Dr Philippa Bullemor-Day

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Meeting with a psychologist for the first time and opening up about potentially distressing things that may be having a significant impact on your life can be a very difficult thing to do. To enable people to feel comfortable enough to do this, my primary aim in therapy is to always offer a safe, compassionate, and non-judgemental space. Through this I hope to encourage individuals, in their own time, to be open, understand their difficulties and take positive steps towards the changes they desire. I believe collaboration between you and your therapist plays a huge role in getting you where you would like to be, and I take an honest and transparent approach to help build a positive relationship with my clients to enable this to happen.   

 

I am trained to work in a variety of psychological models including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Systemic Therapy and Third-wave therapies including Mindfulness based therapies. In my experience, difficulties tend not to exist in isolation and are very often influenced by our relationships with those closest to us as well as the wider contexts we live in. To fit with this, I like to work flexibly, integrating different techniques and strategies from a range of therapeutic models to enable a collaborative and adaptable approach which can be tailored to your therapeutic goals and needs.

 

In terms of my experience, I have worked in the NHS for over 10 years across a number of adult and young people's health settings and have substantial experience working with adults, children, and adolescents to overcome a range of psychological difficulties. I have particular expertise and interests in sexual health, sexual difficulties, couple’s therapy and in supporting people to change health-related behaviours. Alongside my private practice, I currently work as the Lead Specialist Clinical Psychologist across two NHS sexual health services, where I work with individuals and couples with sexual difficulties, mental health difficulties related to diagnoses, adjustment to health conditions, addictions and with those who have experienced a sexual assault. As part of these roles I also provide support and clinical supervision to other psychologists and members of my team. 

 

I completed my undergraduate degree in Psychology at Royal Holloway, University of London, followed by a Masters in Mental Health Studies at the Institute of Psychiatry and my Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Royal Holloway, University of London. I have since completed a number of additional training courses including training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Systemic Therapy.

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I have a keen interest in developing services and building the evidence base of research, particularly in sexual health, and have a number of research publications in the fields of sexual dysfunction and HIV.

 

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