Dr Debbie Spain

I am a Consultant Nurse, Cognitive Behaviour Therapist and Systemic Practitioner.  I currently work part time at The National Psychology Clinic, and as a Consultant Nurse and Clinical Researcher in the NHS and at King’s College London.

I qualified as a nurse in 2000 and a Cognitive Behaviour Therapist in 2004.  Since then, I have worked in inpatient and community settings; primarily in national specialist services.  My roles have been varied, typically combining clinical, managerial and supervisory responsibilities.  I have also been involved in carrying out research, focusing on topics including mental health, autism, the needs and wellbeing of families, and the development of psychological interventions.

I have worked with adults, couples and families who have broad ranging difficulties, including stress, anxiety, OCD, depression, trauma, low self-esteem, social and relationship problems, and coping with the impact of challenging life experiences and long-term conditions.

I have specialist expertise in working with adults with neurodevelopmental conditions; specifically autism and ADHD.  This has included regularly conducting adult autism diagnostic assessments, and providing individual and group cognitive behavioural therapy, compassion focused therapy and other psychological interventions.

I think it is a privilege to work clinically and I take this seriously.  I strive to develop collaborative relationships with people, helping them to build up the skills and confidence needed to overcome difficulties and become more resilient.  People I work with tell me that I am good at listening, non-judgmental and supportive.  They also tell me they appreciate the pacing of our sessions; that this matches their individual preferences and goals.  The main therapeutic approaches I draw on are Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Systemic Therapy, Compassion Focused Therapy, Mindfulness-based Approaches, EMDR and Schema Therapy.  I am also an ADOS-2 trainer.