About Dr Ellie Cavalli

About Dr Ellie Cavalli

I am a Clinical Psychologist with over 15 years experience in the NHS, charity sector and in private practice.

My experience and interests

I have extensive experience of supporting people with mild to complex difficulties including depression; anxiety; low self-esteem and low confidence; body image difficulties; interpersonal struggles and relationship difficulties; loss and grief; trauma and adjustment disorders, medically unexplained symptoms and difficulties associated with long-term conditions and physical illness.

I have a specialist interest in oncology and am experienced in working therapeutically with people living with and beyond cancer and their loved ones, and those who have been bereaved due to cancer. I am particularly interested in helping my clients explore the complex feelings and emotional conflicts that arise in context of their cancer experience.

How I Like to Work

I am warm, empathic and non-judgemental. I create a safe and confidential space for clients to explore their difficulties. I aim to help my clients gain a deeper level of self-understanding and self-awareness, and work through patterns or situations in their life that feel hard to resolve.

The Therapy Approaches I Use

As a clinical psychologist, I have a broad and varied training background and so I am able to draw upon a range of therapeutic models. However, I have a particular interest in psychodynamically-informed approaches. I have completed a Graduate Diploma in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and training in DIT (Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy) and MBT (Mentalisation-Based Therapy). I use an exploratory, insight-based approach to help my clients work through internal conflicts and make sense of unconscious processes. I am interested in early experiences and relationships, and how these influence my client’s present-day emotions and ways of relating to themselves and others.

My Credentials and Registration

I completed my Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Staffordshire/Keele universities and my Graduate Diploma in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy at the Tavistock centre/Essex university. I am HCPC registered; my membership number is PYL27120.

I have worked for a number of NHS Mental Health Trusts, but most substantially for the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust. In addition to my private therapy practice currently, I work for the cancer care charity, Maggie’s as well as Perci, an online cancer care clinic. I also offer supervision and consultation to mental health and cancer charities.