Dr Rachel Whatmough

About

I am a Clinical Psychologist and trained mindfulness teacher with over 15 years experience working within NHS, charity, private practice and corporate settings, supporting clients affected by a variety of life challenges and psychological difficulties.

My Experience and Interests

I have extensive experience of treating clients with both mild and complex difficulties relating to:

• Depression
• Anxiety (including obsessive compulsive disorder, panic attacks, low self-esteem, social anxiety, general anxiety and phobias)
• Sleep difficulties
• Adjustment to parenthood
• Post-natal difficulties
• Relationship difficulties

I also have a specialist interest and expertise in supporting people with the psychological impact of living with a physical health condition (for example cancer, chronic pain and other chronic or acute health conditions).

How I Like to Work

I strive to create a trusting and genuine relationship with the people I work with. I’m passionate about working in creative ways to help people to understand their difficulties and then to draw on their own personal strengths to make changes they want to move towards a more positive future.

I see myself as a warm and empathic therapist and I aim to support my clients to reconnect with their own resilience and resources, in times of difficulty.

The Therapy Approaches I Use

I’m flexible and collaborative in how I work with people. I’m qualified to draw on a range of therapy approaches in order to ensure the therapy I provide is personalised and suited to the individual’s needs. The approaches I use include:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Mindfulness approaches (including MBCT)
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Compassion Focused Therapy
• Systemic approaches (helping people to understand their difficulties in relation to the contexts in which they live and where they have come from)

My Credentials and Registration

I completed my Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London and my Teacher Training in Mindfulness with Bangor University. I am registered with the Health and Care Professions Council, UK (HCPC).

Professional Experience

• Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust
• Imperial Healthcare NHS Trust
• Maggie’s Cancer Care Centre
• University College London (UCL) - teaching and training on the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology Programme
• Salomons Centre for Applied Psychology, Canterbury Christ Church University - Clinical and Academic Tutor on the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology Programme (current, part-time)