Clinical Support Services

Trust

The young people who come to New Reflexions have often had difficult early experiences that are  hard to make sense of. Very often, these challenges have been followed by multiple placement breakdowns.

By the time they reach us they may well have learned not to trust and have developed a whole range of strategies that are all about self-defence. They may find it hard to manage feelings, particularly anger and distress. They may find it hard to understand or care about what others may feel. They may think things have been their fault, that they are to blame for all that has happened. They may feel ineffective and not want to co-operate. They may want to attempt to control all aspects of their experience, and they may find it difficult to feel that they belong anywhere. They may not feel safe.

Insecurity

These types of difficulties are best understood in terms of attachment insecurity. At New Reflexions our goal is to promote attachment security and resilience. We do this by providing an integrated service in which all elements of the organisation, care, education and the clinical team, work together to provide a robust, thoughtful and nurturing environment that might enable more positive models of relationship, and promote a more positive view of the self.

The Secure Base Model

In order to do all this effectively we use The Secure Base Model, developed by Professor Gill Schofield and Dr Mary Beek. By effectively targeting the five domains that are associated with attachment security we hope to make a positive, evidenced based impact on the lives of our young people.

The clinical team are all highly qualified and experienced in working with young people in residential care. We provide individual therapy sessions in our designated suite of therapy rooms, and we conduct monthly consultations with staff teams.

We are able to administer a range of bespoke psychometric assessments and we regularly apply psychological measures in order to chart progress. In addition, we deliver an extensive programme of in house training covering attachment theory, developmental trauma, sexually harmful behaviour, emotional regulation, ASD, ADHD, to name but a few.

Meet The Team

 Dr Jennifer Haigh

Counselling Psychologist

BSc (Hons), DCounsPsy, HCPC, BPS, EMDR UK & Ireland 

Jennifer is a chartered Counselling Psychologist with extensive experience of working with children and families across a variety of settings, presenting with emotional and behavioural difficulties. Her approach is centered within attachment theory and remains a key area of interest alongside psychological trauma.  

Jennifer has additional trainings in DDP (Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy), EMDR for adults, and children & adolescents (recommended by NICE guidelines as the treatment of choice for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder).  She is qualified to use a portfolio of psychometric assessments and clinical procedures assessing intelligence, personality, autism, trauma symptomatology, and psychopathology.

Previously Jennifer has worked with adults across a variety of mental health settings including primary and secondary NHS care services, and facilitated the formation and development of services within multiple organisations.  

Dr Gemma Jones

Chartered Psychologist

BSc (Hons), MA, D. Couns. Psych, CPsychol

Gemma is a Chartered, HCPC registered Counselling Psychologist working with adults, children and young people’s mental health.  Gemma’s Clinical Practice is underpinned by 10 years training in Clinical Counselling, Counselling Psychology and Clinical Experience. 

By integrating best research evidence with clinical expertise and client values, Gemma is able to work across the lifespan in a range of settings. Currently specialising in Children Looked After, Adoption and Fostering, Gemma has a special interest in Attachment and Complex Trauma.

Gemma is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and young people, through a dedication to practice which protects and ensures that every child/young person has the opportunity to fulfil their potential.

Kelly Tipton

M.Sci (Hons)

Kelly is an Assistant Psychologist with an integrated Master’s degree in Psychology & Psychological Practice from the University of Birmingham. Kelly has Graduate Basis for Chartership from the British Psychological Society.  She has previously worked with individuals with Learning Disabilities, autism, attachment difficulties and mental health.

Kelly has supported young adults with challenging behaviour and emotional difficulties with expression of emotions and is trained in Makaton to support through non-verbal communication.  

Kelly has been on trauma training, and is currently completing a mindfulness training course. Kelly has over 7 years of experience supporting within care, mental health and learning disabilities services.

Hayley Slater

B.Sc. (Hons), M.A. Art Therapy., BAAT, HCPC.

Hayley is an Art Psychotherapist; she holds a degree in Forensic Psychology and a Master’s qualification to practice Psychodynamic Art Psychotherapy.

Hayley is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council, is a full member of the British Association of Art Therapists and holds Graduate Basis for Chartership with the British Psychological Society.

Hayley first began work at New Reflexions as a residential childcare worker before completing her professional training to join the Clinical Team.

Hayley has over 10 years of experience working within care and mental health settings, including therapeutic work with children and young people with Autism, Learning Disabilities, Complex Trauma and attachment difficulties.
  

Andrew Wood

Art Therapist and Psychodynamic Psychotherapist,

Head of Clinical Services. 

Andrew began his professional life as a painter, having studied Fine Art for his first degree. However, he later undertook a post-graduate training in Art Therapy, before reading for an M.Sc. in Psychology. Later still he read for an M.St. in Psychodynamic Practice at Oxford University. As well as being an Art Therapist  and Psychodynamic Psychotherapist, Andrew is fully trained in EMDR (eye movement desensitisation and re-processing- recommended by NICE as a treatment of choice for PTSD). He is a full and accredited member of HCPC, UKCP, UPCA and BAAT. He has over 30 years’ experience of working within the residential care sector. 

Andrew is a keen advocate for integrated models of working that recognise the essential contributions of all aspects of the service. He regards the relationships that residential care staff are able to form with our young people as a major area of intervention within the reparative attempt that is delivered through residential care. He is equally clear that all must be sited within robust and evidenced based frameworks. Andrew has led the development of the Secure Base Model within New Reflexions.