Psychologists

Health Psychologists

Health Psychologists working with our services help people respond to and manage the psychological and emotional aspects of health and illness. They encourage people to improve their health by promoting healthy lifestyles and supporting people in managing chronic illness or pain. We have health psychologists working within our services as therapists (after additional specific training) and within health services, such as Diabetes care. 

We support our Health psychologists throughout their training and once qualified, to gain the necessary skills and experience to continue to grow with us.  Many go on to take further specialist qualifications to enhance their skills and our service.

As a health psychologist I specialize in understanding the interplay between bio-psycho-social factors, physical health and mental wellbeing. I have worked across a variety of mental and physical health settings across HPFT, helping patients understand their health behaviours and adjust to life changing conditions. I’ve enjoyed further training and career development opportunities offered by Trust and currently hold a senior role in HPFT Eating Disorders service.

Counselling Psychologist

Our Counselling Psychologists work with children or adults across the lifespan, and the systems around them including professionals, organisations, and communities.   Our counselling psychologist work with a wide range of psychological issues including the most complex or acute presentations in mental health, social care, education, physical health, and forensic settings. Counselling Psychologists strive to reduce distress and improve people’s functioning, and often support and advise their colleagues.  Some roles may be open to those completing their training as a Counselling Psychologist

We support our Counselling Psychologists to gain the necessary skills and experience to continue to grow with us.  Many go on to take further specialist qualifications to enhance their skills and our service.

In my work as Counselling Psychologist I draw on my training in several forms of psychological therapy (such CBT and existential-phenomenological therapy) and my own reflective experience to support people with difficulties and challenges in their life. Having undergone psychological therapy myself, helps me in offering a therapeutic relationship to my clients that aims to enable positive change. I have worked in number of private organisations and NHS trusts with young people and adults, before Joining HPFT as a Consultant within Eating Disorders.    I enjoy working as the psychological lead for HPFT’s Eating Disorder Service where I support my team of therapists in their work with people with eating disorders. Dr Christian Koebbel, Consultant Counselling Psychologist

Forensic Psychologist

Forensic psychologists specialise in healthcare for offenders. This can include working with offenders in areas like sexual offending, violence and aggression, and drug or alcohol abuse. As a Forensic Psychologist you would explore how psychological challenges can be associated with criminal behaviour and offer treatment in order to help people who have been involved in the criminal justice system rehabilitate into the community. In HPFT we employ forensic Psychologists in learning disability and mental health services.  They work with staff and service users in prisons, probation, secure hospitals and the community responding to their changing needs and working to reduce stress.  They often provide specialist advice and guidance. Some roles may be open to those completing their forensic psychology training

We support our Forensic Psychology trainees throughout their training and once qualified, to gain the necessary skills and experience to continue to grow with us.  Many go on to take further specialist qualifications to enhance their skills and our service.

Clinical Psychologist

Clinical Psychologists in HPFT work with adults or children and young people as well as teams and services to formulate solutions based on psychological theory and evidence? Clinical Psychologist work with service users, carers or families using psychological knowledge to create unique approaches to solving problems. They also supervise, train and support other professionals and teams, undertake research to develop, evaluate and improve psychological interventions and services.  We have a close relationship with the University of Hertfordshire and each year offer placements to people on their D Clin Psy training. We employ Clinical Psychologists in all areas working with individuals with mental health, learning disabilities or challenges related to their health.

We support Clinical Psychologists to gain the necessary skills and experience to continue to grow with us.  Many go on to take further specialist qualifications to enhance their skills and our service.

I joined HPFT two years after completing my Clinical Doctorate. Since then, HPFT have provided me the support to develop throughout my time here. I have been provided with various opportunities to enhance and develop my skills and experience.   I have thoroughly enjoyed helping to be part of HPFT teams and offer evidence based psychological services to service users based on their psychological needs and their goals. I have been fortunate to engage in service development to enhance our existing offers and also bridge gaps to support those who are underrepresented in mental health services.  With in-house CPD offers I am able to enhance my clinical, supervisory and management knowledge and working with service users, families and carers knowing that we are making a difference continues to be so rewarding. Dr Bhavisha Dave, Consultant Clinical Psychologist

Clinical Associate Psychologists

Clinical Associate in Psychology (CAP) work with a clinical psychologist to use psychological theory and evidence to find the best interventions to meet someone’s needs. They conduct research and use tools to evaluate psychological interventions and improve the quality of clinical practice.  In HPFT we train CAPS as part of apprenticeship schemes, and are proud so many have qualified and now work with us.

We support our CAPs throughout their training and once qualified, to gain the necessary skills and experience to continue to grow with us.  Many go on to take further specialist qualifications to enhance their skills and our service.

Being a CAP has allowed me to pursue my motivation to help and support people using psychological interventions and as an alternative to the clinical psychology doctorate.  I have been involved in facilitating group interventions and 1:1 therapy under the supervision of a clinical psychologist. Through my training and supervision, I have learnt so much about psychological theory and evidence-based practice including CBT, DBT and CFT.  I have felt a valued member of the Enhanced Primary Mental Health Service who have helped to facilitate and guide my learning. Sam Lucey, Clinical Associate Psychologists

Assistant Psychologists

Our Assistant Psychologists are graduate psychologists and provide clinical support under the direct supervision of a qualified psychologist. Assistant Psychologists often work as part of a multi-disciplinary team and may be involved with undertaking assessments, research and contribute to multidisciplinary discussions about a client's diagnosis, treatment, risk assessment and care plan issues. You will also maintain clear written records, compile reports and draft letters to clients and other professionals. 

We support our CBT therapy trainees to gain the necessary skills and experience to continue to grow with us.  Many of our Assistant go on to undertake further training with us, and many of those we employ in other roles started working for us in this role.