Dr Ruby WHish
Highly Specialist Clinical Psychologist
I aim to facilitate a safe and open space in therapy, where individuals feel supported and empowered to make change in their life. Taking time to understand what might have brought someone to therapy, I work with individuals to create a joint understanding of their current difficulties. I use evidence-based approaches that are person-centred and allow me to tailor therapy to an individual’s specific needs and preferences. As well as understanding what might be hard, I pay attention to an individual’s strengths and resilience, and how we can harness this as part of recovery. I understand that eating disorders, and other mental health difficulties such as anxiety, can develop as a way of trying to understand and cope in the world and all of its uncertainty. I draw upon my training to support individuals to develop more healthy coping strategies in order to overcome life’s challenges.
Background and Training
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I first studied Psychology at the University of Sussex and was awarded a First Class Honours degree (Psychology BSc), and a Merit in the Foundations of Mental Health and Clinical Psychology (MSc). I then went on to complete my doctoral training at the University of Surrey. This training was focused on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Systemic Family Therapy. I am registered as a Chartered Clinical Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
Since qualifying as a Charted Clinical Psychologist, I have specialised in working with children and young people with eating disorders, and I currently work within an NHS Eating Disorder service for Children and Young People in London. I have clinical experience supporting young people with Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa. The psychological model I use primarily is Family Therapy for Anorexia Nervosa (FT-AN) and Family Therapy for Bulimia Nervosa (FT-BN). However, I also draw on CBT and DBT (Dialectical Behavioural Therapy) approaches to address both eating difficulties and other difficulties that may be present alongside these, such as anxiety.
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Therapeutic Approaches Offered
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