Story
I am a Chartered Clinical Psychologist with full membership in regulatory professional organisations – the British Psychological Society, and professional recognition from the Health Professions Council. For over twenty years, I have dedicated my work to promoting the psychological well-being of people on the Autism Spectrum and improving understanding of ASC as an international trainer in diagnostics of ASC, lecturer, writer and therapist.
Currently, I work as a Clinical Psychologist in private practice in London and as a Senior Clinical Tutor at the Anna Freud Centre and University College London, lecturing and mentoring professionals wishing to develop expertise in the field of Autism Spectrum. My work as an International Trainer in the diagnostics of Autism Spectrum has taken me to almost every continent. International collaboration is a key focus of my work.
The most satisfying achievements of my career has been inspiring people to continuously strive to create more inclusive environments for everyone on the neuro-spectrum and helping children and young people to achieve to their potential.
Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of learning from many inspirational people on the autism spectrum and their families, as well as from working alongside of leading experts in this field. I started my career working for the National Autistic Society, supporting young adults with ASC in accessing further education. I then worked at the Institute of Psychiatry and the Maudsley Hospital in London with Professor Anthony Bailey as a Research Psychologist on the Molecular Genetic Study of Autism as well as on the longitudinal study following up children adopted from Romania, who experienced severe deprivation in early development.
For ten years, I held the position of Principal Clinical Psychologist at the National Centre for High Functioning Autism at the Great Ormond Street Hospital, which is a internationally renowned children’s hospital in London. There I worked alongside of Professor David Skuse, Dr Will Mandy as well as many other experienced clinicians . Together with colleagues from the Institute of Child Health and the University College London, I conducted research into how environmental modifications in schools can lead to improved outcomes for children and young people with autism spectrum. I was part of the team who developed the STEP-ASC (Systemic Transition Programme for ASC), a manualised, research-evaluated intervention supporting children with Autism Spectrum in mainstream schools, and co-authored a book on supporting children during the transition into secondary school. We developed programs to support children, young people and their families after receiving a diagnosis (PEGASUS), published in peer-reviewed journals including JCPP and PEGASUS is now used in a range of services across the UK. I also set up and continue to provide training in diagnostic assessment of Autism Spectrum (ADOS2 courses), which attracts professionals from all over the world.
In 2017, I was approached to set up the first ASC/LD module, as part of a national program aimed at raising expertise of mental health professionals in the UK in evidence-based treatment with children and young people. I worked as a joint Module Lead at the Anna Freud Centre and University College London, which equips therapists with specialist knowledge and develops their clinical expertise in this field, hence this is a unique opportunity for the systematic dissemination of knowledge widely to local services across the region.