Abby has worked with a wide range of clients with complex psychological difficulties. She was the clinical lead for the Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) service at a privately-run hospital, before moving into NHS forensic inpatient services. She has particular expertise in working with people with severe and enduring difficulties in emotions and relationships, including people who might have had a diagnosis of personality disorder from services, or who experience complex difficulties related to early trauma. She also has an interest in autism and has provided consultation, training and advice to professionals on this topic. She is particularly interested in the interaction between our sensory experiences, our emotions and our relationships and how an adverse environment can affect our ability to self-regulate. As a forensic psychologist, she also has extensive experience of assessing and managing risk and delivering interventions to help people turn away from offending.

Some of Abby’s clients have come to her because they were struggling to manage very intense emotions including overwhelming shame, guilt, anger, rage, anxiety or sadness. She has also worked with many people who described themselves as feeling emotionally numb or empty inside, who perhaps had difficulties with dissociation or feeling cut off from their bodies.  They might have used self-harm or other harmful strategies to cope. The aim of the work has been to develop a therapeutic relationship that would allow them to explore their emotions safely and learn strategies to notice and manage them without becoming overwhelmed by them.

Abby is registered with the HCPC as a practitioner psychologist (forensic) and has an additional qualification in the therapeutic use of the arts.

Abby will often support clients to use the arts and other creative approaches to explore their thoughts and feelings. She recently completed an Advanced Diploma in the Therapeutic Use of the Arts at the Institute for the Arts in Therapy and Education (IATE), London. The course teaches an integrative approach (drawing particularly on Gestalt therapy, Attachment and Transactional Analysis models of psychotherapy) to using arts media in therapy, including poetry, clay, music, movement, drama, body work, puppets and sand tray as well as visual arts (painting, drawing etc.).

As well as working as an associate therapist at Beacon House, Abby continues to work in the NHS and is also a specialist member of the Parole Board for England and Wales. Abby has also worked as a social researcher and has skills in service evaluation. As such, she has an interest in, and commitment to, evidence-based practise.  However, she also understands that people don’t fit into neat boxes and treatment needs to be flexible. Abby believes that people are unique and creative in how they experience – and adapt to cope with – life’s problems, in order to survive and thrive as best they can. As well as the approaches already mentioned, Abby’s work is informed by her knowledge of schema therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).  Abby knows that what works for one person, may not work for another and she will take time to explore your needs with you. She is warm, collaborative and brings an integrative and thoughtful approach to therapy drawing on all of her knowledge and experiences.

  • Advanced Diploma in the Therapeutic Use of the Arts
    Institute of Arts in Therapy and Education (IATE), 2020
  • BACP Endorsed Certificate in Creative Therapies
    Lisa Britton and Martin Chester, Creative Play Ltd, 2014
  • Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Intensive Training Parts 1 & 2
    British Isles DBT Training Team, 2013
  • Qualification in Forensic Psychology, Stage 2: Supervised Practice
    British Psychological Society, 2012
  • Diploma in Forensic Psychology, Stage 1, Part B: Research
    British Psychological Society, 2006
  • Diploma in Forensic Psychology, Stage 1, Part A: Professional Exams – Distinction
    British Psychological Society, 2004
  • BSc Psychology (Hons) 1st Class
    University of York, 2002