DR FRAN WILKINS

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE

Hi, my name is Fran and I am a warm, empathic and enthusiastic Clinical Psychologist with over 13 years of professional experience in supporting adults over 18 who are struggling with their mental health. I am committed to providing collaborative, compassionate and individualised care within a safe and containing space.  This means that I will work together with you to develop a shared understanding of your difficulties (what has contributed to them and what is keeping them going), your hopes and your therapeutic goals, before thinking about how we can move towards these.

The earlier stages of my career were spent in primary care mental health services, where I offered low intensity psychological interventions to people struggling with common difficulties such as low mood, stress anxiety and panic. Through my doctoral training I gained experience working across different populations (including child and family, older adults and learning disabilities), settings including outpatient, inpatient and community) and with a wide range of psychological presentations of varying severity and complexity. Since qualifying as a Clinical Psychologist in 2016 I have predominantly worked within a local NHS hospital, offering psychological assessment and support for adults struggling with long-term physical health conditions. As such, I have developed special interests in adjustment, trauma, and the interactive impact of mental and physical health.

Through my Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and subsequent continuing professional development I have been trained in a number of different therapeutic approaches including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Compassion Focussed Therapy (CFT) and Systemic approaches. Since qualifying I have undergone further training in Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, for which I am now an Accredited Practitioner. While I often adopt an integrative approach (see below) I most commonly practice CBT, ACT and EMDR therapies.

While I am trained in a number of different psychological ‘models’ and therapeutic approaches (as above), at times it may be appropriate to integratively draw upon a number of these approaches to best meet your needs. I strongly believe that one size does not fit all, as we are all individuals with different experiences. Depending on your difficulties, needs and circumstances, I offer short- and longer-term psychological therapy face-to-face, online or via the telephone. I see mental health as being on a continuum, on which we all move up and down depending on what is going on in our lives in combination with past experiences, current support and access to coping strategies/protective factors.  As such, I am also passionate about fostering preventative approaches
and strategies to promote good mental health.

Although I (somewhat biasedly!) believe we could all benefit from psychological therapy, I understand the prospect of pursuing this for the first time can feel a little daunting. It is important to take things at your own pace, and please do not worry about the ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ things to say or if you aren’t entirely sure what your therapeutic goals are. It is my role to help you explore what has brought you to therapy, develop that shared understanding of your difficulties, and to think about how we might work therapeutically through this together.
Therapy is not an obligation – you are welcome to attend an initial assessment session then decide whether it feels right for you at this time. Similarly, if after the first session or two you don’t feel I am the right ‘fit’ for you, I can help you explore other options to best meet your needs at this time.

Training and qualifications

• Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy)
• Accredited EMDR Practitioner
• Post-graduate Certificate in Low Intensity Psychological Therapies (PGLIPT)
• MA (Hons) Psychology
• 2022: Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT)–Deepening Knowledge
• 2022: Clinical Complexity: Conceptual Model and Practical Applications
• 2020-2021: Post-COVID Syndrome
• 2020: Uncertainty Distress in the Context of Coronavirus
• 2020: Management of Adherence and Compliance to Medicines
• 2019: EMDR Group Traumatic Episode Protocol
• 2016: Introductory Training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
• 2015: Introductory Training in Compassion Focused Therapy
• 2015: Family Therapy and Systemic
• Practice (Foundation Level Equivalent)

ACCREDITATION TO PROFESSIONAL BODIES

• Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registered

• EMDR UK Association

• Chartered Membership of British Psychological Society (BPS)

AREAS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

• Adult Mental Health (including anxiety, panic, depression, stress)
• Adjustment
• Clinical Health Psychology (including long-term conditions/chronic illness, adjustment to diagnoses)
• Post-natal difficulties
• Sleep difficulties
• Trauma