VANESSA CONTRERAS CONSULTING
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About

My experience, qualifications and training

Clinical Experience 


My clinical experience spans a range of different services within the NHS.  

​I currently work in the NHS within Clinical Health, NELFT. I am based in the psychology team within the Occupational Health and Wellbeing Service at 
Queens and King George Hospitals, providing psychological therapy to all staff. 

I have worked in IAPT services in primary care, dealing with mild to moderate difficulties,
 with a wide variety of presentations such as longstanding problems with depression, general anxiety, panic, obsessive compulsive disorder, phobias, social anxiety, pain management difficulties and PTSD. 

My work in
 secondary care services has focused on more complex and enduring psychological issues, often presenting with an element of vulnerability or risk. In this capacity, I have generally worked in the area of mood, anxiety and personality difficulties with presentations such as treatment-resistant depression, long-standing OCD, complex trauma and personality disorders with a developmental and historical origin, among others.




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Qualifications and Training

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  • HCPC Registered Practitioner Psychologist. 
  • Chartered member of British Psychological Society (CPsychol)
  • ​Registered psychotherapist and member of MBACP (374235)
  • Professional Doctorate in Counselling Psychology (University of East London).
  • Master's Degree in Psychology (University of East London).
  • Master's Degree in Investigative and Forensic Psychology (University of Liverpool)
  • Master's Degree in Cognitive Neuropsychology (University College London).
  • BA Linguistics (University College London)



Academic Research

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​I have many years experience as a researcher in the field of psychology. My robust research and academic background have enabled me to gain extensive knowledge of research methodology, design and analysis, encompassing qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods approaches. 
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I have carried out original research in diverse areas of psychology such as: the processing of language in the brain; personality traits in people with synaesthesia and communication and situational awareness in the management of critical 
incidents by U.K emergency services. 

My doctoral thesis research focused on the experiences of operational stress and trauma among retired police officers in the U.K and of their psychological growth following adversity. 
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I also have extensive professional experience as a university-based researcher providing direct support for internally and externally funded projects. 



Mentoring and Tutoring 

  • I have worked as a volunteer mentor for "Belong", a charity providing CBT-based support to young offenders with a background in violent/ gang-related crimes based at a London prison. ​
  • I have also provided educational and therapeutic support to children with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder. 
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