Areas of Expertise
Women's Mental Health and Trauma
Many of the women I work with have faced experiences that are difficult to talk about, such as abuse, domestic violence, involvement with the justice system, or trauma that has accumulated over many years. Often, these experiences don't fit neatly into a single diagnosis, and you may have found it hard to feel fully heard or understood in other settings.
When we meet, I'll take the time to understand your full history. Not just your symptoms, but the context and experiences that have shaped them. I'm particularly experienced in working with women who have complex presentations involving mental illness, personality disorder, substance use, and the long-term effects of trauma. I provide careful, thorough assessments and a commitment to finding the right path forward for each patient.
Impact of the Reproductive Cycle on Mental Health
Hormonal changes across the reproductive cycle can have a significant impact on mood, anxiety, and overall mental health. I understand it can feel frustrating if these connections are overlooked or dismissed.
I work with women experiencing a range of reproductive health-related mental health challenges, including premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), the psychological impact of endometriosis and adenomyosis, the emotional and mental health difficulties that can accompany infertility and the process of trying to conceive, and the mood and anxiety changes associated with perimenopause and menopause.
If you have been struggling with your mental health alongside a reproductive health condition, I can offer a thorough assessment that takes the full picture into account.
Anxiety
Anxiety can take many forms. Whether you are experiencing persistent worry that is difficult to switch off, panic attacks, or intrusive and repetitive thoughts, the impact on your daily life can be significant.
I assess and treat generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). My approach is to understand what is driving your anxiety, not just to manage the symptoms, so that we can find a treatment plan that addresses the root of what you're experiencing.
Medico-Legal Reports and Expert Witness
I have specialist expertise in preparing psychiatric reports for family proceedings and in giving expert evidence. My particular areas include:
- Women and mental illness/disorder
- Risk assessment in the context of mental disorder, including cases involving abuse, non-accidental injury, or fabricated/induced illness
- Personality disorders
- Complex PTSD
- The impact of trauma on mental health
- Young mothers (18–25)
- Financial remedy proceedings
I also have expertise in assessing the effects of torture and the psychiatric impact of displacement and trauma.
Flexible Support
I offer in-person sessions in London and online appointments, providing confidential support that fits around your lifestyle.
Education & Training
Qualifications & Accreditations
- MB BS — St Bartholomew's Medical College (1992)
- MRCPsych — Member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (1996)
- Accredited under Section 12 of the Mental Health Act 1983
- Accredited ADHD assessor
- Medical Foundation for Victims of Torture
Experience
- Consultant in Forensic Psychiatry (Women's Service), Centre for Forensic Mental Health, Hackney (2004–present)
- Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist, Bracton Clinic Medium Secure Unit (2002–2004)
- Specialist Registrar in Forensic Psychiatry, North Thames — posts at John Howard Centre, Camlet Lodge Medium Secure Unit, and Broadmoor Hospital (1999–2002)
- Specialist Registrar in Adult General Psychiatry, West London — including Liaison Psychiatry and Women's Services (1997–1999)
- Psychiatry training, St Mary's Hospital Medical School — posts across General Adult, Old Age, Child and Adolescent, Perinatal, Forensic, and Intensive Care Psychiatry (1993–1997)
