DR LEANNE HARPER

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE

I am a Chartered Clinical Psychologist with ten years’ experience working across mental health teams in the NHS. I completed my doctorate in Clinical Psychology 2021 and have since developed a special interest in offering both brief interventions for specific difficulties, and longer-term work around understanding relationships (with others and with ourselves). 

My approach to therapy is to get to know the person I’m working with, their life experiences, environment, and important people around them. Therapy can be hard, so spending time to establish a genuine connection, and to trust one another, is one of the most important parts of the process. I like to spend time getting to truly understand what your strengths are, what a life worth living would mean for you, and what steps are possible to get there. I will work at your pace, offering gentle pushes when needed, but ultimately you are in control what you want to bring to therapy. 

I am experienced in offering digital therapy and have established a way of utilising technology to offer therapy that is of the same standard as face-to-face, however can be completed with additional flexibility (not having to rely on transport, childcare, or additional travel time). I offer evening appointments, meaning that you can attend after putting children to sleep, or after long working hours, so that you can still find time in your day to prioritise therapy. 

I am trained and experienced in multiple therapy approaches, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Analytic informed Therapy (CAT-informed), Family and Systemic Therapy, Narrative Therapy, and Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT). But, most importantly, I have experience in adapting different models to you, your reality, challenges, and responsibilities. My approach is usually relational based, so focuses on how you understand yourself, your story, and other people – and noticing repeating patterns that are no longer helpful. 

Training and qualifications

• Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy)

• BSc (hons) Psychology

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) & Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (F-ACT) 

RESEARCH

I am actively involved in research and evalutation of areas that I have worked in. This has involved published research into mindfulness, PTSD, and recovery colleges.

All publications can be found here 

ACCREDITATION TO PROFESSIONAL BODIES

• Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registered
• Chartered Member of British Psychological Society (BPS)

• Association of Clinical Psychologists UK (ACP-UK) 

• Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) – overseas transition

AREAS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

• Adult mental health (including anxiety, depression, stress, and a sense of feeling lost)

• Relationship difficulties

• Self-esteem

• Making sense of past trauma & difficult experiences