ABOUT ME
Dr Naomi Spokes
CPsychol, PyschD, MSc, BSc (Hons)
I believe that everyone has their own unique needs, strengths, and difficulties and through the therapeutic process I aim to help individuals make sense of their experiences and how they may be impacting their current functioning, with the goal of achieving greater fulfilment and satisfaction in their lives and relationships.
I offer skilled, compassionate, evidence-based support to people who find themselves in distress or at a point in their lives when they would like to speak to a trained professional. I have a broad training in a number of psychological models including psychodynamic psychotherapy, Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and systemic therapy. Whilst I specialise in psychodynamic psychotherapy which has a particular focus on the ways in which our early experiences shape and influence how we relate to ourselves and others, I draw on my knowledge and skills from different psychological therapies in an integrative way to ensure I tailor sessions to suit your needs.
The approaches I use are all well researched and evidenced to support their use for a range of psychological difficulties. I am fully insured and have an enhanced DBS check.
Experience
I have over ten years' experience working with clients across the lifespan in various NHS mental health settings, including Primary Care, Secondary Care Community Mental Health Teams (CMHTs), Child and Adolescent Services (CAMHS), and Psychotherapy Services.
I offer help for diverse issues, from day-to-day difficulties to more complex psychological problems including anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, personality disorders, eating problems, abuse, medically unexplained symptoms, and pre and postnatal depression and anxiety.
I have experience offering supervision to final year Clinical and Counselling Psychologists in Training and have provided regular psychological consultation to GPs to consider how best to support their patients’ mental health needs. Furthermore, I have conducted, co-supervised, and published research exploring factors influencing non-disclosure in therapy, with a particular focus on the roles of shame and the therapy relationship.
Qualifications, Courses and Trainings, and Accreditations
Qualifications
BSc (Hons) Psychology - Royal Holloway, University of London (2002-2005)
MSc Research Methods in Psychology - University Of Reading (2005-2006)
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (PsychD) – University of Surrey (2009-2012)
Courses and Trainings
Two year Infant Observation - British Psychotherapy Foundation (BPF) (2017-2019)
Certificate in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (D58 Course) - Tavistock & Portman NHS Foundation Trust & University of Essex (2014-2016)
Counselling Psychology Supervisor Training - City, University of London (2018)
Clinical Psychology Supervisor Training - University of London (Royal Holloway, UCL, and UEL; 2017)
Clinical Psychology Supervisor Training - University of Surrey (2014)
Accreditations
Registered Practitioner Psychologist with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) - Number: PYL28868
Chartered Member of the British Psychological Society (BPS) - Number: 664445
Full Member of BPS Special Group for Independent Practitioners (SGIP)
Publications
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Simonds, L.M. & Spokes, N. (2017). Therapist self-disclosure and the therapeutic alliance in the treatment of eating problems. Eating Disorders, 25, 151-164.
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Murphy, K., Simonds, L.M. & Spokes, N. (2019). Disclosure in therapy by clients with eating difficulties: a Q-methodology study. Eating Disorders, 24,1-15.