DR CAROLINE MURPHY

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE

Hello, my name is Caroline, I am a clinical psychologist with 20 years of experience working with adults over 18 and older adults who are suffering from a range of mental health difficulties and emotional distress. Having qualified as a Clinical Psychologist in 2005 at Newcastle University, I have gained extensive experience working with people with complex mental health difficulties and those with neurodegenerative conditions, as well as people who can benefit from focused, time limited therapeutic interventions.

I draw on a range of different therapeutic approaches, and I will often use a blend of therapies to suit your individual needs. More specifically, I am trained and accredited to deliver Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR), which is a specific form of highly effective psychological therapy that works to help people process past traumatic experiences in a safe and contained way, enabling them to heal from past trauma and move on with their lives.

In addition, I am trained as Mindfulness teacher, and I use Mindfulness, and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) as part of individually tailored interventions to aid recovery and progress. An essential element of teaching MBCT is to ‘teach from experience’, and this means that I also practice mindfulness daily to be able to share the benefits of this approach with others.

Central to my approach is the development of a shared psychological understanding of your unique story and the difficulties you are facing. This work is trauma informed and compassion focused. This understanding forms the basis for working collaboratively and beginning your journey to recovery. I feel that creating a safe, welcoming, supportive space for people is central to recovery and healing, and I aim to create this atmosphere based on empathy, trust, and compassionate attention.

Taking the first steps towards therapy can be really scary! That’s normal and to be expected. My initial focus would always be on making you feel comfortable and supported to share your experiences that have brought you to therapy.
This can enable us to explore your past and present difficulties together, in a way that feels safe and doesn’t overwhelm you. One of my roles as we work together is to consider what kinds of therapies or approaches could help you best and to share these ideas and thoughts with you, so that you have choices and space to think about what kind of work you feel would suit you best.

While I am trained in different types of therapy, I believe it is the therapeutic relationship that is key to helping people recover and this will always be at the heart of our work together. This enables us to work collaboratively to help you to progress and recover. If you choose to take this step, I really look forward to meeting with you.

Training and qualifications

• DClinPsy Clinical Psychology
• PhD Neuropsychology
• Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy
• EMDR Qualified

ACCREDITATION TO PROFESSIONAL BODIES

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

AREAS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Psychological interventions with older adults
• Chronic pain and coping with physical health difficulties
• Trauma (either in childhood or adulthood)
• Neurodegenerative diseases (particularly dementia) and diagnostic counselling
• Adjustment problems
• Difficulty managing emotions
• Mindfulness
• Personality disorders
• Cognitive assessments for dementia