Dr Nicholas Wakefield
(D.Clin.Psy UK)
Clinical Psychologist
I think that every person’s therapy journey is different. Some people need skills and coping techniques to help deal with things in their current context. For others it is important to address the underlying psychological mechanisms that give rise to the problems or symptoms at different points in life. For some it is important to address childhood origins of problems so that they can break free of repeating, destructive life patterns. I want to help people find the journey that is right for them.
Trained in the UK both academically and by the clients I have met along the way I’ve spent 15 years developing my therapy style; how I relate to the person in the room is just as important as the psychological knowledge I bring. I try to take a person centred approach, first trying to understand not just the problems a person presents with but the person themselves so that the current issues can be put into the context of the whole person. Through this approach I aim to help a person deal with their psychological, emotional and relational difficulties in a way that suits them.
My background in the UK is working with complex presentations and trauma, as such I have substantial experience in working with a range of psychological difficulties including personality disorder, psychosis, anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, self-esteem, anger and interpersonal difficulties.
I spent 6 years in the middle east working with individuals, couples and families. I have learnt a lot about working with people from a range of cultural and religious backgrounds.
I have a passion for learning and to continue to develop my theoretical knowledge and therapeutic skills. I believe that no one psychological theory or model can fully explain the human condition. And working in the NHS for many years I have been fortunate enough to be trained and supervised in a range of psychological therapies for both individuals and groups which include: Schema Focused Therapy, Mentalization Based Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy,
Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Eye-movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR).
More recently my explorations have taken me down the Existential therapeutic and philosophical path, whilst I do not claim to be an Existential Psychotherapist I try to incorporate these ideas into my therapeutic approach.
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I have extensive teaching and training experience (I’m just showing off now, you probably don’t need to know this) having taught on the University of Liverpool, Doctorate of Clinical Psychology program, and University of Nottingham, Doctorate of Forensic Psychology program. I have been responsible for the supervision of assistant psychologists, Trainee Clinical Psychologist and Qualified Clinical and Forensic Psychologists. I have delivered training to a range of professionals including medical professionals, psychologists, nurses and probation officers, as well as delivering numerous Dubai Health Authority Continuing Medical Education courses.
Professional Bodies
Chartered Member of the British Psychological Society (BPS) – since 2013 (on going) - 149379 Member Division of Clinical Psychology (DCP) – since 2007 (on going) AFBPSS since Dec 2022
Registered with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) – since 2012 (on going)
Mentalization Based Treatment Qualified Practitioner – British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC) – Since September 2014
Supervision
I am committed to maintaining the highest standards of clinical excellence to ensure I can provide the best possible care for clients. Continuous development is at the core of my practice and here I share with you what I am doing to realise this.
Regular supervision should be part of any psychologist or therapist practice regardless of age or experience. Your therapist can’t know everything already! Supervision is a meeting between your therapist and a more experienced therapist to discuss issues, difficulties and gaps in knowledge. It is a space for your therapist to reflect on the work they do with you, consider what biases or blind spots they may be bringing to your session and explore the possibility of different directions and for greater understanding of their work with you.
Dr. Nick Wakefield utilises different modalities in his clinical practice therefore has different supervisors to reflect this.
Schema Focused Therapy
Dr. Kerry Beckley is Registered Practitioner Psychologist (Clinical and Forensic), Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (AFBPS) and past Chair of the Faculty of Forensic Clinical Psychology, BPS, UK. Kerry is an Accredited Schema Trainer/Supervisor in Individual and Group Schema Therapy. Whilst at Rampton High Secure Hospital, she developed the Schema Therapy Programme for men with a diagnosis of personality disorder. She was previously the Project Lead for the Personality Disorder Offender Pathway Project in Lincolnshire and was previously seconded part time to the Safer Communities Partnership in Lincolnshire to develop a strategy for supporting and treating perpetrators of domestic abuse. Kerry now runs her own company providing expert witness reports and training and supervision in both individual and group Schema Therapy. She has published and presented on Schema Therapy for many years, both nationally and internationally. She currently provides a series of regular webinars ‘Forensic Conversations’ with Dr. Jackie Craissati, Consultant Clinical Forensic Psychologist MBE.
Mentalization Based Therapy
Prof Anthony W Bateman MA, FRCPsych is Consultant to the Anna Freud Centre, London; Visiting Professor University College, London; Honorary Professor in Psychotherapy University of Copenhagen.
He developed mentalization based treatment for borderline personality disorder and studied its effectiveness in research trials. Adapted versions are now being used in multi-centre trials for antisocial personality disorder, eating disorders, and drug addiction. He was an expert member of National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) development group for treatment guidelines for Borderline Personality Disorder in UK and was Chair of the National Guideline Development Group for Eating Disorders. His NHS clinical services are recognised by the Department of Health as a national demonstration site for the treatment of personality disorder.
He was President of the European Society for the Study of Personality Disorders (ESSPD) from 2012-2015. He has authored 14 books including Psychotherapy for Borderline Personality Disorder: mentalization based treatment and Mentalization Based Treatment for Personality Disorder: a practical guide (2016) (with Peter Fonagy), numerous book chapters, and over 150 peer reviewed research articles on personality disorder and the use of psychotherapy in psychiatric practice.
Existential Therapy
Dr. Nancy Hakim Dowek is an Existential Psychotherapist and program lead for the doctoral (DProf) degree in Existential Psychotherapy at the New School of Psychotherapy and Counselling (NSPC). She is an experienced psychotherapist, lecturer and clinical supervisor and author. She provides clinical and research supervision to both doctoral and masters students. She completed her doctoral degree in Existential Psychotherapy on ‘The lived experience of the bi-rooted migrant’.
Nancy’s research interests include: Identity, Migration, Belonging, Roots, uprooting, Bi-Rooted, Cosmopolitanism, Dualism in Self and Identity, Life Crisis and Life Transitions, Existential and Human Issues and Limited Situations.
Professional bodies: UKCP, UPCA,
Fluent in English, French and Hebrew