts I,II and III), and HCR-20 (Historical Clinical Risk). I have also completed my IAPT Supervisors Training (University of York), and have Clinically Supervised Post Graduate Psychotherapy Students, Clinical Psychology Trainees, and Medical Doctors completing Mental Health Training and Psychotherapy Training. I am also experienced in providing training, teaching, and have co-presented a Psychological model of Compulsive Buying at the BABCP Conference in Exeter.

I strongly believe in a good strong therapeutic relationship based on trust, respect and equality in sessions. I want people to be heard, and I believe in achieving a shared understanding of a problem as being a strong foundation to successful treatment.

I have a wide range of knowledge, skills and experience of working in both general and mental health settings within the NHS over 28years, and also in the voluntary and private sector. My mental health psychotherapy work includes, Lead Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist in Primary care & IAPT NHS, CBT in NHS Secondary care & Early Intervention, and CBT in an NHS pain management unit. My experience additionally includes working as a therapist in a rape & sexual abuse service, a therapist for survivors of torture, a co-ordinator in a women’s psychotherapy & counselling service, a therapist for staff & students in a 6th Form College and a therapist for staff & students in a University Counselling and psychotherapy service.

I currently provide CBT, working with individuals experiencing a broad range of common mental health difficulties, including trauma, anxiety disorders, work related stress, depression, and pain management, and I additionally provide EMDR for trauma related problems.

I never underestimate what it takes for individuals to contact a therapist, and I have much respect and admiration for the courage demonstrated by clients during the process of therapy. I hold a strong belief in the CBT and EMDR evidence based approaches, when they are assessed as appropriate to meet the client’s psychological and emotional needs, and I have regularly evidenced clients’ achievements, and positive change, throughout the therapeutic contact.

Having been particularly interested in cognitive behavioural therapy, I completed a basic skills course in 1999 and went on to complete a masters degree in psychosocial interventions and a post graduate diploma in cognitive behavioural psychotherapy. I am also trained in EMDR and DBT.

I have worked as a psychotherapist for the NHS for the last 13 years and during that time, helped to set up and teach on the IAPT high intensity CBT course at the University of Sheffield, for which our team won a Fellowship Award.

In the last 20 years I have worked with a diverse range of mental health problems with individuals and groups. I am particularly interested in helping people to understand how mental health problems develop, how they are maintained and most importantly, how they can be overcome.

I worked within NHS mental health services for 14 years. I completed my CBT training in 2011 and I have extensive experience of using CBT to help people work with emotional problems such as:

• Depression
• Low self-esteem
• Panic attacks and agoraphobia
• Social Anxiety Disorder
• Chronic worry (or Generalised Anxiety Disorder)
• Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Phobias
• Health anxiety
• Sleep difficulties
• Body image difficulties
• Some eating disorders
• Perfectionism

I recognise just how difficult it can be to ask for help and to start a course of therapy. I believe it is important to provide a safe and supportive environment and establish a trusting therapeutic relationship from the outset. This can help people to take the necessary steps that will ultimately reduce emotional distress and improve the quality of their lives. CBT focuses on helping people to develop a better understanding of their difficulties and learn new ways of thinking and acting. I adopt a compassionate, non-judgmental, and collaborative approach with all patients.

I am also a qualified clinical supervisor and have provided supervision to individual therapists and groups, from trainees to more experienced therapists. I am a teacher, tutor, and clinical supervisor on the IAPT CBT course at the University of Sheffield, which trains future CBT Therapists. Furthermore, I am the Programme Director for the Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Supervision, which trains clinical supervisors who supervise Education Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs) working within schools helping children of all ages. I am also the Programme Director for the IAPT Supervisor Programme, which trains clinical supervisors who supervise clinicians working within IAPT services.

I have enjoyed delivering workshops and career talks to local universities and to the public. I also acted as a discussant for a symposium on ‘IAPT and Primary Care’ and delivered a workshop at the 2019 BABCP national conference. The title of the workshop was ‘Maximising your effectiveness as a CBT Therapist’. Indeed, spreading the word of CBT and that mental health matters is something I am very passionate about.

I receive regular clinical supervision and ensure I am up to date with the latest developments in CBT. I am committed to Continued Professional Development and I am an accredited member of the BABCP. I am DBS checked and have Public Liability Insurance.