Working across different child and disability services gave me a solid grounding in assessment and therapeutic work. The role of senior clinical psychologist with the Children’s Disability Network Team (CDNT) felt like the right next step because it’s holistic and family-centred, and it offered me an opportunity to be involved in shaping how services operate. 

My work varies day to day, which I really enjoy. In 2026, our psychology team have planned for the delivery of some lovely therapeutic offerings, such as Emotion-Focused Skills Training and Attachment workshops for parents, as well as bereavement supports and anxiety-specific interventions for young people attending the CNDT. 

The best part of my role is the mix of meaningful clinical work and genuine human connection. No two days look the same – one morning might involve a detailed, complex assessment and the afternoon a therapeutic conversation with a parent.

Being alongside families at important moments in their lives is something I never take for granted. The emotional connection with families – and witnessing genuine change – is deeply rewarding. 

Showing up consistently and meeting families where they are at is where I place my core value. 

To this day, I still tell myself that “I am planting the seed” to support people to live fulfilling and meaningful lives. 

At the heart of the job is the ability to stay present with families – to really listen, to sit with uncertainty, and to approach each child without assumption or urgency. I think of it as practising “psychological stillness”: the capacity to be fully here with another person, even in complexity and pain.

Compassion, patience, and reflective thinking go a long way in supporting families who may be navigating worry, grief, or adjustment. 

Small interventions can create big changes. Whether it’s a sensitive conversation with a parent or developing a new service pathway, psychological influence ripples widely within a CDNT.”